“I’m quite surprised to see you in a place like this,” Jiang Yiyuan said, sitting down beside him. As the shifting venue lights danced across his features, he maintained his characteristically refined, gentle aura, projecting a faint sense of solitude that seemed entirely detached from the bustling bar around them.
“Actually… this is my first time here too,” Xu Nanxin admitted.
“That’s all right. I just never expected that we share the same preference. One could never tell from our daily interactions at work,” Jiang Yiyuan noted with a light chuckle.
“I didn’t expect it either. Director Jiang, do you frequent these places often?” Xu Nanxin inquired curiously. He truly hadn’t pegged Jiang Yiyuan as someone who was also into men.
Jiang Yiyuan shook his head. “Not overly frequently. Perhaps once or twice a month just to have a few drinks. But as a man grows older, he begins to yearn deeply for a stable relationship at this stage in life. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who come here are simply looking to play around, chasing nothing more than fleeting validation.”
“Is that why it feels lonely?” Xu Nanxin ventured a careful guess.
In reality, Jiang Yiyuan had only just crossed into his early thirties.
Jiang Yiyuan turned his gaze to Xu Nanxin and smiled warmly. “You noticed? In this circle, securing a committed relationship is exceedingly difficult. I’ve been in a relationship before, but our core philosophies clashed. I pursue longevity, whereas my previous partner chased constant novelty.”
To his ex, that loud, thrilling lifestyle was what truly mattered.
“You’re wonderful, but staying with one person for too long grows dull; I want to experience fresh scenery.” Since his partner had put it that way, Jiang Yiyuan felt he could comprehend the sentiment, so he let him go without any attempts to make him stay.
Listening to Jiang Yiyuan’s words, Xu Nanxin felt a wave of confusion settling over his own future…
Right at that moment, Sheng Lu rushed back, visibly out of breath. “I am so incredibly sorry! I dragged you out here to have fun, only to leave you stranded by yourself for so long… Eh? Who is this?”
Catching sight of a fresh face, Sheng Lu blinked in surprise, noting the man looked entirely different from the one who had been hovering around earlier.
“Sheng Lu, this is my direct supervisor, Jiang Yiyuan. We usually address him as Director Jiang at the office,” Xu Nanxin introduced the two men.
“Hello, you must be Nanxin’s friend? I’m Jiang Yiyuan.” Jiang Yiyuan extended his hand, exceptionally amiable.
“Hello, Director Jiang. I’m Sheng Lu.” Sheng Lu returned the warmth enthusiastically, exchanging a brief handshake with Jiang Yiyuan before taking his seat, subtly nudging Xu Nanxin with his elbow.
“What an incredible coincidence. It must be destiny.”
Xu Nanxin knew exactly what was running through Sheng Lu’s mind. He hadn’t even formally broken off his current relationship, yet Sheng Lu was already aggressively trying to scout his next option!
Feeling rather helpless, he turned his head and shot Sheng Lu a warning glare, silently telling him to watch his tongue.
Sheng Lu, naturally, possessed a sense of propriety. It was fine to banter recklessly with absolute strangers, but he wouldn’t push it with an acquaintance, if only to save Xu Nanxin from a deeply awkward situation.
“It is quite a coincidence,” Jiang Yiyuan agreed with a smile. “I didn’t anticipate bumping into you through such a twist of fate.”
Prior to this evening, Jiang Yiyuan hadn’t harbored any romantic inclinations toward Xu Nanxin, treating him purely as a younger newcomer who deserved guidance. However, discovering that Xu Nanxin also preferred men caused an instant shift in perspective.
After all, Xu Nanxin possessed a genuinely endearing personality. He stood out drastically from the usual crowd at the bar, appearing entirely pure and remarkably sincere. Since Jiang Yiyuan yearned for a stable relationship, it was undeniable that Xu Nanxin checked every single box of his ideal partner criteria.
With acquaintances gathered together to drink and chat, Xu Nanxin found himself relaxing significantly. As the trio laughed and conversed merrily, He Feng, observing from a short distance away, let out a sharp click of his tongue.
Because of his relationship with Little Rabbit, Ji Li strictly avoided setting foot inside these pleasure-seeking establishments unless absolutely necessary. Even when individuals tried to curry favor by arranging companions for him, he would return them untouched.
Yet, he never would have guessed that Xu Nanxin would be chatting and laughing so freely with someone inside a venue like HELLO, and with a colleague from his own company, no less.
However, since Ji Li had explicitly instructed him to stay out of it, should he simply feign ignorance and let it slide?
He Feng pondered the matter seriously for a moment before deciding against intervening, choosing to remain in his seat to nurse his drink.
On Jiang Yiyuan’s end, noting the late hour and the rising, ecstatic energy inside the bar—with fierce dances and heavy tracks blasting from the stage while the crowd in the dance floor roared along—he grew somewhat protective.
Considering Xu Nanxin had been recklessly dragged to such a venue by his friend, Jiang Yiyuan felt uneasy leaving the duo to their own devices. Thus, he suggested, “Let me drive you two home. There isn’t much else to see here, and places like this don’t quite suit your disposition.”
Individuals who were far too naive and pure would only end up as prey in an environment like this.
“There’s no need, it would cause you too much trouble. Sheng Lu and I can head back on our own,” Xu Nanxin declined immediately, waving his hands.
“It’s no trouble at all. We all came out to unwind anyway. I have an open schedule tonight and don’t have to report for work tomorrow, so let me give you a lift!” Jiang Yiyuan insisted with a gentle smile.
“In that case… All right. Thank you, Director Jiang,” Xu Nanxin conceded.
The trio exited HELLO together and made their way to the parking area. Just as Jiang Yiyuan retrieved his keys and prepared to unlock the car door, an unmistakably rogue, unbridled voice echoed from directly behind them.
“What a coincidence, Supervisor Jiang and Nanxin? I almost thought my eyes were playing tricks on me!” He Feng materialized behind them out of nowhere. Dressed in a solid black leather jacket with his arms crossed over his chest, his smiling eyes carried a distinctly aggressive edge.
“Mr. He?” Xu Nanxin was utterly stunned to cross paths with He Feng at a bar exit. However, since it was his private hours, he didn’t feel nearly as constrained as he normally did in front of Ji Li.
“Are you all heading back now? Perfect, would it be convenient to throw me into the mix? I managed to imbibe a bit too much alcohol tonight,” He Feng remarked, massaging his temples as his gaze swept over the group.
Xu Nanxin wasn’t in a position to offer an answer on someone else’s behalf, so he looked toward Jiang Yiyuan. The supervisor’s brow furrowed slightly. However, noting that He Feng genuinely appeared to have had one too many drinks, he chose not to make a fuss. “Get in.”
With that, Jiang Yiyuan unlocked the vehicle and climbed into the driver’s seat. He had initially intended to invite Xu Nanxin into the front passenger seat, but He Feng pulled open the door with absolute familiarity and slid right in.
Jiang Yiyuan directed his gaze toward He Feng: “…”
Xu Nanxin and Sheng Lu opened the rear doors and settled into the back seat before Jiang Yiyuan finally questioned He Feng, “Where are you headed, Mr. He?”
“Drop Nanxin and his friend off first, then you can worry about me,” He Feng stated, entirely as a matter of course.
Hitching a ride was obviously not his primary objective; he had merely followed them out upon seeing them prepare to depart. To put it bluntly, he wanted to ensure they didn’t slap a green hat onto Ji Li’s head—he simply needed to confirm that every individual returned to their respective homes, nothing more.
Jiang Yiyuan possessed an exceptionally patient disposition and refrained from picking fights. Otherwise, any driver faced with a hitchhiker acting like a high-and-mighty lord using them as a personal chauffeur would have erupted in fury long ago.
“Nanxin, where does your friend reside? I’ll drop him off first,” Jiang Yiyuan called out to the back.
Sheng Lu rattled off his address. Following the sudden addition of He Feng into the cabin, both Xu Nanxin and Jiang Yiyuan fell remarkably silent.
“What’s the matter? Why has everyone suddenly gone quiet? Did my presence inadvertently disrupt something?” He Feng inquired, entirely devoid of any self-awareness. He leaned back slightly against the seat, casting a backward glance at Xu Nanxin.
Xu Nanxin replied flatly, “Not at all.”
“That’s a relief. Though, if memory serves me right from our last company dinner, didn’t you mention possessing a girlfriend? What brings you to a venue like HELLO then? Nanxin, wouldn’t you agree this sort of conduct is rather inappropriate?” He Feng was effectively dropping veiled hints to call him out.
Xu Nanxin lifted his eyes to lock onto He Feng. During their previous ride inside Ji Li’s vehicle, He Feng had clearly learned that the girlfriend excuse was entirely fabricated, yet he chose to bring it up again now—he was clearly looking to provoke a conflict on purpose.
He couldn’t comprehend why He Feng insisted on making life difficult for him when there had never been any bad blood between them.
“Weren’t you already enlightened on the matter last time? I lied,” Xu Nanxin delivered his counter-question directly, bypassing any diplomatic detours.
“Then tell me, why exactly did you feel compelled to fabricate a lie? Does your sexual orientation make you feel that you are so utterly shameful?” He Feng’s thin lips curled into a slight smirk, his words exceptionally sharp.
Unable to tolerate the interrogation any longer, Jiang Yiyuan intervened, his usually gentle tone cooling significantly: “Mr. He, every individual is entitled to their own privacy. There is absolutely no need to target him with such malicious speculation.”