Xu Zhengdong received a call from his sister.
She had cried all morning but finally felt relieved enough to tell him, “Xuanxuan is back. He seems fine, though I don’t know where he spent the night—his hair is a mess.”
“Did you ask him if anything happened?”
“I did. He said no, told me not to worry, and wouldn’t say where he went.”
Xu Zhengdong double-checked, “There are no injuries on him, right?”
“No, I’ve checked.”
Only then did Xu Zhengdong feel somewhat relieved.
He put down his phone and told his friend, “Sorry to trouble you; my nephew is back, but I still need you to check on someone for me. His name is Su Xingchuan.”
Half an hour later, his friend sent information about Su Xingchuan.
The name, age, and identity were all legitimate.
His family background was much as Xu Xingchuan had initially suspected—a normal, middle-class family. His parents worked in private enterprises but retired a couple of years ago and now lived in their hometown. Su Xingchuan had been diligent; he got into Nancheng High School and later attended University A.
Wait, University A?
Xu Zhengdong froze. Wasn’t Xiao Xuan also at University A?
This couldn’t be a coincidence. Xu Zhengdong felt a sense of unease.
Just then, his friend called.
“Mr. Xu, you asked me to look into Su Xingchuan’s past relationships. I dug a bit more, and it turns out that Su Xingchuan had a relationship during his university years—with a guy named…” His friend paused, disbelief coloring his tone, “Li Xuan?”
Xu Zhengdong raised an eyebrow.
Well, wasn’t that convenient?
His friend teased, “All jokes aside, Mr. Xu, your nephew and this guy do seem well-matched in terms of looks.”
“…” Xu Zhengdong was at a loss for words.
After observing him for three months and choosing him carefully, how could they not be a match?
He had first met Su Xingchuan at a business dinner.
Three months ago, Zhongjin began its Series A financing, and Yan Tao sensed an opportunity for cooperation, promptly bringing his Guangxin Securities team to the table. That day, Su Xingchuan accompanied Yan Tao to the dinner, and Xu Zhengdong immediately noticed him among the crowd.
Although Su Xingchuan was young, he was tactful and polished, always putting Yan Tao first and never showing off.
Xu Zhengdong’s first impression of him was quite positive.
To gain further insight into Zhongjin, Su Xingchuan proactively built a rapport with Xu Zhengdong’s secretary. After some time, the secretary also had a favorable impression of him. When Xu Zhengdong inquired, the secretary said that Su Xingchuan was currently single. Attempts to introduce him to women were politely declined, and there were no signs of him getting close to anyone.
Young, handsome, promising, fit, and well-dressed.
Single, uninterested in women.
Based on Xu Zhengdong’s twenty years of experience in the dating world, there was an 80% chance that Su Xingchuan wasn’t straight.
Xu Zhengdong had been planning to introduce Su Xingchuan to Xiao Xuan, believing that Xiao Xuan, with his peculiar personality, needed someone with a good temperament to take care of him.
But it turned out… his efforts were unnecessary.
The person he had carefully selected was actually Xiao Xuan’s ex. What a twist of fate.
He messaged his secretary, instructing Su Xingchuan to come to his office, but the secretary replied, [Mr. Xu, Guangxin Securities’ President Yan Tao said that Su Xingchuan is currently unwell, having recently undergone surgery and is still recovering. They’ve assigned a new person to the project.]
Unwell?
Xu Zhengdong scoffed.
In the surveillance footage, Su Xingchuan had carried Xiao Xuan out of the bar and into his car without a hitch. He had moved swiftly and returned him only after a whole night out—he didn’t seem unwell at all.
He instructed his secretary: [Tell Yan Tao that I insist Su Xingchuan handles this project from start to finish; otherwise, there’s no deal.]
—
For the third time, Li Xuan reassured his mother, “I’m really fine. Don’t worry about me. I just want to lie down for a bit.”
His mother patted his head. “Alright, I’ll leave you be. Let me know if you’re hungry.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
After she closed the door, Li Xuan pulled out a photo album from under his pillow. He curled up under the covers and, using the dim daylight, began flipping through the pages. The album was filled with photos of him and Su Xingchuan.
They had taken many photos when they were dating. When they broke up, Li Xuan had wanted to take them all, but Su Xingchuan had held onto half of them, looking at him coldly. Li Xuan didn’t dare argue and had hastily taken the other half.
He had meticulously laminated each one, placing them in the album.
In every picture, Su Xingchuan was always holding him, and he was always looking up, either asking for a kiss or kissing Su Xingchuan himself, always showing his intense love. In their eyes, there was only each other.
The last photo was taken a few days before their breakup.
At that time, he hadn’t known he would soon part ways with Su Xingchuan. He had taken Su Xingchuan up a mountain, rented a tent, and outside, there was a bonfire party. Su Xingchuan wanted to join, but he found it too noisy and clung to Su Xingchuan, refusing to let him go. Su Xingchuan had indulged his childish behavior, kissed his cheek, and said, “Alright, you selfish brat.”
Li Xuan had raised the camera and snapped a photo.
Click.
In the photo, Su Xingchuan’s eyes were full of affection.
Li Xuan missed that version of Su Xingchuan, the one with the warm embrace and the gentle temperament that made him feel guilty.
There would never be another.
Even though he had a loving family, with his parents, uncle, and aunt doting on him, he still missed Su Xingchuan so much.
Li Xuan buried his face in the album.
Just as tears were about to spill, there was a knock on the door, and Xu Zhengdong’s voice came through. “Are you awake?”
Li Xuan sniffled. “Yes.”
When Xu Zhengdong walked in, Li Xuan hurriedly stuffed the album under the covers.
“I heard someone didn’t come home last night.” Xu Zhengdong said.
Li Xuan’s expression stiffened, and he bit his lip, remaining silent.
“Do you know how long I spent looking for you this morning?” Xu Zhengdong’s tone grew serious.
“It won’t happen again,” Li Xuan mumbled.
Usually, Li Xuan was aloof with Xu Zhengdong, his easygoing uncle, but whenever he did something wrong, he would act all innocent. Seeing his pitiful expression, Xu Zhengdong didn’t have the heart to scold him further.
“This morning, I checked the surveillance footage from Grey Shore Bar.”
Li Xuan looked up at Xu Zhengdong sharply.
Xu Zhengdong got straight to the point. “I saw someone carrying you out of the bar.”
Li Xuan quickly said, “No, you must be mistaken.”
“I’m not mistaken.” Xu Zhengdong showed him a still from the video. “Do you not recognize this person?”
“No,” Li Xuan’s ears reddened. He grew flustered and denied, “I don’t know him.”
Xu Zhengdong had anticipated this. “Oh? Well, I’ve already reported it to the police to investigate.”
Li Xuan’s eyes widened, and he sat up abruptly, grabbing Xu Zhengdong’s arm. “Uncle, don’t call the police!”
The photo album flew out of his lap.
But Li Xuan didn’t care; he clung to Xu Zhengdong’s arm, pleading, “Please call them back. Tell them not to report it. I know him, I know him—it’s someone I know.”
It was the first time Xu Zhengdong had seen Li Xuan so agitated.
Although Li Xuan could be spoiled and willful, he was generally quiet. When he wanted something, he would ask his parents but never make a fuss. After studying abroad for three years and returning, he had become even more reserved and silent. The last time Xu Zhengdong saw him this frantic was right after his breakup.
And once again, it was over that man.
“The person was Su Xingchuan, wasn’t it?”
Li Xuan was stunned.
“The one who dated you during your second year of university. It was him.”
Li Xuan mumbled, “No.”
“I’ve already spoken to the police; as long as we know he’s safe, nothing else will happen. Don’t worry; it won’t affect him.”
Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Zhengdong picked up the album from the floor. On the cover were photos of Su Xingchuan and Li Xuan, hugging and kissing.
Although Li Xuan was twenty-seven now, he had always lived under the protective shield of his family, studying medicine and working in a stable environment. Xu Zhengdong couldn’t help but still see him as a child.
Like a delicate cabbage that had never faced hardship.
Watching the cabbage being taken away by a pig, Xu Zhengdong felt a bit bitter.
Li Xuan quickly snatched the album back, tucking it under his blanket.
Xu Zhengdong closed the door and sat down on the edge of Li Xuan’s bed, curiously asking, “Tell me, why did you two break up?”
Li Xuan refused to answer.
“Did he cheat?”
Li Xuan shook his head. Su Xingchuan would never do that.
Seeing Li Xuan’s silence, Xu Zhengdong’s curiosity got the better of him. “Su Xingchuan works at Guangxin Securities. Both he and his boss are practically begging me for the financing project. With just one word, I could decide how his New Year goes. Aren’t you afraid I’ll make things difficult for him?”
Li Xuan immediately said, “Don’t make things hard for him!”
Xu Zhengdong chuckled. “Still protecting him?”
“It wasn’t his fault we broke up, so don’t make things difficult for him.”
“Then what was it?”
“It was—” Li Xuan hesitated.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
It was sharp, disdainful, and filled with disgust—the voice of Su Xingchuan’s mother.
Whenever he thought about Su Xingchuan, whenever he wanted to see Su Xingchuan, that voice would return, scolding him for being selfish, mocking his cowardice, and leaving him feeling lost.
He was too afraid to recall those memories. He even tried to convince himself that he no longer loved Su Xingchuan.
But their unexpected reunion made him realize that trying to forget was pointless.
He couldn’t move on from Su Xingchuan.
“Uncle, I still really like him. He’s the only person I’ve ever loved.” His voice was soft.
Xu Zhengdong immediately said, “Then go after him. I’ll help you. It’s just Su Xingchuan—what’s so hard about that? I’ll bring him over for you as a birthday present. How about that?”
Li Xuan managed a tearful smile, but it quickly faded into a look of sorrow.
“He already has a boyfriend.”
“Who? What does he look like? Better-looking than you?”
Li Xuan showed him a picture he had found on Guangxin Securities’ website. “It’s his colleague, named Xie Liang.”
Xu Zhengdongtook the phone confidently, saying, “Doesn’t matter who it is. Don’t worry, Xiao Xuan. I’ll handle it. I’ll make sure you get Su—”
Before he could finish, he furrowed his brows.
Li Xuan had shown him a group photo from Guangxin Securities.
Xie Liang was standing on the right side.
This slightly overweight figure, the inexplicable vintage slicked-back hairstyle, the crocodile belt with gold buckle, short legs in pointy shoes, and the Rolex watch he was eager to show off from under his sleeve.
Xu Zhengdong: “…”
He glanced between Li Xuan and Xie Liang.
Then again at Li Xuan, and back at Xie Liang.
After a long pause, he finally said, “I didn’t expect Su Xingchuan to have such… diverse tastes.”
