Zong Xuan did not expect Xu Tang to refuse, but he was more or less mentally prepared.
Xu Tang’s refusal was because he had been hurt too deeply. What right did he have to make Xu Tang erase such obvious wounds and casually agree to a fresh start?
“I assume you already know about my situation with Yizheng?” Zong Xuan felt that even if Xu Tang was unwilling, there were still things he wanted to clarify.
“I know.” Xu Tang had already composed himself and said calmly. This was the first time he mentioned Teng Yizheng in front of Zong Xuan.
Zong Xuan did not ask who told him. That did not matter. He could just ask Yue Yan later.
“I no longer have those kinds of feelings for Yizheng. We’re just friends now. I’ve already made things clear with him.”
“Is that so…” Xu Tang had not expected that, but whether Zong Xuan still loved him or not—what did it have to do with him?
“Tang Tang, did you marry me before or after you knew about Teng Yizheng?” That answer might not matter to others, but it was very important to him.
“Before…” Xu Tang felt there was no need to lie, and he gave a bitter smile. “Isn’t that kind of pathetic?”
Xu Tang’s smile burned like fire in Zong Xuan’s heart, painful and suffocating.
“This isn’t all your fault. I also never properly made things clear to you, so I won’t blame you.” Xu Tang pulled the blanket tighter around himself. “When I saw Teng Yizheng in the hospital room, I suddenly felt like I understood everything. I was being foolish, and I even wanted to drag you into that foolishness with me. It was actually very ridiculous.”
He would not speak badly of Teng Yizheng in front of Zong Xuan. The contempt Teng Yizheng had for him—he would just keep that to himself. Saying it out loud would only look like sowing discord.
“There are things I can’t forget, and I don’t want to forget either. We don’t really have any beautiful memories between us, but I don’t hate you either. So let’s just leave it at that.” Xu Tang forced down the bitterness in his chest. “You can handle the divorce statement however you want. Even if you push the responsibility onto me, it doesn’t matter anymore. Just let Kang Jie know in advance.”
Zong Xuan looked at Xu Tang. Even now, Xu Tang was still leaving him an escape route. Compared to that, what had he done all these years? What right did he have to stand beside Xu Tang?
The car fell into silence, both of them sitting in their own suffering.
At that moment, the door was opened from the outside. Kang Duo, who had just finished talking with the chief editor, was startled when she saw Zong Xuan inside. Her mind immediately spun through a hundred and eighty possibilities—what was going on? How did Zong Xuan find them here?
Then she quickly guessed it must have been He Xin. This morning He Xin had called to ask about Xu Tang’s schedule, saying he wanted to have lunch with him. Since Xu Tang’s phone was with her, she hadn’t thought much and told him. She didn’t expect He Xin to be a traitor.
But thinking about the connections around He Xin, it wasn’t hard to understand—there was also Yue Yan in the middle.
Kang Duo didn’t know what to do for a moment. Xu Tang was already an adult and could make his own decisions, but her priority was his safety. If Zong Xuan tried anything forceful, she would not hesitate to smash his head with her high heel.
Zong Xuan also did not push Xu Tang. Having reached this point, he understood Xu Tang’s feelings.
But he would not give up so easily. He would do as he said and pursue Xu Tang. Xu Tang had waited for him for so many years; now that he had given up, it was because he had truly been hurt. Since he liked Xu Tang, he would try to win him back. Even if he could not undo the past harm, he at least wanted to give Xu Tang happiness that came from him.
“Getting late. Go home after dinner. I’ll go first.” With that, Zong Xuan got out of the car.
Xu Tang turned his head away and did not look at him.
Zong Xuan nodded at Kang Duo and walked toward his own car. Only after Xu Tang’s car drove away did he leave as well. He had only experienced rejection once—what was there to be discouraged about? Just keep trying.
“Tell me. What’s going on?” Kang Duo asked directly once they were in the car. Whether or not there was anything serious, she needed to know.
“Nothing…” Xu Tang, still wrapped in Zong Xuan’s oversized coat, said vaguely, “He just came to ask if I could delay the divorce by half a year. Asked me to consider it.”
“Is that all?” Kang Duo didn’t believe it. If it was only that, why did he look like that?
Xu Tang felt a little guilty under her gaze. “He said… he wants to pursue me…”
“What?” Yuan Shang blurted out. “Is the movie emperor’s reaction delay finally over?”
Kang Duo hit him to shut him up and asked, “What did you say?”
“I refused.”
“Why?” Yuan Shang didn’t understand.
“One mistake is enough. I still have self-respect.” Xu Tang said. He still remembered Teng Yizheng’s gaze toward him. Maybe his love from the beginning had been wrong. He should not have tried to turn a “god” into a lover. And as for Zong Xuan saying he would pursue him—that wasn’t love. At most it was liking. Even if Zong Xuan no longer loved Teng Yizheng, that did not mean he loved him.
Kang Duo looked at Xu Tang and sighed softly. If Zong Xuan truly had feelings for him, it would be good if things worked out between them. But since Xu Tang did not want it, there was nothing more to say.
After dinner outside, Xu Tang’s car followed the usual routine—circling past the villa—and another car took him back to his residence.
After taking a shower, he received a message from Kang Duo telling him not to respond to anything online and that she would coordinate with Wen Hui to handle it.
Xu Tang had not used his phone since returning from Maple Mountain City and had not browsed anything online.
After thinking for half a minute, he turned on his computer and went online. Kang Duo clearly did not want him to know too much and was only sharing good news while withholding the bad.
When he looked, he realized the situation online had already shifted significantly.
The main discussion was still centered on Zong Xuan and Teng Yizheng, and neither side had released an official statement yet.
However, twenty minutes earlier, an actor named Shi Duo had posted on Weibo:
“I have been fortunate to work with Xuan-ge twice. In this new project, I am also part of the crew. I deeply admire Xuan-ge’s professionalism and dedication. After working together for two months, I have never seen him behave in any inappropriate or abnormal way, so I trust his character and believe there is no issue between him and Xu Tang. I hope everyone can pay attention to the progress of the case and his health, and stop speculating and affecting the lives of those involved.”
Xu Tang knew of Shi Duo, even though they had never formally interacted.
Shi Duo was 22, a trained actor, had been acting since university, and had received good reviews. Three years ago, he worked with Zong Xuan in a drama where he played a minor supporting role but stood out widely for his performance.
Because of Zong Xuan, Xu Tang had watched that drama and thought Shi Duo’s acting was impressive for his age.
In Zong Xuan’s current project, Shi Duo played the third male lead, moving from TV’s fourth male lead to film’s third male lead—a significant step up, especially in a big director’s film.
If Xu Tang had gone to the set, he might have interacted with him. Unfortunately, he had not gone, only stayed for one night and left without meeting anyone.
Xu Tang remembered Shi Duo had apparently signed with their company half a year ago, though they had never crossed paths due to different circles and schedules. He did not expect Shi Duo to speak up for Zong Xuan at this time.
Normally, people avoided taking sides in such situations, waiting until the truth was revealed before making neutral statements so as not to offend anyone.
Shi Duo’s statement was courageous, but it might also bring trouble.
As Xu Tang scrolled through comments, he saw mixed reactions—some praised Shi Duo’s loyalty, some were moved by his trust in Zong Xuan, some became fans, and others accused him of clout-chasing or trying to curry favor.
Just as Xu Tang considered asking Kang Duo to reassure Shi Duo, he refreshed the page and saw Zong Xuan’s new post.
“Yizheng is my close friend. We have known each other since middle school and attended different universities later, but have always maintained a good relationship. He came to Maple Mountain City for work discussions and also visited me as a friend. He stayed with me throughout because he ordered the delivery meal involved in the incident and felt guilty, so he voluntarily stayed to take care of me, not for any other reason. I hope everyone views this rationally and does not disturb his life, as he is not part of the industry.”
Within a minute, dozens of comments appeared under the post.
Without evidence of anything improper between Zong Xuan and Teng Yizheng, the statement was highly credible.
Most comments supported him, with only a few skeptics, but no extreme backlash.
The clarification also reduced speculation about issues between Zong Xuan and Xu Tang; once Teng Yizheng’s situation was explained, doubts about their relationship naturally faded.
Shi Duo’s reputation also improved due to Zong Xuan’s statement, and many believed he had simply acted out of loyalty.
Xu Tang did not respond. He simply closed the computer.
Whatever Zong Xuan and Teng Yizheng had, it no longer concerned him. Whether it was love or friendship, from the moment his feelings ended in his heart, everything about Zong Xuan no longer had anything to do with him.
That was human nature—sometimes, what is decided inside the heart is more final than anything external.