“No, it was already there. I did not use it.” Zou Beiqi lied without blinking, hoping to prevent Heng Shi from continuing to press the issue and exposing his flaws. He hurriedly squeezed past him. “I need to get back to work.”
Zou Beiqi returned to the bustling bar, where background music and loud voices intertwined. He was scheduled to get off work at midnight. After changing out of his waiter uniform, he did not rush back, instead sitting down next to Sheng Wanzhong. “It is this late. Are you still drinking?”
“You are asking me that? Wasn’t it you who said midnight is when young people’s nightlife begins?” Sheng Wanzhong gave him a look that seemed to say what is wrong with you.
“Oh, right.” Zou Beiqi awkwardly scratched his head.
“Good thing I listened to you and didn’t go home. Look at this, I managed to score a major scoop.” Sheng Wanzhong looked very excited. “Do you know about Yanxin Pharmaceuticals? The new drug project they have been working on lately is all the rage.”
Of course Zou Beiqi knew. It was the company where Heng Shi worked, and the pharmacist himself held shares in it.
“I just secretly passed by their booth. Word is that they are having internal problems regarding the new drug development, likely tied to company power struggles. In short, a mole got in,” Sheng Wanzhong whispered mysteriously into Zou Beiqi’s ear.
Zou Beiqi was startled. “How could they talk about such important internal matters here?”
“Have you never heard the saying that the most dangerous place is the safest place? But they cannot fool me. If I get my hands on this material, my boss will have to promote me and give me a raise.”
“Are you a reporter?” Zou Beiqi asked instinctively.
“Pretty much. What people call a paparazzi,” Sheng Wanzhong frowned. “We have not seen each other in over a year, and you do not even remember what I do.”
“Sorry.”
“It is fine. Who does not have moments of bad memory? By the way, isn’t your dad trying out a new drug? It wouldn’t happen to be from Yanxin, would it?”
Zou Beiqi did not deny it. A bright gleam immediately appeared in Sheng Wanzhong’s eyes. “Then do you know anything?”
“The trials are temporarily suspended. My father suddenly took a turn for the worse.”
“Gosh, I am sorry. I almost forgot. I literally just overheard that there is something wrong with the drug.” Sheng Wanzhong quickly reined in his overly excited emotions. “Is your dad okay?”
“He is doing all right, I suppose.”
“Don’t worry, I will find a way to follow this story. Once I write the article, justice will be served for your dad.” Sheng Wanzhong comfortingly patted Zou Beiqi’s arm.
Zou Beiqi chatted briefly with Sheng Wanzhong until nearly one in the morning, when he was simply too exhausted to stay awake and had to forcibly end the conversation, preparing to hail a ride home.
Just as he turned around, he inadvertently caught sight of Yan Ze in the crowd.
Heng Shi was here for business, so Yan Ze appearing at a bar was not entirely out of the ordinary. Not thinking much of it, Zou Beiqi walked outside and took a ride-hailing car home.
Zou Beiqi slept all the way until the afternoon. To be honest, even during college holidays, he had never slept in this late. Could the large cup of medicine Heng Shi gave him still be having an effect?
He instinctively reached for his phone on the nightstand. Heng Shi had sent him a text message asking him to meet at an upscale Western restaurant in the evening, adding that Yan Ze would drive over to pick him up when the time came.
So sudden? Zou Beiqi tried to find a suitable reason for this dinner. Turning it over and over in his mind, aside from the pregnancy test in the bathroom trash can and his father’s medication, nothing else seemed worth discussing.
If it were about the new drug, they would have approached him sooner. That left only one other possibility.
Heng Shi didn’t believe his explanation? Could he have seen him the moment he picked up the item?
If Heng Shi weren’t so fastidious, a quick glance into the trash can would have proven he hadn’t used the test. Or if worse came to worst, he could have had Yan Ze check.
Zou Beiqi’s mind was a messy tangle of hypotheses. Deciding that overthinking was useless, he flopped back onto the bed and fell fast asleep. Perhaps because he had returned so late last night, he found himself irresistibly sleepy.
His nap lasted right up until the time agreed upon with Heng Shi. Yan Ze’s car was already waiting downstairs. Zou Beiqi hurriedly got up, fished some decent clothes out of his wardrobe, changed, and climbed into the back seat of Yan Ze’s car.
When Zou Beiqi walked in, Heng Shi was already waiting by the dining table. The latter politely pulled out a chair and invited Zou Beiqi to sit. “Don’t be nervous. It is just an ordinary meal.”
“Mr. Heng, if you have something to say, just say it.”
“You don’t need to be so deeply on guard against me. I don’t like beating around the bush. I said it is just an ordinary meal, so it is an ordinary meal. Please eat.” Heng Shi wore a gentle smile, but to Zou Beiqi, it looked exceptionally abnormal.
Zou Beiqi couldn’t help connecting the dinner back to the pregnancy test. “I think there is some misunderstanding between us. Last night in the washroom, it was your item. I saw it with my own eyes in your hand.”
“I didn’t use it.”
“Which means there is no definitive result.” Heng Shi raised a hand to smooth down the messy hair at the side of Zou Beiqi’s temple. “Let’s talk about this later. Eat. You seem to have arrived in a rush. Did you come straight from the hospital?”
“No, I just woke up. My energy hasn’t been great lately.”
“True. There are hired caregivers at the hospital, so you and your mother don’t have to wear yourselves out.” Heng Shi handed a tissue to Zou Beiqi. “You’re sweating.”
Hearing that, Zou Beiqi instantly forgot about the light sweat on his forehead. “What caregiver?”
“I hired a caregiver for your dad so that you and your mother can have a bit of ease.” Noticing that Zou Beiqi had no intention of moving, Heng Shi retracted the tissue and carefully wiped the beads of sweat from his temple.
“There really is no need for that. I didn’t even…” Zou Beiqi tried to clear up the misunderstanding directly, but Heng Shi interrupted him without warning. “Is that your friend over there?”
Following Heng Shi’s gaze, Zou Beiqi saw Sheng Wanzhong wearing a mask and sunglasses, solemnly flipping through a book. Dressed in such a disguise, he looked like he was tailing a major story.
The biggest recent news story was precisely the situation at Yanxin Pharmaceuticals where Heng Shi worked.
Zou Beiqi instinctively pulled his phone from his pocket. Sure enough, Sheng Wanzhong had sent him a message asking if he and Heng Shi were discussing the new drug clinical trials. Zou Beiqi replied honestly, saying they were just chatting.
Though this so-called chat wasn’t very casual.
Sheng Wanzhong: Oh. I knew it. First Heng Shi is petting your hair, now he’s wiping your sweat. You two are on a date!
Zou Beiqi: ? It’s not like that.
Sheng Wanzhong: No wonder you wouldn’t talk about it. If I had such an amazing partner, I wouldn’t dare tell people either, for fear they’d think I had delusions. What are our relations? Why would I ever doubt you?
Zou Beiqi: It really isn’t. Things are not as simple as you think.
Sheng Wanzhong: I knew it! Not that simple. Did you actually get pregnant before marriage?
Zou Beiqi decided it would be better for him to speak less.
“Would you like me to send you back first?” Seeing that the food on Zou Beiqi’s plate was mostly untouched, Heng Shi asked.
“No need, I can manage.” The moment Zou Beiqi stood up from his seat, a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. Heng Shi quickly reached out to steady him. “I’d better take you home.”
It was a short walk from the restaurant to the parking lot. As Heng Shi supported him all the way to the exit, they happened to run into Sheng Wanzhong, who was leaving. Recognizing them, Sheng Wanzhong automatically went over to greet him, but seeing Zou Beiqi’s poor complexion, he leaned in closer. “Are you feeling unwell again? What did the doctor say?”
“I haven’t had the time to go.” To be exact, Zou Beiqi had accidentally slept through his free time, and after waking up, he had rushed over to meet Heng Shi, so the matter had to be delayed until tomorrow.
Sheng Wanzhong suddenly wore an expression of sudden realization. “True, Mr. Heng is a busy man. But if I may be so bold, with something this big, you really should carve out some time to accompany Beiqi to the hospital.”
“Something big?” Heng Shi asked.
“Beiqi is most likely pregnant. Isn’t that a big deal?” Sheng Wanzhong paused. “Or did he not tell you?”
Sensing that the situation was turning south, Zou Beiqi immediately wedged himself between Heng Shi and Sheng Wanzhong, attempting to halt their conversation. “I am not pregnant, and it’s impossible for me to be.”
“A checkup at the hospital will tell us, won’t it?” Heng Shi jingled the car keys in his hand. “Right now. I have time.”
Seeing Heng Shi grab Zou Beiqi’s wrist and prepare to leave, Sheng Wanzhong realized he couldn’t intrude on their private world and turned to walk away.
Zou Beiqi figured a checkup wasn’t a bad idea. Once the results proved there wasn’t an extra lump of flesh growing in his stomach, the world would likely quiet down a lot. Just as he was about to get into the back seat, Heng Shi opened the front passenger door for him instead.
Nodding in thanks, the moment he sat down, he received a message from Sheng Wanzhong: You won’t be afraid a pregnancy will stall Heng Shi’s career, right? Don’t overthink it, how could it? The company won’t fall apart without him.
Zou Beiqi sent an ellipsis.
After much deliberation, he decided to change the subject: How did you know Heng Shi was here?
Sheng Wanzhong: I didn’t. Someone sent an anonymous text saying there was a big story here, so I came, and ended up seeing you on a date with Heng Shi. Actually, it’s not a big deal. Heng Shi is single, you’re single, fancying each other is nothing abnormal. Though getting pregnant before marriage would make things a bit interesting. Hey, I didn’t mean it like that. We’re brothers, how could I harm you? I probably won’t follow the news about Heng Shi anymore anyway, since I have to look out for you, right?
An anonymous text? Zou Beiqi stared at the chat box, his mind spinning instinctively.
If someone wanted to frame Heng Shi and use Sheng Wanzhong’s media identity to attack him, just as Sheng Wanzhong said, what was newsworthy about two single men having a date and dinner? They weren’t megastars. Even though Heng Shi was somewhat famous as a pharmacist, he wasn’t famous enough for people to stake out his meals.
However, if someone exaggerated and twisted the details of whatever was going on between him and Heng Shi, it would certainly attract eyeballs. But aside from himself, Heng Shi, and Yan Ze, who else knew about this?
In the novel, Yan Ze was utterly loyal to Heng Shi. Leaving him aside, and excluding Zou Beiqi himself, the tangled threads suddenly snapped into place. The culprit could only be Heng Shi. Aside from the protagonist gong, the only person who cared excessively about career prospects was Heng Shi, someone who would ruthlessly sweep away even the slightest threat.
Yan Ze appearing at the bar and crossing paths with them had not been a coincidence. Heng Shi orchestrating today’s little scene was entirely to get Sheng Wanzhong to drop the news tracking related to him, or rather, related to Yanxin Pharmaceuticals.
Zou Beiqi covertly glanced at Heng Shi’s calm profile, and only when the car came to a stop did, he realize they had already arrived at the hospital entrance.