Shen Yuan’s incident had made international headlines—strange, but within a single day, it had spread everywhere.
Back in K City’s wealthy second-generation circles, both Shen Yuan and Wang Ziqin had been well-known. Later, Wang Ziqin’s pursuit of Shen Yuan had been gossip for everyone; there were even people who secretly saved the old videos. Nobody knew the full story, but everyone knew Shen Yuan used to trail after Wang Ziqin like a little follower. Wang Ziqin, being the playboy he was, taking Shen Yuan didn’t seem unusual at all. Now, separated by distance, the assumption was obvious—they had broken up.
So naturally, Wang Ziqin became the one blamed for betraying Shen Yuan.
Suddenly, the poor guy found himself cast as the heartless ex-boyfriend bullying Shen Yuan. No wonder that day at school, all the Chinese exchange students were pointing and whispering—everyone must have been keeping up with the news.
Wang Ziqin didn’t hold a grudge against Shen Yuan. He just wanted to find out who had hurt him.
After seeing the news, Wang Ziqin spent the whole school day in a daze.
When Tang Xiaotian came to pick him up, Wang Ziqin still looked downcast. Tang Xiaotian frowned slightly: “My classmates asked me about you… your ex appeared in the news?”
Wang Ziqin raised his head, irritated. Really, bring that up now? No wonder Tang Xiaotian has no friends. Was his EQ eaten by a dog or what?
Tang Xiaotian’s directness left no room for evasion. Wang Ziqin answered plainly: “He’s someone I know, but not my ex-boyfriend.”
He muttered, half in complaint: “I wish he were my ex… at least then I’d be taking the blame willingly.”
“Do you think so little of me? That my character is so bad?” Tang Xiaotian’s sincerity made Wang Ziqin suddenly self-conscious. He admitted to himself he hadn’t been a model citizen back then, but now, having turned over a new leaf, he didn’t think he was that bad… right?
Tang Xiaotian panicked slightly: “I—I never thought that! I think you’re amazing!”
Wang Ziqin froze. He had just said it casually—why was Tang Xiaotian taking it so seriously? He felt awkward, as if he had bullied an honest person.
Tang Xiaotian suggested: “Let me take you home. What do you want for dinner?”
Being a northern Chinese, Tang Xiaotian even made hand-rolled noodles. Seeing Wang Ziqin’s bad mood, he specially made him noodles—chewier than store-bought, which Wang Ziqin loved.
While Tang Xiaotian rolled the dough, Wang Ziqin secretly contacted connections back home. Damn it, am I supposed to quietly swallow this injustice? Someone dares to pin this on me? I’ll find them no matter what!
But being overseas with school, he couldn’t handle it all at once—he would spend money first to find the culprit.
After venting some of his frustration, Wang Ziqin finally focused on the news about Shen Yuan.
It was painful.
He had hoped that after reforming himself, he could return home and compete fairly with Qiao Hailou—but it turned out Shen Yuan and Qiao Hailou were already married, with children.
Wang Ziqin’s mind swirled with all kinds of messy thoughts. Recalling his youth, he suddenly understood why Shen Yuan had always kept a distance with others, dressed so conservatively, and didn’t date girls—he had been such a fool to never think about it before.
He wasn’t exactly a good person either. Some darker thoughts crept in: if only he had known sooner… if Shen Yuan had given him a child—even by force—he could have bound Shen Yuan to him for life. Why hadn’t he been smarter back then?
His mood sank; his appetite disappeared.
Even with Wang Ziqin’s favorite hand-rolled noodles in front of him, he ate half a bowl and said he was full. Tang Xiaotian, worried, asked: “Not enough? You usually eat two bowls. What do you want? I’ll make it for you.”
Tang Xiaotian’s concern was pure and simple.
Seeing his naïve, earnest expression, Wang Ziqin smiled faintly: “It’s fine, I just don’t have an appetite. Give it a couple of days.”
Tang Xiaotian said gently: “Don’t mind those people. They’ve never met you; they only hear rumors and make judgments. Don’t pay attention.”
Today, Wang Ziqin finally felt what exclusion really meant. He understood—if a knife doesn’t cut you, you can’t feel the pain. Maybe this was karma.
Tang Xiaotian cleared the dishes: “I… I’ll fix your bike.”
Wang Ziqin didn’t want to treat him like a servant, so he followed to learn. Tang Xiaotian shyly said: “It’s fine, I’ll help you.”
Wang Ziqin replied: “Don’t do everything for me—cooking, cleaning, fixing lights, repairing bikes. If I get a new roommate, I’ll become useless. I can’t survive!”
Tang Xiaotian dropped his wrench with a “clang” and panicked: “Are you moving? Did I do something wrong?”
Wang Ziqin: “No, just a metaphor. Teach me—I’ll learn. If not, I’ll need your help again.”
He needed something to do, otherwise, his mind would spiral over Shen Yuan.
After fixing the bike, Wang Ziqin returned to study. His coursework was heavy; he had hoped to finish early to return home and see Shen Yuan—but it all seemed pointless. Shen Yuan hadn’t married Qiao Hailou… but now they were a married couple. Wang Ziqin felt utterly defeated, with no chance to reverse the situation.
Tang Xiaotian finally asked hesitantly: “Wang Ziqin… I saw a video online—was that you?”
Wang Ziqin looked at him blankly: “What video?”
Tang Xiaotian showed the old video of Wang Ziqin confessing to Shen Yuan. Wang Ziqin didn’t deny it: “That’s me.”
Tang Xiaotian was confused: “But you just said that Shen… isn’t your boyfriend? Just someone you know?”
Wang Ziqin explained: “Not my boyfriend. I confessed, he didn’t accept, I was rejected.”
Tang Xiaotian was shocked.
Wang Ziqin thought for a moment, worried Tang Xiaotian might misinterpret. To justify his actions, he added: “I liked Shen Yuan. Some things online are true, some are false, but I wasn’t trying to get back at him. I… I…”
His heart ached: “I had hoped to study and return home to reconcile.”
Tang Xiaotian cautiously asked: “You… you liked a man?”
Coming out felt surprisingly daunting, but Wang Ziqin noticed something odd about Tang Xiaotian’s expression—not judgment or disgust, maybe even excitement?
He said: “Not really… I’ve only ever dated girls. I only liked Shen Yuan, a man.”
Tang Xiaotian: “Oh… so bisexual.”
Wang Ziqin didn’t really understand his own sexuality. Whatever—if you find true love, does it matter whether it’s a man or a woman?
A few days later, the culprit who had exposed Shen Yuan was found, and Wang Ziqin finally felt some peace.
Shen Yuan was famous now. Wang Ziqin secretly followed his updates online. Seeing Shen Yuan doing well, he felt both proud and bitter. Shen Yuan had a good eye—he truly loved someone wonderful—but it was no longer him. Still, he couldn’t fully let go.
He wished for a time machine. If he could go back, he would seize the chance and never let Shen Yuan slip by.
Coming out hadn’t affected Wang Ziqin’s relationship with his otaku roommate. Tang Xiaotian had no objections. Wang Ziqin was sure Tang Xiaotian was a virgin; his orientation wasn’t straight, gay, or bisexual—he was “2Dsexual,” only interested in fictional characters. Whenever Wang Ziqin heard a girl in Tang Xiaotian’s room shouting “Onii-chan~,” he got goosebumps.
Thus, they coexisted peacefully.
Months passed.
Wang Ziqin saw on social media that Shen Yuan had sent out wedding invitations—he was going to hold a ceremony with Qiao Hailou.
Wang Ziqin felt a sharp pang of jealousy.
He didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to see it, didn’t want to face it. But Shen Yuan hadn’t invited him, which felt unfair.
On impulse, Wang Ziqin asked Shen Yuan for an invitation. Shen Yuan still refused, even though Wang Ziqin had lowered himself.
In a fit of desperation, Wang Ziqin said: “I won’t disturb you… I have a boyfriend now.”
Remarkably, Shen Yuan agreed.
Wang Ziqin decided to dress in his finest, to show up and overshadow the aging, worn Qiao Hailou—make Shen Yuan notice.
But he needed a “boyfriend” to come with him.
He had no candidates, so he fixated on Tang Xiaotian for two days.
Tang Xiaotian, uncomfortable, asked: “Do you need something? Just say it. You’ve been staring at me for two days; I keep wondering if you sneaked into my room and messed with my figurines.”
Wang Ziqin blurted out: “I’m not interested in your figurines. I want to ask—do you want to be my boyfriend?”