Shi Yu wanted to sleep until he woke up naturally, but his internal clock shattered his dreams. Resigning himself to fate, he crawled out of bed, tousled his hair, and walked slowly into the living room. Su Rong had already prepared breakfast.
“Spill it. What happened last night?” Shi Yu dropped the question without looking up, slowly sipping his porridge.
“I just drank too much,” Su Rong said, looking nervous. He flatteringly pushed the soup dumplings toward Shi Yu while twisting his fingers anxiously. “I did not expect my alcohol tolerance to be so poor.”
Shi Yu blew gently on the surface of the bowl and remained silent.
Su Rong: “…”
Su Rong held up three fingers with a sincere face. “I promise I will never drink that much again. I will not cause you any more trouble.”
Continued silence.
Su Rong: “…”
Su Rong: “Fine. That man is my boss.”
Shi Yu’s long eyelashes brushed against his eyelids as he tilted his chin, giving Su Rong a look that said, “Go on.”
“And then,” Su Rong sighed, hesitating. “I have liked him for a long time. He said he was not gay, so I declared that I would work hard to chase him.”
“Yesterday, I went out with him to discuss a contract. After it ended, he told me to take a taxi home. I asked where he was going, and he said it was a place children cannot go. I am clearly not a child!”
Speaking of this, Su Rong sat up straight to argue his point.
“I insisted on following him. He ignored me and stayed angry,” he said, his shoulders slumping and his eyes downcast. “To prove I was not a child, I drank several glasses of mixed liquor in one go. I really did not drink that much. Who knew it would turn out like that?”
After hearing this, Shi Yu let out a cold snort. “Pathetic.”
Su Rong pouted, then suddenly remembered something. “By the way, do you two know each other? He also went to Provincial First High.”
Shi Yu paused with his spoon in midair.
He did know Huo Chenzhou, but their interactions mostly revolved around Duan Jinghuai.
Back then, he and Duan Jinghuai were constantly bickering. Shi Yu had an arrogant nature, so it was usually Duan Jinghuai who gave in and apologized first. If the cold war lasted too long and Duan Jinghuai could not stand ignoring him, he would have his friends pass along messages or send random gifts. Huo Chenzhou was one of those friends.
Thinking of this, Shi Yu suddenly remembered Xie Jiahao saying in the booth that he “controlled everything.” He puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction.
Who exactly was the one controlling everything? Duan Jinghuai even had to dictate what clothes he wore.
Shi Yu stared at the soup dumpling in front of him and bit down viciously.
Seeing Shi Yu lost in thought, Su Rong leaned forward. “Is he really that straight?”
Shi Yu snapped back to reality. His chewing slowed as he thought for a moment before shaking his head slightly. “I am not sure.”
Huo Chenzhou was cold, a man of few words, and came from a good family. Aside from getting into a few group fights with Duan Jinghuai, Shi Yu had not heard of him doing anything too outrageous.
Su Rong sighed deeply again and slumped onto the table with his head buried in his arms.
A moment later, he peeked out and looked at Shi Yu, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.
Shi Yu said flatly, “Speak.”
Su Rong leaned in with a grin. “Brother Shi Yu, what is the deal with you and that Duan Jinghuai?”
Shi Yu answered without thinking. “I do not know him.”
“But did he not also go to your high school?”
“We are not close.”
“But he was holding your waist yesterday.”
“That was an accident.”
“But”
Shi Yu raised his fork with a look of indifference.
Su Rong: “…”
He pulled his head back and looked obedient. “I do not mean anything by it. I just think he is too much of a social butterfly. If it is about feelings, playing around is fine, but do not get yourself stuck.” He paused, then widened his eyes and waved his hands. “Actually, forget playing around. He is such a player, Brother Shi Yu, you could never beat him at his own game.”
The more Shi Yu listened, the more wrong it felt. He frowned. “Where did you see me catching feelings for him?”
“Yesterday,” Su Rong said seriously. “Last night, were you two not kissing outside the restroom?”
“Your lip was even bitten.”
Shi Yu: “…”
Stay calm. He is just a kid. There is no need to pick a fight with him.
Shi Yu took a shallow breath to adjust his composure.
He calmly spun the fork in his fingers, gripped it in his palm, and held it out toward Su Rong. Then, he stabbed it heavily into the soup dumpling on Su Rong’s plate. Word by word, he said, “You drank too much. You saw wrong.”
Su Rong stared at the “bloody” soup dumpling in front of him, then slowly looked up at Shi Yu’s ominous expression. He swallowed hard and stammered, “Understood.”
After cleaning up the dishes and returning to his room, Shi Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
He turned Su Rong’s words over in his mind. His throat felt as if it were being squeezed, and a sense of helplessness and suffocation washed over his heart.
Could he play games with Duan Jinghuai?
What was this about beating him or not?
He did not even have the chips to define winning or losing.
Just then, his WeChat notification lit up on the desk. He walked over and swiped to unlock it.
It was a message from Shen Zhinian, four of them.
Shen Zhinian: Do you have time tomorrow?
Shen Zhinian: You mentioned before that you wanted to invest in a resort. It so happens a friend of mine is in that business. Tomorrow is his birthday, and he asked me to spend two days at his newly opened manor. Do you want to come with me?
The first two were sent ten minutes ago. Seeing no reply, he added two more.
Shen Zhinian: A few people from the finance circle are also going. They are about our age. You said you wanted to build more connections, so I think it is a good opportunity.
Shen Zhinian: Of course, if you are too busy, never mind.
Shi Yu thought about it for a moment. His company’s next project was indeed related to resorts, and he was quite free these next two days. He sent a reply.
Shi Yu: Okay.
Shen Zhinian parked the car outside the villa fence and handed the keys to the valet who was already waiting. Shi Yu held a cup of iced coffee and surveyed the surroundings.
It had taken them fifteen minutes just to drive from the manor entrance to the central villa.
The manor was grand and beautiful, designed in a European style. It was surrounded by expensive greenery carefully cultivated and transplanted from abroad. Against the backdrop of the blue sky, the plants looked vibrant and bright. The leaves swayed in the breeze, and even the shadows seemed to hide a spicy fragrance.
In the nearby garage sat several expensive private cars. Their bodies were polished and bright, featuring colors and styles that were flashy and extravagant.
A butler in a suit and bowtie bowed slightly at the villa entrance and made a gesture for them to enter. They followed him into the villa. Just as they walked in, they encountered Xie Jingting coming down the stairs to greet his friends.
“Shen Zhinian!” Xie Jingting looked delighted. He stepped forward to shake hands and bumped shoulders. “Damn, I finally got you here. Is America really that great a place to stay?”
Xie Jingting was tall and upright, with sharp eyebrows and a deep-set gaze. He carried the air of a wealthy playboy.
“If it is so great, why don’t you go?” Shen Zhinian complained helplessly. “I really could not get away.”
“Forget it. You just do not have me in your heart.” He punched Shen Zhinian’s shoulder again and turned his gaze to Shi Yu. “Introduce us. You specifically told me you were bringing someone, right?”
“Holy crap, Shen Zhinian brought a boyfriend? This is breaking news!”
As soon as Xie Jingting finished speaking, another exclamation came from the side of the courtyard. The speaker, Hao Shuai, looked as excited as if he were holding a megaphone.
The three of them instinctively looked toward the source of the voice.
Shi Yu’s gaze happened to collide with Duan Jinghuai, who was walking toward them. He froze for a second.
Before Shen Zhinian could explain, Hao Shuai stepped forward and familiarly put an arm around his shoulder. He looked Shi Yu up and down, then patted Shen Zhinian’s shoulder teasingly. “What a beauty. You lucky guy.”
Duan Jinghuai came to a stop in front of Shen Zhinian.
Ever since he walked over, his eyes had been locked on Shi Yu. He did not give Shen Zhinian even a half-glance. His face was dark, and a mocking smile touched his lips. He stared into Shi Yu’s eyes and said through gritted teeth, “Boyfriend? Oh.”