Li Xuan was tightly held in Su Xingchuan’s embrace.
“Xuan Xuan, you don’t need to prove anything to my mom.”
Li Xuan choked back his tears. “Yes, I do.”
“Why? Does that mean if my mom doesn’t approve, we can’t be together?”
Li Xuan paused, confused. Isn’t that how it was supposed to be?
Su Xingchuan cupped his face, gently wiping away his tears with his thumb. “No, it doesn’t matter if she approves or not—we’re going to be together because I can’t wait any longer.”
Li Xuan, his eyes still teary, looked up at him.
Su Xingchuan continued, “What happened seven years ago was my fault. I should have informed my parents earlier and prepared them. If Xuan Xuan is at fault at all, it’s only for not telling me what happened back then.”
Li Xuan’s lips trembled, and he began to cry even harder.
“I don’t want you to confront my mother. This is my issue to resolve. Xuan Xuan, you are already excellent,” Su Xingchuan whispered into his ear, “a good boy; you don’t need to prove anything.”
Li Xuan buried his face in Su Xingchuan’s shoulder, muttering in a muffled voice, “Don’t talk to me like that.”
His small temper, dormant for seven years, was beginning to show again.
Unable to resist, Su Xingchuan nuzzled his forehead like he used to. “You haven’t had dinner yet, right? Let’s go home, have dinner, and then get some rest. I’ll pick you up for work tomorrow, okay?”
“What about your mom?”
“I’ll handle it.”
Li Xuan clung tightly to Su Xingchuan’s shoulders, pressing himself against him.
As long as Su Xingchuan was there, Li Xuan always felt safe.
After returning home, Su Xingchuan had another argument with He Ning. She still couldn’t understand his feelings for Li Xuan and placed all the blame on him before storming out. Before leaving, she said to him, “I will never agree to this.”
But Su Xingchuan stood firm. “Mom, I have my own life.”
He Ning gripped the door handle, both hurt and confused. “Xingchuan, how—how did you become like this? You’ve always been obedient. Your father and I were so proud of you—”
“Just because I love a man, does that mean I’m no longer worthy of being your pride?”
He Ning was stunned.
“I haven’t changed. If anything, it’s because he came back to me. From now on, every day feels worth looking forward to, and I’m genuinely happy.”
He Ning stared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing, as if seeing a stranger. After a moment, she slammed the door and left.
The next day.
Su Xingchuan parked his car right at Li Xuan’s front gate.
Whether it was because Li Xuan had informed the property management in advance, or something else, Su Xingchuan’s car passed through with no issues, driving all the way up to Li Xuan’s driveway.
When Li Xuan opened the door, he saw him immediately.
Su Xingchuan lowered the car window.
Li Xuan’s eyes lit up, dimples forming on his cheeks.
He rushed over but suddenly slowed down halfway, pretending to approach reluctantly.
Confused, Su Xingchuan watched him walk to the car, open the passenger door, and sit inside without saying a word.
After a few moments of thought, Su Xingchuan understood. “Still upset about making a scene at the restaurant yesterday, huh?”
Dr. Li, who prided himself on having matured and grown courageous over the past seven years, had cried miserably the previous day, all witnessed by his ex-boyfriend. Waking up feeling embarrassed, he struggled to keep his cool demeanor intact.
Li Xuan turned his head away as Su Xingchuan leaned over to fasten his seatbelt, their proximity closing the gap between them. The faint scent of aftershave filled the space. Li Xuan’s baby fat was gone, but his skin was still smooth and fair. Pretending the belt wasn’t long enough, Su Xingchuan leaned even closer.
The intention was clear.
Li Xuan’s eyelashes fluttered as he lowered his gaze slightly.
Despite their closeness seven years ago and their heart-to-heart conversation yesterday, meeting again the next day felt unexpectedly awkward.
The atmosphere was strangely delicate.
It felt like they were back to the beginning, just before the moment when everything became clear.
Normally, Su Xingchuan was quite talkative, but now, being so close, he didn’t know what to say.
From the start of their relationship, they never really had a “pure” period of flirtation. Li Xuan used childish tricks to seduce him, and Su Xingchuan, like a helpless fool, couldn’t resist. From the moment they met to the time they got intimate, it took less than forty days. Afterward, they shamelessly explored every possibility.
Now, reunited after so long, they were surprisingly restrained.
Feeling an itch to close the distance, his chin brushed against Li Xuan’s collar, when the company called.
A colleague said, “Manager Su, Mr. Yan wants you back for a 10:30 meeting regarding Sheng’an Group.”
“Got it. I’ll be there.”
After hanging up, Li Xuan turned to look at him.
His eyes were always so clear, bright, and sparkling.
Gently brushing his cheek with his thumb, Su Xingchuan asked, “Are you on duty today?”
Li Xuan shook his head.
“I’m not working overtime today either. I’m planning to invite Xie Liang and his fiancée to dinner. Will you join me?”
Li Xuan nodded.
“Don’t worry, they’re not upset with you.”
Li Xuan remained calm, but his ears began to turn red.
Suppressing his laughter, Su Xingchuan chose not to tease him. He asked softly, “Then, after dinner… can you come home with me?”
Li Xuan met his eyes, and they both understood that “home” carried more meaning.
He said, “Okay.”
Su Xingchuan’s smile was impossible to contain.
The car slowly pulled away.
As it disappeared around the corner, Li Xuan’s mother, Xu Nianzhi, stepped out of the doorway and turned to her husband. “I’m planning to talk to Su Xingchuan’s mother.”
Li Xuan’s father sipped his coffee, unfazed. “Let the kids handle their own struggles.”
But Xu Nianzhi said, “This isn’t about the kids; it’s a generational perspective issue. The kids have already been through enough. It would be such a shame if a good relationship was ruined by their parents.”
.
.
.
Su Xingchuan dropped Li Xuan off at the hospital entrance.
Just as he was about to undo his seatbelt and lean in for a kiss, Li Xuan suddenly remembered, “You have a follow-up appointment next week.”
He really knew how to ruin the moment.
They both glanced down simultaneously.
Su Xingchuan: “…”
He had almost forgotten about the surgery he’d had recently. Sometimes he felt a twinge of pain but didn’t think much of it.
Not wanting to damage his pride, he squeezed Li Xuan’s hand. “Can’t you just check it at home?”
Li Xuan replied seriously, “No, we need to check if the stone has completely passed, which requires an X-ray.”
Realizing he might have sounded too firm, he softened his tone. “But I’ll be gentle during the exam.”
“…Does it really take a whole month to heal?”
Li Xuan immediately caught his drift and responded with a vague “Mm.”
Feeling disheartened, Su Xingchuan thought that even if he managed to bring Li Xuan home tonight, they wouldn’t be able to do anything. Were they supposed to just lie in bed and talk? What would Li Xuan think of him? Would he think he was incapable?
Li Xuan stared at him, puzzled by his sudden change in expression. He waited for Su Xingchuan to kiss him, but when nothing happened, he became annoyed and got out of the car, puffing out his cheeks.
“Baby!”
Despite calling out several times, he couldn’t stop him.
What’s he upset about now?
Due to the meeting, Su Xingchuan had to request leave from Xu Zhengdong’s secretary and return to the office.
Yan Tao, who had become much more polite lately, no longer strict, assumed that Su Xingchuan had secured his connection with Xu Zhengdong and dared not slight him.
Yan Tao walked over. “You’re back. Busy there?”
“It’s manageable,” Su Xingchuan replied with a smile.
Yan Tao led him into the conference room, even offering him the seat closest. His favoritism was clear, and Zhou Jing, seated at the far end, scowled immediately.
But Su Xingchuan didn’t mind.
Throughout the meeting, his phone kept vibrating.
He glanced down and saw it was his father calling repeatedly, which could only mean one thing. He replied via text, [In a meeting], but it didn’t stop. As soon as his father’s call ended, his aunt’s call came through.
Left with no choice, he set his phone to silent.
After the meeting, he walked to the stairwell and called his father back. His father immediately launched into an attack: “What are you trying to do? Do you want to drive your mother and me to our graves?”
Feeling exhausted, he held onto his last shred of patience. “I don’t want that. Please,
try to stay calm.”
“Your mother hasn’t stopped crying since she got home.”
Silence.
“Mrs. Qian’s son had a baby girl this June. They’re such a happy family of three. I can’t help but envy them. Can’t you be like him?”
Leaning against the wall, Su Xingchuan rubbed his temples.
It was almost laughable.
“Mrs. Qian used to say she envied us, saying her son was useless, couldn’t get through school, and got his job through connections while relying on his parents to pay the mortgage… Back then, you and mom said I was obedient and made you proud. Has all that changed now?”
His father was momentarily speechless.
Realizing he couldn’t win the argument, his father called in reinforcements—his aunt. But Su Xingchuan, unwilling to engage, ended the call.
The secretary of Xu Zhengdong then contacted him, asking him to review some documents.
Reluctantly, he returned to Zhongjin.
The busy work schedule temporarily distracted him from his parents’ interference. As lunchtime approached, he remembered his conversation at the restaurant yesterday and called Xie Liang.
“Are you busy?”
“Not too much,” Xie Liang replied, having just returned to his car. “Wow, you sound so cheerful.”
Su Xingchuan smiled. “Thanks to you.”
“Dare to mention that!” Xie Liang feigned anger. “Bring that doctor of yours out and have him apologize to me properly before we can let this go. Got it?”
“I was just calling to invite you to dinner, but it’s my fault, so I apologize on his behalf.”
Xie Liang wasn’t having it. “You’re flaunting your relationship to me, huh? My wife and I have our marriage certificate, but you two? What do you have?”
Just as he was about to respond, his aunt messaged him again. He fell silent for a moment, and Xie Liang sensed it. “What’s wrong?”
“My parents don’t approve. They’re going crazy, constantly calling and texting me and even getting my aunt involved. In their eyes, being gay is like having a terminal illness—once you get it, there’s no cure.”
“Typical of the older generation.”
“So now, I’m just at a standstill with them.”
Xie Liang teased, “A rare sight—you, out of ideas.”
“Why don’t you help me out? You’ve met my mom, right? Tell her you’re gay too.”
“Seriously?!”
Laughing, Su Xingchuan said, “Tell her you’ve had a crush on me for years. If I don’t end up with you, it’ll be Li Xuan. Let her choose. She’ll probably think, ‘Well, if it’s already so shocking, I might as well choose Li Xuan.’”
“…” Xie Liang scoffed. “Hard to believe I’m talking to a human.”
Laughter burst out from Su Xingchuan.
His frustration eased slightly.
“Just wait until I—hey, isn’t that Xu Zhengdong?” Xie Liang exclaimed.
“What?”
“I just passed by that men’s clinic. Isn’t his car the black Cullinan with five 8s on the license plate? What’s he doing there? Wait! Isn’t that your boyfriend?” Xie Liang’s voice shot up. “Dude, it’s really him! He’s in a long white down coat—isn’t that him?”
Su Xingchuan’s eyes widened. “Where are they going?”
“I’ll follow them.”
Xie Liang quickly turned his car around, muttering, “Your little doctor tried to catch me red-handed; now it’s my turn. But don’t worry, buddy!”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Li Xuan isn’t like that.”
He believed in Li Xuan.
“Fine, fine. I’m tailing them. They left Wenxuan Street and are heading toward South City Avenue. Where does that lead?” Xie Liang mused as he drove, making Su Xingchuan more anxious. Xie Liang followed as the Cullinan turned right, also signaling. “South City Avenue West… Where are they…”
A restless anxiety gripped Su Xingchuan.
He had complete trust in Li Xuan, but he didn’t trust Xu Zhengdong. What if Xu refused to break up and hurt Li Xuan?
He sent Li Xuan a message, but there was no reply.
“This route looks so familiar… They seem to have arrived. Turning into—”
Xie Liang abruptly fell silent.
Panic set in. “Where are they? Say something!”
“They just entered the Zhongjin building.”
Stunned, Su Xingchuan asked, “What?”
“They went into Zhongjin.” Xie Liang sounded confused.
Then it dawned on him—was Xu Zhengdong coming to confront him?
He sprang into action.
He knew that, in the matter with Xu Zhengdong, he wasn’t in the right and had no standing to fight. But he had to. Even if Xu Zhengdong removed him from the project, made him a target, and ruined his career in finance, he was willing to fight.
He couldn’t wait another seven years.
Xu Zhengdong’s notorious reputation for frequenting clubs and his numerous affairs made it impossible for Su Xingchuan to trust him with Li Xuan’s well-being. Li Xuan needed someone who truly cared.
He rushed downstairs, not even bothering with his coat.
He blocked Xu Zhengdong at the elevator on the second basement floor.
Xu was with Li Xuan, stepping out of the elevator. “You’re really going to surprise him in his office? I’ve done so much for you, but you never surprise me.”
Li Xuan replied, “When I was nine, you took all my New Year’s money to buy a car for your then-boyfriend and never paid me back.”
“…That really happened?” Xu Zhengdong clicked his tongue. “Holding grudges, huh?”
Just then, the elevator doors opened.
As Xu Zhengdong and Li Xuan stepped out, before they could look up, Su Xingchuan strode over and pulled Li Xuan behind him.
“Mr. Xu, I need to speak with you.”
Li Xuan was stunned. He hadn’t sent any message—how did Su Xingchuan know he was here?
With determination, Su Xingchuan said, “Mr. Xu, I’m grateful that you entrusted me with the IPO project and for the opportunity. But when it comes to Li Xuan, I won’t back down. I am determined to be with him. Before, I said that if you didn’t treat him well, I would take him back. But I’ve changed my mind. Even if you treat him well, I’m still taking him back—”
“Because the two of you are simply not right for each other!”
Silence enveloped the space.
So quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Xu Zhengdong looked at him and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Just then, Li Xuan peeked out from behind Su Xingchuan, his face puzzled, and called out, “Uncle?”
“…”
Xu Zhengdong raised an eyebrow at Su Xingchuan.
With a shiver, Su Xingchuan followed suit. “Uncle.”
