If there was any way to most effectively change the mind of a determined An Yan, Xu Qingfeng could think of no other method besides the existence of Huo Xiu.
With his habitual, all-encompassing certainty, he said, “It’s just a two-day trip. You don’t have to think of it as doing it for Tianze; just treat it as a way to relax for yourself. Besides, Huo Xiu will be going too you might even be able to learn a thing or two from him.”
Saving the most important point for the finale, Xu Qingfeng truly didn’t believe a person could remain unmoved.
Sure enough, as soon as the words landed, An Yan’s expression began to waver. It didn’t take much longer before he reversed his previous decision and agreed to the trip.
Only then did Xu Qingfeng reveal a heartfelt smile; at least the immediate obstacle had been cleared.
But the problem was… Huo Xiu hadn’t actually agreed to come yet.
Moreover, it seemed that Huo Xiu’s previous impression of Gu Tianze was not good. If he knew Gu Tianze was involved, he might not consider joining at all.
However, thinking about it from another perspective, wasn’t this exactly the kind of opportunity needed to turn Gu Tianze’s image around?
There was one more thing to consider: would the two protagonists of the original novel spark the flames of love during this brief two-day, one-night stay? Most likely not. As long as he was there, he could snuff out even the hottest flame with his bare hands.
Just like the sudden “jacket incident” last time it wasn’t a big deal.
The real problem at hand was how to get Huo Xiu to agree.
He didn’t want to see An Yan wearing an expression of sadness after being deceived; that would be quite a burden.
Speaking of the word “burden,” the focused and burning gaze Huo Xiu had given him in the car earlier also made him very nervous.
Raising his palm, he looked at the wound that hadn’t yet scabbed over, his expression thoughtful.
He probably won’t refuse me, right?
Time was short, and the highly proactive Xu Qingfeng quickly invited Huo Xiu to meet at a cafe. Fortunately, Huo Xiu agreed.
Otherwise, he would have been troubled by the feeling that a phone call lacked sufficient sincerity.
Xu Qingfeng rarely arrived early; most of the time, others were waiting for him. But this time, he arrived at the rendezvous thirty minutes ahead of schedule.
Looking back, the last time he asked Huo Xiu for help choosing a piano, he had also been the one to arrive early, though that was only by a few minutes not nearly this early.
A small and exquisite shopping bag sat on the table; this was a gift chosen to show his sincerity.
He absentmindedly swirled his coffee cup, his eyes fixed on the panoramic floor-to-ceiling window, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
Outside the window was a street scene. It was early autumn, and the ginkgo trees on both sides of the road were a mix of green and yellow, as if blending two seasons together. Occasionally, a leaf would drift downward, swaying in the wind.
One such leaf landed on the shoulder of a young man walking past the window.
The youth was broad-shouldered with long legs, dressed simply yet elegantly. He wore a black mask that matched his clothes, making him look even more cold, proud, and aloof, instilling a sense of trepidation in those who looked at him.
It was only when Huo Xiu appeared that Xu Qingfeng snapped back to reality.
Shifting his gaze to his watch, he realized… he wasn’t the only one who had arrived early.
Once Huo Xiu came inside and took his seat, a waiter arrived to take the order.
“What would you like, sir?”
Without even looking at the menu, Huo Xiu said directly through his mask, “A glass of milk.”
It was only then that Xu Qingfeng learned the other man didn’t like coffee; he apparently preferred milk.
As Huo Xiu removed his mask, Xu Qingfeng’s attention shifted. For once, he didn’t focus on those hands; instead, he stared at the withered yellow ginkgo leaf on the broad shoulder. His mild obsessive-compulsive disorder made his fingertips itch.
Ultimately unable to resist the instinct, he reached his arm across the table to pluck it off.
Huo Xiu had just placed his mask on the table. Detecting Xu Qingfeng’s approach, his body stiffened slightly, yet he did not pull away.
The hand brushed past the side of the young man’s face, picking off the tiny leaf clinging to him…
Only then did Huo Xiu relax his body, his deep eyes brewing with complex emotions.
“The ginkgo is very beautiful,” Xu Qingfeng said, slowly twirling the stem of the leaf between his fingers. He had felt the same way when looking through the window earlier. “And so are you.”
His tone was sincere, and the way he stared was without pretense; he genuinely felt that way. It was as if he were looking at a magazine shoot; the man’s physical presence and aura were exceptionally superior.
Perhaps it was his background in a musical family combined with his profession as a pianist, but Huo Xiu’s aura was not just prominent it carried a sense of “ethereal detachment” that most people lacked. It was as if everything around him had nothing to do with him, and he cared for nothing.
A person like this was a natural protagonist.
Just as Xu Qingfeng was lost in his thoughts, he watched the “protagonist” chug the entire glass of milk in one go.
Xu Qingfeng nearly lost his grip on the ginkgo leaf, letting it drop onto the table. He said somewhat awkwardly, “Was the walk over tiring? Are you that thirsty?”
Huo Xiu set down the empty glass. Instead of answering, he looked at the shopping bag on the table and asked, “What is this?”
“Open it and see. It’s a gift for our meeting.” Xu Qingfeng’s focus shifted. He couldn’t very well ask for a favor without showing his sincerity first.
Though a man of the other’s stature might not necessarily care for it, at least the sentiment would be conveyed.
Huo Xiu took the item out it was a lighter.
The lighter was crafted from solid gold, adorned with emeralds of various sizes. A subtle luxury logo was printed in the bottom right corner. The design was vintage and beautiful, yet it clearly reflected a high status.
Compared to daily use, it held more of a collector’s value for the average person.
Xu Qingfeng wasn’t sure if this “sincerity” was enough, but as the youth toyed with the lighter in his hand, those large, fair hands with prominent veins gave his eyes an ultimate sense of enjoyment.
Huo Xiu turned it over casually. Unbeknownst to him, his large hands exuded a lethal sexual tension. He said in a low voice, “This is too expensive.”
In truth, for someone with Huo Xiu’s net worth, a lighter worth around a million wasn’t particularly “expensive,” but he was usually low-profile and rarely used flashy things.
Despite his words, Xu Qingfeng saw that the youth was still playing with it and hadn’t put it down, so he knew the other was definitely interested.
Good, the gift was a success!
“It’s not that expensive. I had it custom-made. As long as you find it pleasing to the eye, that’s enough.”
Huo Xiu lowered his eyes and saw two small letters on the back of the lighter HX.
The initials of his name.
Being a custom-made piece meant the thoughtfulness was indeed substantial.
“Do you need more relationship counseling?” the perceptive Huo Xiu asked, cutting straight to the chase. He even felt his side hustle was becoming quite suited for this field.
But his client list would likely only ever have one person: Xu Qingfeng.
Because other than Xu Qingfeng, no one else ever came to him to pour their heart out.
Huo Xiu was so sharp that he saved Xu Qingfeng the trouble of finding a segue. Xu Qingfeng stopped being coy that was for schoolgirls.
“It’s not relationship counseling. This is just a thank-you gift for helping me solve that problem before. I also felt that a verbal thanks wasn’t as good as actual action.”
Indeed, he had already expressed his gratitude over the phone.
The next words were the most important task of Xu Qingfeng’s trip. He gestured for someone to bring another glass of milk, his eyes full of softness as he said, “If you aren’t busy lately, let’s go to a temple together to pray for blessings.”