Today, Su Xingchuan received two unexpected messages. The first was from Yan Tao.
Yan Tao: [Mr. Xu from Zhongjin has specifically requested you to handle the financing project from start to finish. There’s a meeting at 2 PM to discuss the contract and other details of the project.]
What? Xu Zhengdong specifically asked for him?
Before he could respond, another message from Xu Zhengdong came in right after: [Meet me at the Private Dining Restaurant on Changting Street at 5 PM.]
Su Xingchuan was completely bewildered.
Just as he was about to seek out Yan Tao, Zhou Jing stormed into his office.
Zhou Jing, having just learned that the Zhongjin project had been given to Su Xingchuan, was furious. He pointed at Su Xingchuan, accusing him of being a scheming backstabber who pretended one way while acting differently behind the scenes.
Xie Liang happened to pass by and immediately intervened, stepping between them. He sneered, “Pretending one way while acting differently? Zhou Manager, are you talking about yourself? Seems pretty accurate.”
Zhou Jing slammed the desk, “You!”
Xie Liang, who had never liked Zhou Jing, didn’t hold back. Since they were in different departments, Xie Lang wasn’t afraid of him. He kept taunting, “Xingchuan took a two-week sick leave, and you spent that entire time whispering in Yan Tao’s ear to steal the Zhongjin project. And now? All that effort for nothing—does it feel good?”
Zhou Jing, enraged, snapped back, “This has nothing to do with you!”
Fortunately, Yan Tao stepped in to stop them before things escalated further. Zhou Jing, unable to do anything more, reluctantly returned to his office.
This left Su Xingchuan alone in his office with a headache.
Once the contract was signed, Xu Zhengdong would effectively become his boss. For the foreseeable future, he’d have to face Xu Zhengdong daily, bowing and scraping before his romantic rival, trying to curry favor…
He couldn’t do it.
For the first time, Su Xingchuan felt daunted by his work. It wasn’t that he was afraid of Xu Zhengdong; he just didn’t know how to face him. If they were proper rivals, it might have been different. But what was he now? A third wheel?
Not even that—Li Xuan hadn’t shown him any kindness. It was only his stubborn attachment to this lingering feeling that kept him holding on.
What a joke.
As his mood darkened, his body also felt unwell.
He had been utterly exhausted lately, not properly resting or recuperating post-surgery. Although it was a minimally invasive procedure, it still took a toll on his strength. He sat in his office chair alone, taking a long time to steady himself.
At times like these, he especially missed Li Xuan and the beautiful mornings they once shared when he’d wake up with Li Xuan in his arms.
After an entire day of hesitation, he finally picked up his coat and drove to the Private Dining Restaurant on Changting Street.
At first, Su Xingchuan didn’t pay attention to the location. It was only when he drove past the bar where Li Xuan had gotten drunk that he realized—could it be… did Xu Zhengdong find out something?
He did his best to stay calm.
In the car, he adjusted his collar and hair, then closed the car door and walked towards the restaurant. The entrance was inconspicuous—a small wooden, antique-style door—but inside, it revealed a hidden, serene setting.
He told the server, “I’m here to see Mr. Xu from Zhongjin.”
The server immediately understood and smiled, leading him to Private Room No. 1. “Mr. Su, this way.”
As Su Xingchuan walked in, he saw that the large private room only had Xu Zhengdong inside, who looked up as he entered, appearing as though he had been waiting for some time.
“You’re here,” Xu Zhengdong said.
Su Xingchuan remained standing by the table, suppressing the resentment and frustration he felt deep down, and tried to maintain a polite and cordial demeanor as he greeted him. “Long time no see, Mr. Xu.”
“It has been a while.” Xu Zhengdong looked him up and down with that familiar scrutinizing gaze, then smiled slightly, asking, “What’s been keeping you so busy lately that you even handed off my project?”
Since Xu Zhengdong brought up the project, Su Xingchuan had no choice but to explain.
“I apologize, Mr. Xu. I haven’t been well recently.”
“Unwell?”
Xu Zhengdong raised an eyebrow. “You’re unwell, yet who was the person who carried Xiao Xuan out of the bar the night before last? Wasn’t that you?”
Su Xingchuan’s heart began to race.
His suspicion was correct—Xu Zhengdong had found out!
Xu Zhengdong continued, “Xiao Xuan is at least 1.76 meters tall. To carry a grown man like that and walk steadily—you sure didn’t look unwell.”
Su Xingchuan’s face changed.
Xu Zhengdong knew. He had seen the surveillance footage.
So that’s why he had chosen to meet on Changting Street.
What else had he seen? Did he see Li Xuan curling up on the couch, snuggling into his arms? Or just him carrying Li Xuan away?
For a moment, Su Xingchuan’s breathing was completely off rhythm.
Xu Zhengdong found his reaction amusing, raising an eyebrow. “By the way, I haven’t told you yet—I’m Xiao Xuan’s—”
Before Xu Zhengdong could finish, Su Xingchuan cut him off. “I know about your relationship!”
“You know?” Xu Zhengdong looked puzzled.
Su clenched his fists, his eyes filled with anger and frustration. “Mr. Xu, what happened that night was my decision and had nothing to do with Li Xuan. He was drunk, and nothing happened that night.”
Xu Zhengdong thought to himself: Good, I was right about him.
After a pause, Su Xingchuan continued, “But I like Li Xuan—I’ve liked him for many years!”
“Is that so?”
Just as Xu Zhengdong was about to respond with satisfaction, Su Xingchuan added, “Mr. Xu, you’re the client, my senior at work, and I should cherish this opportunity. But since I’ve already said it, I don’t care anymore. If you treat Li Xuan well, I won’t interfere in your relationship. But if you don’t, I will win him back!”
“…”
Xu Zhengdong was speechless.
What was this?
What did he mean by “I won’t interfere in your relationship”?
How could he interfere in an uncle-nephew relationship—
Xu Zhengdong suddenly realized the misunderstanding and laughed inwardly.
Su Xingchuan had misunderstood the nature of his relationship with Xiao Xuan.
No wonder this guy, after working hard for three months on the financing project, had suddenly given up these past few days.
Xu Zhengdong quickly figured out that work was not the priority.
The priority was that Xiao Xuan had told him he still liked Su Xingchuan, and now Su Xingchuan was saying he still liked Xiao Xuan—wasn’t this perfect?
Wait, but he remembered that Su Xingchuan had a boyfriend.
This guy actually had a boyfriend?
Xu Zhengdong looked Su Xingchuan up and down.
What he liked most about Su Xingchuan was his ability to control his emotions. In the past, he had intentionally made things difficult for Su Xingchuan several times, delaying documents, yet Su Xingchuan always managed to handle the negative emotions. Even now, though he was clearly on the brink of anger, he remained composed. His fists clenched tightly, his tall figure stood straight, his head held high—no signs of losing his cool.
Xu Zhengdong thought: He’s a steady and dependable person. Given how heartfelt his words are, could there be some reason behind his behavior?
At that moment, Li Xuan arrived at the door.
As soon as he finished work, he received a call from Xu Zhengdong.
“Your uncle is having dinner with Su Xingchuan today. Do you want to see him?”
Usually, when Xu Zhengdong invited him to dinner, Li Xuan always declined. But this time, he didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Then, fearing Xu Zhengdong would tease him, he added coldly, “The hospital is busy, so I might not make it.”
Xu Zhengdong chuckled lightly but didn’t expose him.
Li Xuan repeatedly warned him, “Uncle, don’t say anything reckless. He has a boyfriend; don’t do anything unethical.”
Xu Zhengdong had a history of romantic escapades and had rarely done anything ethical in his love life. But for his nephew, he promised to behave. “Alright, I won’t make things difficult for him.”
Despite Xu Zhengdong’s assurance, Li Xuan felt uneasy. He was afraid that Xu Zhengdong would knock Su Xingchuan out and tie him up, bringing him to his bed—something Xu Zhengdong was entirely capable of.
He rushed to the restaurant as soon as he got off work, asked the server for directions, and hurried to the private room. When he reached the door, he hesitated—Su Xingchuan was standing inside, his back to him.
Seeing Su Xingchuan’s broad back and his slightly bowed head, Li Xuan suddenly felt nervous, too afraid to enter.
It wasn’t until Xu Zhengdong called out, “Xiao Xuan, come in,” that he snapped back to reality. Su Xingchuan also turned to look at him.
Their eyes met, and Su Xingchuan’s gaze revealed a fleeting sadness. Li Xuan instinctively held his breath.
It was rare for him to see such an expression in Su Xingchuan’s eyes. Most of the time, Su Xingchuan was warm, confident, and accommodating, always patient with his tantrums. Su Xingchuan rarely looked sad, except during their breakup.
When he insisted on breaking up, Su Xingchuan had looked at him with that same sad expression, asking repeatedly why.
Seeing that look again made Li Xuan’s heart ache, as if suffocating. His throat felt blocked, but what could he say?
What could he do now that things had reached this point?
“Xiao Xuan, come sit down.”
The round table had space for eight, so the three of them sitting felt spacious. Initially, Li Xuan wanted to sit between Xu Zhengdong and Su Xingchuan, but Xu Zhengdong stood up, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him closer. “Come sit here.”
Xu Zhengdong whispered in his ear, “Don’t call me uncle.”
Li Xuan frowned. “What?”
Xu Zhengdong said softly, “Just don’t ask why yet. I’m gathering intelligence for you.”
Li Xuan pursed his lips, staying silent. He sat beside Xu Zhengdong, who then addressed Su Xingchuan, “Su Xingchuan, have a seat.”
Su Xingchuan’s expression was dark, but he sat down.
He was seated directly across from Li Xuan. Their eyes met frequently, only to quickly avoid each other.
Su Xingchuan didn’t want to look at what was in front of him—Li Xuan sitting next to Xu Zhengdong. Although there was an age gap between them, Xu Zhengdong still exuded a gentlemanly charm. He smiled warmly at Li Xuan, just like how Su Xingchuan once did.
It was odd—despite Li Xuan’s usual cold demeanor, like a proud little cat unwilling to engage, he always managed to make others smile at him.
Su Xingchuan lowered his gaze, feeling a growing jealousy.
Yet, amidst his jealousy, something felt off.
Li Xuan’s facial features bore a resemblance to Xu Zhengdong’s.
Xu Zhengdong broke the silence, feigning sincerity as he introduced, “Xiao Xuan, Su Xingchuan here was your college classmate, right? He’s currently managing the financing project for Zhongjin. He’s very capable.”
Li Xuan remained cold, merely responding with an “Mm” while fidgeting with the napkin folded into a boat shape.
Su Xingchuan thought, He’s going to start folding it again.
Sure enough, the next second, Li Xuan unfolded the napkin.
Whenever he felt uncomfortable, he would distract himself by doing this. Back then, he would also play with Su Xingchuan’s shirt hem, repeatedly unbuckle Su Xingchuan’s watch, or rest his legs on Su Xingchuan’s lap, muttering, “Let’s go somewhere fun.”
Li Xuan had always been childish.
Xu Zhengdong and Su Xingchuan exchanged a few words about work as the servers brought in dishes one after another.
Xu Zhengdong deliberately fawned over Li Xuan, exaggerating his compliments as he placed food on Li Xuan’s plate. Li Xuan glanced at Su Xingchuan repeatedly, but Su Xingchuan, with a tense expression, hadn’t even picked up his chopsticks.
Noticing this, Xu Zhengdong directly addressed the topic, “Su Xingchuan, I heard from Xiao Xuan that you have a boyfriend, and he’s your colleague. When will you bring him along so we can all have dinner together?”
Both Su Xingchuan and Li Xuan looked up simultaneously.
Su Xingchuan had almost forgotten that he’d used Xie Liang as an excuse to save face. He hadn’t expected Li Xuan to share this detail with Xu Zhengdong.
Were they that close?
His previous declaration and challenge now felt like a joke.
Win Li Xuan back? He didn’t even have the right to say such a thing.
Su Xingchuan felt a tightness in his chest as if he could barely breathe. Yet, he forced himself to stay composed, managing a slight smile. “Sure, he’s been wanting to meet Mr. Xu too.”
Li Xuan’s expression became visibly downcast.
He clenched the napkin tightly in his hand, crumpling it.
Xu Zhengdong, recalling what Li Xuan had previously asked him, probed further, “Su Xingchuan, do your parents know you like men?”
“They know.”
“And do they approve?”
“I haven’t explicitly told them, so I don’t know for sure, but they’re quite open-minded.”
Li Xuan lowered his head further, his nose tingling with a surge of emotion.
Su Xingchuan had no idea.
Idiot.
Noticing Li Xuan’s dejection, Xu Zhengdong placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, gently rubbing it before turning to Su Xingchuan again. “So, did you meet this boyfriend after college?”
Su Xingchuan didn’t understand why Xu Zhengdong was asking all these questions.
This was well beyond the scope of a professional relationship, and even if they were romantic rivals, there was no need to discuss such matters.
He glanced up and saw Xu Zhengdong’s hand resting on Li Xuan’s shoulder. Instantly, he felt a surge of anger. Though he didn’t want to respond, he couldn’t help but say, “No, it was after my college boyfriend and I broke up.”
Li Xuan stared at him in a daze.
Su Xingchuan looked into his eyes and spoke with emphasis, “I have to thank my college boyfriend. I used to think he turned me, but then I realized that one’s orientation is innate. I don’t just like—”
Before Su Xingchuan could finish, Li Xuan interrupted:
“Don’t say it!”
Even though he already knew Su Xingchuan had a new partner, he couldn’t bear to hear it directly. Not a single word. Just like when Su Xingchuan used to attend debate club, he’d stubbornly say: You’re not allowed to go!
Li Xuan had many “you’re not allowed” phrases, and Su Xingchuan had many “okay, okay” responses. Even after seven years, Su Xingchuan still listened to Li Xuan.
The atmosphere turned awkward.
Both Su Xingchuan and Li Xuan fell into silence.
Xu Zhengdong glanced at both of them, feeling somewhat out of place. After some thought, he cleared his throat, pretending to check his phone, and announced, “Uh… I’ve got an issue at work.”
Su Xingchuan felt uneasy.
Xu Zhengdong stood up. “I need to head back and take care of it. You two continue eating. Xiao Xuan, make sure you eat more shrimp.”
He grabbed his coat and left. Before Su Xingchuan could even bid him farewell, the door opened and closed, leaving Su Xingchuan confused. What was going on? Xu left him alone with Li Xuan—was this a test?
The room became quiet.
Li Xuan didn’t want to waste the rare time he had alone with Su Xingchuan, but he didn’t know what to say. He could only focus on the shrimp.
Unfortunately, today’s shrimp was difficult to peel. He struggled with it for a while, feeling increasingly frustrated. Just as he was about to give up, Su Xingchuan placed a bowl of peeled shrimp in front of him.
Su Xingchuan had moved to sit next to him, as he used to, diligently peeling shrimp. He spoke with the same familiarity, “I’ve told you so many times, and you still don’t remember. You need to twist the shell a bit when peeling shrimp.”
Li Xuan looked at him blankly.
Then he lowered his head, muttering, “I hate you.”
Su Xingchuan paused.
