Pei Tingyue’s address made Shen Chuo frown involuntarily, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he nodded to the men behind him and said, “I’ll leave first.”

However, the other person stopped him again. “Shen Chuo, can I have your contact information?”

Shen Chuo hesitated for a moment before taking out his phone.

Pei Tingyue coldly watched as they exchanged WeChat contacts and then turned to leave.

Sitting in the car, Shen Chuo still seemed distracted. Pei Tingyue glanced at him and then turned his gaze away to start the car.

“About that guy just now, an old lover?” he asked casually.

Shen Chuo remained silent for a moment before replying, “High school classmate.”

“A high school classmate turned old lover,” Pei Tingyue said with a smirk. “So, your first love?”

Shen Chuo didn’t like his tone very much but replied with patience, “He moved abroad with his parents during our senior year of high school. We lost touch a long time ago.”

“You’ve been nostalgic for someone you haven’t seen in over a decade?” Pei Tingyue clicked his tongue. “I didn’t see anything particularly special about him.”

“No,” Shen Chuo’s voice was cold.

“On the night in Las Vegas when you were in a bad mood and got drunk, was it because of him?” Pei Tingyue continued.

Shen Chuo’s gaze turned to the window, not wanting to answer.

For many years, he had indeed thought he had let go. If it weren’t for that night when he happened to see that person on a foreign street, seeing him intimately embracing and kissing another man.

At that moment, he left in a daze and walked into the bar alone.

“On that night outside the theater, was the person you thought you saw also him?” Pei Tingyue asked again.

“Are you annoyed?” Shen Chuo suddenly felt angry. “What’s it to you?”

“Just asking, no need to get so worked up,” Pei Tingyue remained indifferent.

“It’s none of your business.”

Pei Tingyue shrugged. “The person who upset you wasn’t me. Getting angry with me won’t help.”

“Stop the car.”

Pei Tingyue didn’t listen and continued driving forward.

After a brief moment of stiffness, Shen Chuo turned his face away, falling into complete silence.

They didn’t speak again after that, one not wanting to speak, the other not bothering to.

When they parked, Pei Tingyue suddenly reached out and took the phone that Shen Chuo had been holding in his palm.

A man named Zhuang He had sent a message a few minutes ago, asking when he was available and if they could meet alone.

【No time.】

Pei Tingyue quickly replied with these two words.

“What’s gotten into you?” Shen Chuo exclaimed, grabbing his phone back.

“Someone you haven’t seen or contacted in over a decade, is there any need to meet alone?” Pei Tingyue looked him in the eye. “Or are you planning to continue being entangled with him? It seems like he has someone now, doesn’t he?”

“I’m not planning anything.”

“If you’re not planning anything, then don’t bother with him.”

Shen Chuo sighed and turned his eyes away. “I don’t think like that.”

“You forgot again,” Pei Tingyue reminded him, “you’re a married man.”

Shen Chuo didn’t feel like arguing anymore. Whatever he said, it didn’t matter.

Pei Tingyue pushed open the car door. “Let’s go.”

It was only after getting out of the car that Shen Chuo slowly noticed where they had come. It was just an ordinary residential area. Pei Tingyue stepped into the elevator ahead of him, casually pressing the floor button. “Let’s have a meal here and then leave.”

“What friend of yours lives here?” Shen Chuo followed, trying to muster some energy.

“I’ll introduce you later.”

The elevator stopped on the sixteenth floor, and the doorbell rang twice before someone opened the door.

Song Xuan appeared from behind the door, greeting Pei Tingyue. “Pei ge, you’re really a busy man. It took three or four invitations to finally get you to come to our house for a meal.”

“I am quite busy,” Pei Tingyue said with only this sentence, briefly introducing Shen Chuo to Song Xuan when his gaze fell on him. “Shen Chuo, associate professor at Huai University’s School of Telecommunications.”

“This is Song Xuan, works at the Huai District Court. We were college roommates.”

Song Xuan reached out warmly to shake hands with Shen Chuo. “Professor Shen, welcome.”

Shen Chuo shook hands with him but couldn’t help feeling surprised. Pei Tingyue, with his personality, actually seemed to have a good relationship with his college roommate.

Pei Tingyue placed the bottle of wine he had brought on the side cabinet, and Song Xuan noticed. “Why are you being so polite, bringing wine specially? Did you really have to bring it to our house for dinner?”

“Just take it,” Pei Tingyue said casually.

When Song Xuan entered the kitchen, he lazily sat down on the sofa, gesturing for Shen Chuo to sit beside him.

Shen Chuo chose to sit on a nearby single sofa, somewhat puzzled as to why Pei Tingyue seemed uninterested in this meal yet brought him along.

Occasional laughter came from the kitchen, where the couple were cooking. Pei Tingyue leaned against the sofa, disinterestedly watching a comedy show on TV.

Shen Chuo also felt bored and looked down at his phone. A new message had come in on WeChat.

【Sorry, let’s arrange another time when you’re free.】

Shen Chuo was absent-minded for a moment, his finger paused slightly, and then he blacked out the screen without replying.

Twenty minutes later, Song Xuan and his girlfriend came out of the kitchen and invited them to the table.

The couple had prepared a table full of dishes and also opened the wine Pei Tingyue had brought.

“I won’t drink,” Pei Tingyue refused Song Xuan’s offer to pour wine. “I’ll be driving later.”

“What’s the harm?” Song Xuan urged him. “You can just stay at our place for the night if anything. It’s Saturday tomorrow anyway.”

“No, I have to send Professor Shen back.”

Pei Tingyue’s tone wasn’t forceful, but when he said so, it meant he definitely wouldn’t drink. Song Xuan didn’t insist and turned to ask Shen Chuo, “Professor Shen, would you like some wine?”

Shen Chuo didn’t really care. “Thank you.”

Song Xuan poured him a glass.

“We’ve been living in this new house for several months now, and Pei ge is here for the first time today,” Song Xuan said with a smile as he sat down. “It’s quite rare.”

Pei Tingyue casually responded with a grunt.

Song Xuan sighed, “It’s been a long time since we’ve eaten together like this.”

Chi Xiao Man chimed in, “You think Pei ge is like you, clocking in and out at fixed times every day? Pei ge is very busy with work.”

Pei Tingyue took a bite of food, still speaking in an unconcerned tone, “It’s manageable.”

“But being busy has its benefits,” Chi Xiao Man continued, “If you’re not busy, how can you make money? I regret not striving in a law firm for a few years after graduation.”

Song Xuan questioned skeptically, “Look at Pei ge, busy day and night, doesn’t even have time to find a partner. What’s good about that? We’re nothing like him.”

Chi Xiao Man scolded, “You’re so hopeless. Learn something from Pei ge, can’t you? At least you were roommates back then. Look up to him.”

The three of them were classmates in the same major at the School of Political Science and Law. Song Xuan and Chi Xiao Man had been dating since their sophomore year, and after graduation, Song Xuan joined the district court while Chi Xiao Man worked in the legal department of a local corporation. The couple’s conditions were actually quite good, but compared to Pei Tingyue, who had become a senior partner at a prestigious law firm in his early thirties, they inevitably felt a bit inferior.

Pei Tingyue didn’t respond to their words, and they didn’t mind. They were probably used to his reserved and cold demeanor. The couple chatted about their school days and occasionally bickered.

Shen Chuo, who had been quiet, listened to them casually, still not fully present, occasionally sipping from his glass of wine.

Song Xuan, afraid of neglecting their guest, turned the topic to Shen Chuo, asking how he knew Pei Tingyue.

Shen Chuo licked his lips and explained simply, “Qide Technology has cooperation with our college. He is Qide’s legal consultant and has helped me a lot. We got acquainted over time.”

Pei Tingyue glanced at him sideways, and Shen Chuo calmly drank his wine, not intending to say more. Fortunately, Pei Tingyue didn’t say anything either.

Chi Xiao Man sighed again, “Pei is really amazing. He can even be hired as the legal advisor for such a large group as Qide. Song Xuan, why don’t you learn from him? You’ve been working for ten years and you’re still just an assistant judge, not even a full-fledged judge.”

Song Xuan sighed helplessly, “I’ve said I’m waiting for an opportunity. It’s not that easy.”

“Why don’t you try to build connections with your superiors? Send gifts on holidays and festivals. I’ve reminded you so many times, but you never listen. You always talk about waiting, but those who entered after you have already surpassed you. Who just sits around and does nothing like you?” Chi Xiao Man said impatiently, feeling frustrated.

“You don’t have to keep saying these things,” Song Xuan felt embarrassed by her words. “Sending gifts isn’t as easy as it used to be. Even if I dare to send them, I’m not sure if others will accept them.”

“It’s clearly because you’re not proactive,” Chi Xiao Man said exasperatedly, “Why don’t you just resign and come out to follow Pei ge? Maybe become a lawyer. It’s better than now. I’ve said before that you have no future in the court…”

“Song Xuan isn’t suitable to be a lawyer.”

Pei Tingyue, who hadn’t spoken much, suddenly spoke up in a somewhat cold tone, interrupting Chi Xiao Man’s words.

Song Xuan smiled awkwardly, “Pei ge, do you also think I’m not suitable?”

“Not suitable. Working within the system is fine. Not everyone is suitable to be a lawyer,” Pei Tingyue said.

“How will he know he’s not suitable without trying…” Chi Xiao Man retorted.

Chi Xiao Man complained a few more times, but Pei Tingyue continued eating and ignored her.

Chi Xiao Man eventually felt bored and stopped talking.

Shen Chuo felt vaguely strange, but his mind was not very clear from the wine he had drunk, and he didn’t want to think too much.

Pei Tingyue reached over and took the wine glass from his hand, then said to the couple opposite, “It’s getting late, we’ll leave first.”

Song Xuan asked, “But it’s only a little past eight?”

“Huai university is quite far, we need to go back,” Pei Tingyue said abruptly, turning to signal Shen Chuo to leave.

As they got into the car and started driving, Shen Chuo began to feel a bit dizzy. The wine didn’t seem to affect him when he was drinking, but now it hit him hard.

“If you can’t drink, then don’t. Whenever you’re in a bad mood, you resort to alcohol. Looks like you still haven’t learned your lesson,” Pei Tingyue said in a slightly scattered tone, as he drove.

From this angle, Pei Tingyue’s strong jawline was even more prominent. He was a person who could speak well in front of others, but when he went to a friend’s house, he had an indifferent attitude. It was quite strange.

Shen Chuo stared blankly for a while and then asked, “Why did you bring me here today?”

“It doesn’t seem like a necessary dinner appointment,” Shen Chuo said, puzzled. “If you didn’t want to come, why did you?”

Pei Tingyue didn’t answer. “Shen Chuo, you’re quite annoying. Do you believe I’ll throw you onto the street?”

Shen Chuo chuckled, a rare occurrence, except for that one night abroad. It was the first time he had genuinely smiled in front of Pei Tingyue.

“Well, go ahead and throw me then.”

Pei Tingyue pulled over to the side of the road, unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaned closer to him. “Are you drunk?”

Shen Chuo, with slightly blurry vision, looked at Pei Tingyue’s shadow and quietly watched him get closer, without avoiding it.

“You proposed before, to be bed partners,” he said. “I agree. Do you want to give it a try?”