Chapter 156
Su Bin was utterly surprised to see Huang Zhengming show up in this place.
After their friendship had ended in a dramatic falling out, Su Bin had imagined countless scenarios of running into his former best friend again—perhaps a chance encounter on the streets years later after returning home. However, as time passed and Su Bin became more focused on Ai Lun, those memories faded into irrelevance.
Since he had resolved to cut ties, whether he saw those who had let him down or not no longer mattered.
But what Su Bin hadn’t anticipated was that Huang Zhengming would come all the way to Country B to find him!
It had been nearly two years since their last fight, and most of Su Bin’s resentment had dissipated. Now, seeing Huang Zhengming didn’t evoke much anger, but he also couldn’t bring himself to treat the man as a stranger or pretend he didn’t exist.
So, at this moment, as their eyes met, Huang Zhengming stared straight at Su Bin. His face was as stoic as ever—like a stone—but his eyes seemed to be brimming with words unspoken, and there was even a glimmer of tears at the corners.
This left Su Bin feeling awkward for reasons he couldn’t quite explain. (=_=)
(Su Bin’s inner thoughts at this moment: Oh, come on, seriously? Seriously?! You know I don’t respond to pity, yet here you are, pulling this sad puppy act! =皿=)
“Su Bin, is this your friend?” Qin Chao broke the awkward silence, easing the tension in the room.
“Uh…” Su Bin glanced down and gave a noncommittal reply. He turned to Huang Zhengming and said, “Come in and sit down.”
Huang Zhengming: “…”
Though his expression didn’t visibly change, both the waiter and Qin Chao could sense that the man seemed to light up. Even his steps had a slight bounce of excitement.
“You two talk. I need to run to the tableware supplier. I’ll call you later.” Qin Chao, sensing there was history between the two, smiled knowingly and left.
Su Bin’s daily routine was pretty consistent now. He’d arrive at the restaurant around 10 a.m., prepare lunch to deliver to Ai Lun, and then spend the rest of the afternoon either working or having tea. By evening, he’d pack some food, pick up Ai Lun, and head home to have dinner with Yang Chengzhe and the others.
It was just after 3 p.m., and the restaurant was nearly empty. Ai Lun was busy today, so Su Bin had returned early. Whether it was coincidence or intentional timing, Huang Zhengming had chosen this quiet moment to visit.
Su Bin led him to the table in the farthest corner of the dining area. “Would you like something to drink?” Su Bin asked out of courtesy. Regardless of their past, a guest was a guest.
Huang Zhengming shook his head. “No need.”
Su Bin called over a server, who had been vacuuming nearby. “Bring us a pot of Ceylon tea,” he instructed.
They sat down, and Huang Zhengming remained silent. It wasn’t until the server returned with the tea—and a beautifully arranged three-tiered dessert tray—that the quiet was interrupted.
The tray held an assortment of exquisite treats: bite-sized sugarless coffee cakes, buttery shortbread fingers, gingerbread cookies shaped like little people, and “sweet pastries” that Ai Lun had specifically requested.
Su Bin poured a cup of tea for Huang Zhengming. The rich fruity aroma of the Ceylon tea was soothing, and with the addition of milk, the flavor became even more creamy and indulgent.
Huang Zhengming watched as Su Bin skillfully stirred the tea with a small silver spoon. His movements were practiced, natural—not at all affected. His attire—a simple embroidered cotton shirt layered with a neutral-toned plaid vest—was unremarkable but gave him a refined, gentlemanly air.
The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on their corner of the room. The soft autumn light touched the edge of Su Bin’s seat, accentuating his delicate and serene demeanor.
It was still the same face Huang Zhengming knew, the same features. Yet, looking at him now, Huang Zhengming felt as though he were seeing a stranger.
Su Bin slid the tea cup gently toward him without saying a word.
Gone were the days when Su Bin would chat endlessly, completely open and trusting in his presence.
Huang Zhengming picked up the cup and drank it in one go. His rough, masculine style couldn’t have been further from Su Bin’s refined sipping.
“You didn’t use to drink this,” Huang Zhengming finally spoke.
When they had first met, Su Bin had a sweet tooth, favoring drinks like Wahaha AD Calcium Milk and cola. Later, he went through a phase where he was obsessed with Fanta, sticking his yellow-stained tongue out to tease Huang Zhengming.
When he dated Chen Xiaotian, she introduced him to bubble tea, which he drank for a while. Then, during university, their group outings often involved beer—three or four bottles of Tsingtao at a time, though Su Bin clearly didn’t enjoy it.
What Su Bin had loved the most was a watermelon-flavored soda they used to drink in middle school, especially when it was ice-cold. It was sour, refreshing, and endlessly satisfying, though it eventually disappeared from the market.
To Huang Zhengming, Su Bin seemed like someone who would never outgrow carbonated drinks. Yet here he was, drinking red tea like some cultured gentleman.
Su Bin was momentarily taken aback by the comment. While afternoon tea was a celebrated tradition in Country B, he had rarely indulged in it when he first arrived. However, Ai Lun enjoyed it, and during a quiet three-month break from the busy restaurant, Su Bin had often joined him for tea after delivering lunch.
Through those afternoons of casually flipping through books or napping in Ai Lun’s study, Su Bin gradually picked up the habit. Watching Ai Lun handle the tea set, he learned how to prepare and appreciate tea, eventually discovering that the experience was genuinely relaxing.
So now, whenever the clock struck mid-afternoon, tea had become a natural part of his day.
Calling for the tea earlier had simply been instinctive—partly out of habit and partly because Huang Zhengming hadn’t asked for anything specific.
As for the dessert tray, it featured Su Bin and Ai Lun’s regular favorites. Every few days, Su Bin would bake a fresh batch at the restaurant, reserving some for the staff and bringing the rest to Ai Lun.
After making his comment, Huang Zhengming stared at Su Bin again, his gaze deep and—dare one say—emotional.
Su Bin felt awkward. He didn’t know how to respond to the intensity of the look.
“Why did you come here?” Su Bin could only start with the most fundamental question.
“I’m here for my master’s degree at M University,” Huang Zhengming replied.
Su Bin raised a brow internally. Well, that’s unexpected.
Back in the day, foreigners hardly differentiated between Chinese universities beyond Tsinghua and Peking University. To them, Su Bin’s provincial university and Huang Zhengming’s Tier-1 university were essentially the same. However, applying to foreign schools prioritized GPA over reputation, meaning a student from a lesser-known school with a higher GPA had better chances than someone from a Tier-1 school with a mediocre record.
The fact that Huang Zhengming managed to get into M University impressed Su Bin, especially since he knew how lackluster Huang Zhengming’s grades were in college. He even flunked a course during freshman year, a definite disadvantage for studying abroad.
Thinking about this brought an old grudge to the forefront of Su Bin’s mind. Why is life so unfair? I worked so hard, had stellar grades, and even planned ahead for my future. Yet Chen Xiaotian still dumped me, claiming I wasn’t ambitious enough. Meanwhile, this guy? Academically worse than me in every way! She left me for him?
Su Bin’s teeth clenched involuntarily. Was I blinded by love or just stupidity back then?
Breaking the silence, Huang Zhengming explained, “I know my grades were bad in my first two years, but I retook my courses in senior year to improve my GPA. I also had to sit for IELTS multiple times before meeting M University’s requirements.”
Retaking courses to boost GPA wasn’t unheard of. Some universities allowed students to retake exams to improve their academic records—a lifeline for those who messed up during their early years.
Su Bin knew Huang Zhengming was intelligent and capable when he put in the effort. It made sense he could pull this off. But the thought of this last-minute scramble paying off while Su Bin himself only held a bachelor’s degree still left him simmering with frustration. This guy brushed past me to get a master’s? Seriously?
“B Country has so many universities. Why M University?” Su Bin asked with a frown. Don’t tell me you came all this way to pester me for forgiveness.
To Su Bin’s dismay, Huang Zhengming replied straightforwardly, “To see you.”
Caught off guard, Su Bin stammered, “You could’ve just come on a tourist visa!”
“Tourist visas are too short,” Huang Zhengming said matter-of-factly.
Why do you need so much time just to ‘see me’? Su Bin grumbled internally but kept his composure. “It must’ve cost you a fortune to study here for a year—at least 200,000 yuan, right?”
Huang Zhengming nodded. “Yeah. It’s my parents’ savings for a down payment on a house for me.”
Su Bin stared, stunned. “Was that really necessary?”
After a pause, Huang Zhengming asked softly, “Are you still mad at me?”
The question hung in the air, stirring up an uncomfortable mixture of memories. Su Bin suddenly recalled that night outside the Hyatt Hotel—Huang Zhengming shouting his name again and again, his voice cracking with desperation. The thought alone sent a chill down Su Bin’s spine.
But Su Bin had never considered anything beyond the obvious. Huang Zhengming’s actions with Chen Xiaotian screamed “jerk move” typical of a straight guy. Su Bin couldn’t imagine any hidden romantic undertones. They’d shared nearly a decade of platonic friendship; if Huang Zhengming were into guys, wouldn’t it have surfaced by now?
I can’t assume everyone’s bent just because I am now, Su Bin told himself firmly, brushing the thought aside.
Still, he couldn’t understand why Huang Zhengming was so fixated on his forgiveness. It’s been two years. Most people would’ve moved on by now. Why hasn’t he?
Even if Su Bin forgave him, what then? Things could never return to how they used to be.
“Let bygones be bygones,” Su Bin finally said, repeating advice his senior had once given him. “People need to look forward, right?”
He tried to sound reassuring, but the words felt hollow coming from his mouth. Why does it feel like I’m the guilty party here?
Huang Zhengming didn’t respond.
Su Bin glanced up at him, only to find those tearful, imploring eyes fixed on him again. He froze.
“Stop looking at me like that!” Su Bin blurted, flustered.