Li Xuan followed Xie Liang to the lobby and watched as Xie Liang let the woman sit on a bench before going to the self-service machine alone.
It seemed he was checking when the report would be ready.
After Xie Liang sat back down, Li Xuan pulled up his mask and approached a volunteer in a red vest near the self-service machine. He asked in a low voice, “What kind of test did that man just do?”
The volunteer thought for a moment. “I think it was a sperm quality test.”
Li Xuan froze.
Who would need such a test? Engaged couples or married couples struggling to conceive.
But wasn’t Xie Liang gay?
He turned to look at Xie Liang.
Xie Liang hadn’t noticed Li Xuan, whose face was half-covered by the mask. He was chatting with the woman beside him. They sat close together on the bench, with Xie Liang leaning toward her. The woman took the report from Xie Liang’s hand and pulled out her phone, seemingly comparing something as they whispered to each other, appearing very intimate.
Not just intimate—there was a sense of familiarity between them.
The kind of chemistry that comes only after years together.
Li Xuan took a step forward, uncertain of what to do next. Just then, his supervisor messaged him on WeChat, urging him to return, so he had no choice but to leave.
After his shift, he called Xu Zhengdong, asking him to investigate Xie Liang. Xu Zhengdong, upon hearing this, said sharply, “There’s no need for that, Xiao Xuan. If you want to make a move, Su Xingchuan is right here in your uncle’s company. There’s no need to take a roundabout way to check on his boyfriend. With a few tricks, I could make him cry—”
“Uncle, if you act crazy again, I’ll tell my mom.”
“…”
Li Xuan, annoyed, said, “I’m only worried he might be deceiving both Su Xingchuan and that woman. What are you even thinking?”
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Xu Zhengdong replied, “Alright, alright, I’ll check it out for you.”
Li Xuan anxiously waited all night, losing sleep again.
If Xie Liang really had a girlfriend or even a wife, did that mean he might still have a chance with Su Xingchuan?
Did Su Xingchuan still like him?
Could he pursue Su Xingchuan again?
Tossing and turning, his thoughts tangled into a headache.
The next day, Xu Zhengdong delivered shocking news: Xie Liang had been in a relationship with a woman named Xue Ningzi for five years.
He even sent a photo of Xue Ningzi.
It was the same young woman who was with Xie Liang yesterday.
Li Xuan felt a throb at his temples. What should he do now? He had to act.
Growing up, Li Xuan had always lived under the protection of his family. He rarely had the strong will to take initiative. Most of the time, whenever he wanted something, his parents or uncle would provide it. Studying was easy for him, and becoming a doctor wasn’t complicated either. Even winning over Su Xingchuan hadn’t taken much effort; he only had to act spoiled for less than a month before Su Xingchuan became his boyfriend and pampered him endlessly.
The breakup at twenty was a turning point for Li Xuan, pushing him back into his family’s protective circle, making him even more afraid to step out.
He put down his phone, his hands slowly clenching.
No, he couldn’t avoid it this time.
He had to do something. He couldn’t keep running away.
.
Su Xingchuan walked out of the office, exhausted, just as Xu Zhengdong’s secretary passed by and winked at him. “Have you upset Mr. Xu lately? He’s been in a foul mood every time he mentions you. He used to really appreciate you.”
Su Xingchuan chuckled lightly. “I may have crossed a line.”
“What happened?”
He shook his head.
“You’ve been looking so worn out lately. Is it because of work or are you unwell? Look at your face—you have no energy.”
He rubbed his temples and sighed. “I’ve just been too busy. When this project is over, I plan to take a long vacation.”
It wasn’t just the workload; he was emotionally drained.
Seeing Xu Zhengdong, he struggled not to feel jealous and even, at times, humiliated. He often wondered if he were more capable, more outstanding, would Li Xuan come back to him? But merely thinking wasn’t enough. He could only channel his emotions into work, keeping himself so busy he barely had time to think.
“Take a break for yourself. Oh,” the secretary suddenly remembered, teasingly asking, “Has Mr. Xu set you up with anyone?”
“What?”
The secretary looked surprised. “Mr. Xu didn’t tell you? Did I misunderstand? He asked if you had a partner. I thought he might be trying to set you up with someone.”
“When was this?”
“About two months ago,” she replied.
Feeling puzzled, he exchanged a few words with her before walking alone to the elevator, thinking to himself: he really must be tired lately. After retrieving his car from the parking lot, he drove to the entrance of Zhongjin, where he saw a familiar figure standing by the roadside.
It was Li Xuan.
Li Xuan liked to stand on the edge of the curb, balancing himself by leaning forward.
Just like now.
Though Su Xingchuan knew Li Xuan wasn’t waiting for him, he still gave in to his masochistic urge and stopped the car in front of him, rolling down the window. Li Xuan looked up and saw him.
Their eyes met.
Feigning indifference, Su Xingchuan said, “No need to wait. Mr. Xu has an event tonight and won’t be coming back to the office.”
Li Xuan replied, “I’m here for you.”
Su Xingchuan was stunned, his thoughts momentarily slowing.
“What?”
“I’m here for you,” Li Xuan repeated.
Suddenly, the exhaustion weighing on Su Xingchuan lifted.
He came for him?
Not for Xu Zhengdong, but for him?
Before he could process this, Li Xuan added, “Can I get in your car? I want to go somewhere.”
His words were vague, offering no explanation, and his expression was cold, showing no hint of asking for a favor. Though every part of Su Xingchuan told him he should refuse—refuse this ex-boyfriend who showed up out of the blue—he simply couldn’t.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Get in.”
Li Xuan opened the passenger door and sat down.
Su Xingchuan noticed that Li Xuan didn’t have his backpack with him, and his hair was a bit messy, as if he had rushed here straight from work just to wait for him at Zhongjin’s entrance. Despite himself, this thought brought a hint of joy.
“Where to?”
Li Xuan sent an address through WeChat.
When he opened it, he saw it was a restaurant.
Sarcastically, he said, “Going out to eat? Shouldn’t we invite Mr. Xu? Just the two of us doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“Hurry up and drive.” Li Xuan frowned, looking serious.
“…”
In his past life, he must have owed Li Xuan a fortune; otherwise, why did he feel like Li Xuan’s servant in this life?
The car pulled away from Zhongjin Group and headed toward Huajiang Street. Li Xuan glanced at the message from his uncle: “Xie Liang and his girlfriend are currently dining at the Francis Restaurant downtown.”
He felt an urge to rush there immediately to expose Xie Liang’s true nature.
But if he exposed Xie Liang, would it upset Su Xingchuan?
He turned his head slightly, looking at Su Xingchuan.
Sensing his gaze, Su Xingchuan straightened up, “What is it?”
Li Xuan lowered his head again.
What he feared most was seeing Li Xuan like this—looking so helpless and vulnerable.
Trying to find something to say, he commented, “It’s 4.3 kilometers. A taxi would cost at least fifteen yuan, but here you are, getting a free ride—”
Li Xuan suddenly interrupted him, “Su Xingchuan, do you really like your current boyfriend?”
“Huh?”
The lie he had told was so outrageous that every time Li Xuan mentioned Xie Liang, he couldn’t react immediately.
Li Xuan’s hands were clenched tightly on his lap, his fingertips pale. “How much do you like him?”
He wanted to ask: Do you like him as much as you once liked me?
For a moment, Su Xingchuan didn’t know how to respond.
He had a nagging feeling that something was off—Li Xuan’s behavior was odd, and so was Xu Zhengdong’s.
And that wasn’t even considering what his secretary had mentioned today.
Or their last meeting.
Something about the way Xu Zhengdong treated him felt off—contradictory, even bizarre.
He wasn’t just Li Xuan’s ex; he was the ex who kept pursuing Li Xuan, the one who had once vowed before Xu Zhengdong that he would always love Li Xuan. Yet, Xu Zhengdong, rather than holding a grudge, entrusted him with Zhongjin’s project and treated him like any other employee. Looking out at the bare trees by the roadside, he suddenly remembered Xu Zhengdong’s words: “A dead tree cannot be carved.”
An eagerness stirred within him, an urge to speak up. Seven years had passed; he had held onto a four-month relationship for seven years. Even after all
this time, he still loved Li Xuan. Didn’t Li Xuan deserve to know this?
“Actually, I’m not even with—”
“Let’s talk when we get there,” Li Xuan interrupted again.
Li Xuan was becoming increasingly anxious.
He couldn’t bear to hear anything that might affect his emotions right now. He was about to do something right, but it came from a selfish place. He glanced sideways at Su Xingchuan, feeling an ache in his chest.
He still wanted to go back to him.
They soon arrived at their destination. Squinting, Su Xingchuan read the restaurant’s name: “Francis Restaurant. Isn’t this Xie Liang’s favorite spot? Do you like it too?”
Li Xuan’s expression stiffened.
He silently got out of the car, and Su Xingchuan quickly followed.
The restaurant wasn’t crowded. After scanning the room, Li Xuan immediately spotted Xie Liang and Xue Ningzi sitting on the southwest side.
They were chatting and laughing as they ate.
“You said you didn’t like this kind of food, didn’t you?” Su Xingchuan asked.
Li Xuan turned to him, his breath quick and anxious, but he saw that Su Xingchuan was casually flipping through the menu, completely unaware of the situation’s seriousness and urgency. “What do you want to eat?” he asked.
Worried about wasting time, Li Xuan hesitated for a few seconds before grabbing the sleeve of Su Xingchuan’s coat and pulling him forward, pointing southwest. “Look over there.”
Following his direction, Su Xingchuan immediately recognized Xie Liang and Xue Ningzi.
He had often dined with them before. Xie Liang loved to bring his girlfriend along wherever he went. Since he was a year younger than Xue Ningzi, he called her ‘sister-in-law.’ Before she knew he was gay, she had even enthusiastically tried to set him up with someone.
Seeing no reaction from Su Xingchuan, Li Xuan became desperate.
“That’s your boyfriend, isn’t it? He’s having dinner with a woman—do you see that? Yesterday, he and that woman were at the hospital for a sperm test. They’re trying for a baby! They’ve been together for five years!”
Clutching his sleeve, Li Xuan spoke passionately, nearly tearing his coat. “Look carefully! Do you see it?”
Su Xingchuan stared at Li Xuan in disbelief.
“You idiot, say something…” Li Xuan felt aggrieved and guilty, gripping his sleeve tightly. “He’s no good. He’s two-timing. Don’t you see you’re being deceived?”
Su Xingchuan continued staring at Li Xuan.
Was he imagining things? Why did he see glimpses of the past in Li Xuan’s eyes?
Li Xuan’s voice choked. “Do you still like him?”
Su Xingchuan’s eyes lit up with sudden joy.
It wasn’t just his imagination.
Li Xuan still cared about him!
He grabbed Li Xuan’s wrist, too overwhelmed to speak, wanting nothing more than to embrace him. “What did you just say?”
But Li Xuan pulled away. “Su Xingchuan!”
He tried to pull him back into his arms.
Li Xuan couldn’t understand his reaction. He had never dealt with such situations and didn’t know how to handle a cheater. But he couldn’t watch both Su Xingchuan and the woman be deceived. He wanted Su Xingchuan to step up and address the situation, but instead, he just stood there, grinning foolishly. “Can you say it again?”
Li Xuan pushed his arm away and turned decisively.
He walked quickly toward Xie Liang.
His uncle had always called him immature, said he had no sense of responsibility, that he was used to others handling everything for him and would run at the first sign of trouble. When Su Xingchuan’s mother confronted him back then, he had run away in tears. That mistake had cost him seven years.
This time, Li Xuan thought, I’m not running away.
He stormed up to Xie Liang’s table.
Xie Liang was discussing wedding photos with his fiancée. “Babe, I don’t think outdoor photos suit the weather. The studio we saw yesterday would be perfect…”
As he spoke, Xie Liang suddenly sensed a chilly presence.
Turning, he saw Li Xuan, fuming like an angry pufferfish, standing menacingly by his table.
Surprised, he said, “Oh? Dr. Li?”
The next second, Li Xuan pointed at him, addressing Xue Ningzi, “Miss Xue, he’s gay. Don’t let him fool you!”
The other customers and waitstaff turned to look, their eyes shifting to Xie Liang, some filled with disgust.
Xie Liang: “…”
Xue Ningzi: “…”
Su Xingchuan: “…”
After a half-minute of silence, Xie Liang let out a wail, “Su Xingchuan! Get your damned ex-boyfriend out of here!!”
