As an actor with unpredictable days and nights, an irregular diet, and frequent dinners and social events, Song Yi often experiences stomach problems. He used to have these issues occasionally, but recently they’ve become more frequent.

“You still want to go drinking when you’re like this?” Gu Xingchuan frowned.

Song Yi rinsed his mouth, feeling some relief from the acidic regurgitation. He straightened up, pinched his cheeks, and said, “Please take me to Tianqin Bay. I’m not going to the bar.”

Unable to drink, he decided to unwind with friends instead.

Gu Xingchuan glared at him. “Who are you planning to see?”

“A friend of mine,” Song Yi replied. He sat back in the passenger seat, adjusted his hair in the rearview mirror, and tidied up his appearance.

Gu Xingchuan glanced at him, noticing how he was preparing to meet someone important. With his hands in his trouser pockets and pretending to be nonchalant, he asked, “Is this friend married?”

Song Yi shrugged, casually responding, “Cheng Song. You’ve met him.”

“Cheng Song? The old man who approached you in Seaside City last time?” Gu Xingchuan remembered Cheng Song well, especially how happy Song Yi had seemed during their phone conversation.

Song Yi gave him a blank look and said seriously, “Cheng Song is only thirty. He’s not an old man, so don’t refer to him that way.”

Gu Xingchuan’s expression darkened. “Do you want me to take you to Cheng Song?”

“If it’s too much trouble for you, I can drive myself,” Song Yi said, making a move to exit the car.

Gu Xingchuan quickly returned to the driver’s seat, snapped on the safety lock, and let out a cold snort. “If you’re going to see him, then I’ll come with you.”

Song Yi clearly remembered how Gu Xingchuan had shown no respect to Cheng Song during their first meeting. He frowned and said, “Don’t follow me. What’s the point?”

“If you’re going to see him, then I’m coming too,” Gu Xingchuan said, gripping the gear shift and stepping on the accelerator as the car pulled out of the parking space.

Song Yi stared out the window, feeling irritated, as the scenery blurred past.

Gu Xingchuan held his breath, staring at the street for a while while his mid kept replaying how, after the last incident, Song Yi and Cheng Song were so thrilled on the phone–they even planned to go see a movie. Damn, how could this happen?

After a moment, he darkly probed. “So, you went to find Cheng Song late at night. His wife didn’t mind?”

Song Yi turned his head to glance at him and replied calmly. “Cheng Song isn’t married, we’re just friends.”

“What kind of friend goes to see a movie together and then visits him late at night?” Gu Xingchuan knew he was overstepping, but he couldn’t help himself.

Song Yi couldn’t take it anymore. “Don’t you have any friends? Can you stop thinking so crudely.”

Gu Xingchuan gripped the steering wheel tightly, clearly frustrated. “I wouldn’t go to a movie with my friends.”

Song Yi bristled. “Didn’t we go to a movie together?”

“You’re not my friend,” Gu Xingchuan said without thinking.

Song Yi simply responded with an “Oh.” The comment stung, especially since he thought they’d developed some level of friendship over the past few days.

He hadn’t realized he wasn’t even considered a friend.

—