Meanwhile, over on the other side, Yue Yan was getting a little bored at home, so he called Zong Xuan and invited him out for a late-night meal—since his own wife had gone out to meet Xu Tang, he could only ask Zong Xuan.
Originally, he wanted to go out for drinks, but considering driving would be inconvenient, he suggested a stir-fry place instead.
Zong Xuan happened to be rotting away from boredom at home too, so he agreed.
Thus, Yue Yan drove to pick up Zong Xuan, and the two headed to the stir-fry restaurant together.
Stir-fry was a great late-night option. Plenty of celebrities liked it, and there were a few places in the industry known for being relatively private. Whenever Yue Yan wanted this kind of food, he usually stuck to the same trusted spots.
The first floor of this place was set up like an open-air food stall—messy but lively, with a pretty good atmosphere. The second floor had so-called VIP rooms, which, to put it bluntly, were for celebrities or wealthy bosses who hated noise but still craved this kind of food.
After parking, Yue Yan led Zong Xuan upstairs via the back staircase with practiced ease. A waiter brought them to a private room. Yue Yan ordered several dishes, and the waiter took the handwritten order downstairs.
Maybe because the place had been around for years and served many customers, even though the tables and chairs had been wiped clean, there was still an unavoidable greasy feel to everything.
Zong Xuan wasn’t the kind of person who only ate at upscale restaurants. So even though the environment here was less than ideal by his standards, he remained perfectly at ease. After all, eating with a friend was the important part; everything else was secondary.
Once the dishes were served and the waiter closed the door behind them, Yue Yan took out two disposable cups, poured tea for both of them, and started chatting.
“So, you still haven’t convinced Xu Tang to move back?”
Zong Xuan took a sip of tea. “He’s stubborn as hell. Every time he goes out for work, he has the car drive through our neighborhood first to make it look like he’s been dropped home. Pretty cautious. But he still won’t come back.”
“You two haven’t sat down and talked properly?”
“Talk about what? Even after all that mess before, he never asked me for help.” Zong Xuan sighed. “I really don’t understand what he’s thinking.”
The more the internet hyped up their so-called sweet relationship, the more empty Zong Xuan felt in real life.
And when he thought of Xu Tang’s words—‘If it’s fake, why keep acting it out in front of everyone? Doesn’t that get exhausting?’—he had to admit he felt a little tired too.
Yue Yan sampled every dish before speaking again.
“I heard Teng Yizheng came back?”
“Yeah.” At the mention of Teng Yizheng, a faint smile appeared on Zong Xuan’s face. “But aside from that one time we got photographed, we haven’t met again.”
Yue Yan set down his chopsticks.
“There are some things I’ve held back for a long time, but I want to say them.”
“Go ahead.”
Zong Xuan rarely saw Yue Yan this serious, so he was curious to hear him out.
“You’ve known Teng Yizheng for years. But relationship-wise, you were never lovers—just friends. Even if you liked him. And he’s already married, with a stable family life on the surface. Given your personality, you’d never interfere in that.”
Yue Yan looked straight at him.
“So no matter what, your relationship with Teng Yizheng is never going to be anything more than what it is now.”
Yue Yan had always considered Zong Xuan his closest friend. Some things he knew when to stay silent about—but when it was time to speak, he wouldn’t hold back anymore.
“If that’s the case, why not think more about yourself? About the people around you? Why not consider starting a new relationship?”
Zong Xuan wasn’t stupid. Of course he understood what Yue Yan meant.
After spending the past few days with Xu Tang, he did think Xu Tang was good. But he still didn’t know enough about him. Making a hasty decision didn’t feel wise.
And besides…
“I know what you mean. But if I ever start a new relationship, I don’t want it to be because things are hopeless with Yizheng.”
His voice turned steady.
“I want it to be because I genuinely want to love that person.”
He didn’t want to settle for second best. No one deserved to be someone else’s consolation prize.
Hearing that, Yue Yan relaxed.
“Looks like I worried too much.”
“No.” Zong Xuan shook his head. “Talking to you helps clear my head sometimes.”
That was friendship.
Yue Yan smiled and picked up his chopsticks again, smoothly changing the topic.
“He Xin asked Xu Tang out for late-night food. I’m picking He Xin up later. Want to come? You might get to see Xu Tang too.”
Zong Xuan smiled.
“Sure. I didn’t drive anyway.”
Which meant Yue Yan had to drive him home. Though… hitching a ride in Xu Tang’s car would be even better.
“You should hurry things along,” Yue Yan said. “Then the four of us can hang out together.”
Zong Xuan ate calmly and replied, “I’m joining a film shoot in a few days. We’ll talk after I get back.”
After finishing their meal, Yue Yan called He Xin.
He Xin hadn’t driven, so naturally he was happy his man was coming to pick him up.
Of course, to prevent Xu Tang from running off after hearing Zong Xuan was coming, He Xin very wisely—and very shamelessly—didn’t tell him.
So when Zong Xuan walked in, Xu Tang froze.
“Oh? Best Actor Zong.” He Xin greeted him.
Zong Xuan nodded. “Long time no see.”
“Yeah. Come, sit and eat something.”
He Xin and Xu Tang were basically done eating, though there was still plenty left on the table, which He Xin planned to pack up.
Zong Xuan didn’t hesitate and sat directly beside Xu Tang.
Yue Yan naturally sat next to He Xin.
At a glance, the atmosphere actually felt pretty nice.
Looking at the fried food and cola on the table, Zong Xuan asked Xu Tang, “You like this stuff?”
Snapping back to his senses, Xu Tang answered, “Sometimes…”
Zong Xuan usually didn’t eat this sort of food and had never been to this place before. But since he was already full, he had no interest in trying it.
“Gaining weight is one thing, but you should still eat less junk food.”
“Mm…”
Seeing the atmosphere between them seemed okay, Yue Yan struck while the iron was hot.
“Perfect timing. Xuan-ge didn’t drive. Xu Tang, you drove, right? Give Xuan-ge a ride home.”
He Xin thought his man was clever. Giving the two of them private time together would definitely help their relationship.
Zong Xuan also thought it was a great idea.
Even better if he could lure Xu Tang home directly. This separation nonsense had gone on long enough.
“Not on the way, Brother Yan. You should drive him.”
Xu Tang rejected the idea immediately, without leaving any room.
Zong Xuan felt like a lump had lodged in his throat.
If anyone else dared reject him like this, he’d probably have stormed out already.
But looking at Xu Tang’s face, all that anger got forcefully swallowed.
He simply couldn’t bring himself to get mad at him.
The smile on He Xin’s face warped.
What the hell is Xu Tang doing? This is such a good chance! On a full-bellied, romantic kind of night, he actually refused?!
Yue Yan internally screamed too.
What kind of development is this? Has Zong Xuan stopped being Xu Tang’s idol already? That makes no sense!
The silence grew awkward.
Xu Tang pressed his lips together.
“I’m worried there might be reporters near the neighborhood entrance. I’m not sure if my car’s already been exposed. If I drive… uh… Xuan-ge home and then leave again, it could be a huge problem if we get photographed.”
The way Xu Tang said “Xuan-ge” made Zong Xuan feel ridiculously pleased.
It would’ve been even better without the “Xuan,” but still.
Lots of people in the industry called him “ge,” but hearing Xu Tang say it felt especially good.
Xu Tang felt a little embarrassed too.
Before, to make their relationship look loving and equal, Xu Tang had always called him directly by name.
But now, that didn’t feel appropriate anymore. So he switched to using a respectful title.
Xu Tang’s concerns made sense.
And thanks to that “Xuan-ge,” Zong Xuan no longer cared about being rejected.
“Alright. Go home early. Yue Yan can drive me.”
Yue Yan thought about it and agreed. It really was safer this way. Besides, there would be plenty of chances later.
All four of them went downstairs together.
Zong Xuan walked Xu Tang to his car.
“Message me when you get home.”
Ever since Xu Tang had said during his mother’s birthday, Can you try to take better care of me?, Zong Xuan found himself unable to truly get angry at him.
Annoyed? Sure.
Angry? Not really.
Xu Tang nodded, got into the car, and drove off.
Zong Xuan got into Yue Yan’s car, heading home.
Once home, Xu Tang messaged Zong Xuan.
To him, this was just basic courtesy. He assumed Zong Xuan asking for a message had also been mere politeness.
Zong Xuan had just gotten home too.
He replied: Take a shower and sleep early.
Xu Tang: You too.
Zong Xuan: If I can’t sleep, would you chat with me?
Xu Tang struggled for a while before replying.
…No.
He didn’t want to give himself room to overthink.
This time Zong Xuan sent a voice message.
“Heh. Why are you so bad at talking?”
Xu Tang didn’t bother typing.
“I’m used to sleeping early.”
An excuse was still an excuse. Once you’d made one, making more wasn’t hard.
Hearing Xu Tang’s voice through the phone, Zong Xuan thought it sounded especially nice.
Actually, it had always sounded nice.
It was just that… they had never really exchanged voice messages before.
Come to think of it, they hadn’t even talked much on the phone.
What kind of pathetic married life had they been living?
Zong Xuan said, “Fine. Next time, if you call me gege directly, I’ll grant you one wish.”
A pause.
“Anything except divorce.”
Xu Tang felt a painful heaviness in his chest.
“Is this really meaningful?”
About five minutes later, Zong Xuan finally replied.
“There are some things I need to think through carefully.”
His tone softened.
“Give me a little more time.”
With Zong Xuan speaking more gently, the knot in Xu Tang’s chest loosened too.
He typed back:
Okay.
Zong Xuan: I’m leaving next week to film out of town. Won’t be back for a while. Move back home.
Xu Tang: No. Things are fine like this.
Zong Xuan grew irritated.
“What’s with you, little thing? Do I have to go tie you up and drag you back?”
After waiting a while with no reply, he sent another message.
Asleep? Or in the shower?
The system instantly displayed:
Message sent but rejected by recipient.
“…What the hell?”
Zong Xuan stared blankly.
What was going on?
He tried sending again.
The system quickly returned:
You are not this user’s friend. Please send a friend request first.
Zong Xuan’s eyes widened.
This little brat had some nerve.
Xu Tang had actually blocked him.
In all his life, Zong Xuan had never been treated like this.
He didn’t know whether to laugh, rage, or curse.
This little thing was impossible—soft tactics didn’t work, hard tactics didn’t work.
If he weren’t worried about reporters catching him, he’d already have driven over and dragged Xu Tang back himself.
Taking a deep breath, Zong Xuan threw his phone onto the sofa.
Fine.
Let that little thing enjoy himself for a few days.
Once filming wrapped and he came back, they’d settle this.
He refused to believe he couldn’t discipline him.
This brat was really trying to rebel.
Author’s Note:
The blacklist notification here is slightly different from real-life WeChat prompts, so please don’t mind it!