[You guys haven’t even slept together]

A cold sweat immediately broke out on Chen Zemian’s back.

On the customer receipt, his name was clearly written.

His. Name.

Although the handwriting was messy, with strokes connected and dashed off, no matter how much you scribbled, the characters ‘則眠’ (Zemian) couldn’t possibly be misread as ‘折’ (Zhe).

Chen Zemian stood motionless, the alcohol in his blood evaporating with the cold sweat, his tipsiness abruptly fading away. His mind was incredibly clear, but his hands and feet felt like they weren’t his own, muscles stiff and slightly numb.

‘What to do, what to do, what to do?’

His thoughts raced, thousands of ideas crisscrossing, rising and falling, then sweeping past his consciousness and sinking into endless darkness.

In just one second, he had seemingly considered so much, yet it was as if he hadn’t thought of anything at all.

‘Quick, make up an excuse! You blockhead! Think!’

Chen Zemian stood frozen, seemingly concentrating on the receipt, but in reality, his mind had already drifted away for a while.

Lu Zhuonian was skilled at bringing Chen Zemian back from his reveries. He habitually bent his index finger to knock, but found there was no table to tap.

This was no challenge for the resourceful Young Master Lu.

Lu Zhuonian raised his hand and rapped Chen Zemian’s forehead with his knuckles.

*Thump, thump.*

Chen Zemian: “…”

Lu Zhuonian produced an alcohol wipe from seemingly nowhere and slowly wiped his fingers, as elegant as a crane preening its feathers by the water. His mouth, however, was like it had been dipped in red-crested crane poison, terrifyingly venomous: “Why aren’t you speaking? Did you get knocked into amnesia again?”

“N-not amnesia,” Chen Zemian stammered, “Chen Zemian is… Chen Zemian is… a name.”

Lu Zhuonian said meaningfully, “Whose name? Yours?”

Chen Zemian didn’t dare to look at Lu Zhuonian’s expression, lowering his head and replying, “K-kind of, yeah.”

“Kind of.” Lu Zhuonian rolled these two words on his tongue, seemingly patient and guiding, but in reality, he was pressing closer with each step, continuing to probe: “Then who is Chen Zhe?”

Chen Zemian’s voice was so small it was almost gone: “Also me.”

Lu Zhuonian’s tone seemed to indicate sudden understanding, yet also greater confusion: “How can one person have two names?”

“People, they all have two names,” Chen Zemian began to lie through his teeth, trying to make his attitude sound firmer and more matter-of-fact: “A name is just a form of address, having a few is completely normal, it’s no big deal. It’s like how you are both Lu Zhuonian and Young Master Lu, and I am both Chen Zemian and Chen Zhe, the principle is the same.”

Lu Zhuonian quietly listened to Chen Zemian’s fabrication, simply looking down at him. His gaze was neither sharp nor scrutinizing; instead, it was gentle and calm, as vast and serene as a river or sea, as if it could encompass all of Chen Zemian’s hidden secrets and disguises.

Chen Zemian felt as though he was back in a thesis defense, with the illusion of being completely seen through.

“The existence of two names illustrates the relativity of names; they often appear in pairs, like a formal name corresponding to a nickname, a former name corresponding to a current name, a Chinese name corresponding to an English name.”

After spouting nonsense for a few sentences, Chen Zemian really couldn’t come up with any more. He gritted his teeth and made his final statement:

“In short, everyone has two names, and this is nothing particularly noteworthy.”

He looked up at Lu Zhuonian, revealing a professional fake smile that couldn’t be more standard. It conveyed the debater’s shame for his own gibberish and his sincere longing for his supervisor to let him off the hook.

‘I really want to go home. Please, have mercy on me, seeing as I’ve already racked my brain trying to explain. I beg you.’

Lu Zhuonian received Chen Zemian’s signal, but he wasn’t planning on letting this clueless cat, whose tail was showing, off the hook so easily.

It had to be admitted, he had a mischievous streak, especially when it came to matters related to Chen Zemian.

Normally, from any perspective, Lu Zhuonian was magnanimous and generous; being petty was a word that almost never appeared in his life.

He could let Chen Zemian off.

But he didn’t want to.

Lu Zhuonian’s gaze deepened, watching Chen Zemian with a significant weight. He extracted the useful parts from the baseless theories the other man had spouted, perfectly demonstrating what it meant to “use the opponent’s spear to attack their shield”: “Since you say names always appear in pairs, then true names and false names should also be included in that list.”

Chen Zemian’s pupils constricted slightly.

Lu Zhuonian caught this subtle change, slowed his voice, and continued to ask, “Between the names Chen Zhe and Chen Zemian, which one is real and which one is fake?”

Chen Zemian said, “Both are real.”

Lu Zhuonian: “Really?”

“Mhm, mhm,” Chen Zemian nodded haphazardly, pulled out his phone and shook it, then turned to walk out the door: “Let’s hurry back, Young Master Xiao is rushing us.”

The message notification that popped up on the phone was indeed a WeChat from Xiao Kesong. Although Chen Zemian shook his phone quickly, Lu Zhuonian still clearly saw the message on it.

He was indeed rushing them.

Lu Zhuonian twirled the customer receipt in his hand, smiling inexplicably, and asked, “Does Xiao Kesong know you have two names?”

Chen Zemian brazenly said, “No.”

Lu Zhuonian’s tone was flat, showing no emotion: “So, only I know.”

Chen Zemian couldn’t quite grasp the basis or significance of Lu Zhuonian’s conclusion.

‘Even if only you know, so what? It’s just a name, it doesn’t prove anything. Even if it doesn’t match up, it’s not a heinous crime, there’s nothing worth delving into.’

Chen Zemian, as always, convinced himself first, gradually regaining the courage to confront Lu Zhuonian: “Yes, I’ve wanted to change my name for a long time. Does Young Master Lu think there’s a problem?”

Lu Zhuonian tilted his head slightly, looking into Chen Zemian’s eyes, subtly observing something.

Chen Zemian’s eye color was very special; it was a soft, clear misty brown, neither too dark nor too light, with perfect saturation, like a piece of amber steeped in an icy spring, shimmering with light, warm and bright.

Under the gaze of these clear eyes, Lu Zhuonian didn’t raise any more questions.

“Under the moon and before the wind, free and unrestrained; sing high when inspired, sleep when tired,” Lu Zhuonian said slowly. “Very artistic.”

Chen Zemian was a bit surprised: “Young Master Lu is truly knowledgeable, able to effortlessly recall such obscure poetic lines.”

Lu Zhuonian said, “This line is very famous, and it suits you well.”

Chen Zemian smiled: “Suits me?”

Lu Zhuonian: “You can fall asleep in the car; your sleep quality is enviable.”

“I don’t fall asleep every time I’m in the car,” Chen Zemian explained, just wanting to quickly move past the topic of names, and asked, “Does Young Master Lu not sleep well?”

Lu Zhuonian nodded slightly: “It’s hard to fall asleep, and my sleep quality is very low. It feels like I’m sleeping, but my consciousness is clear.”

Chen Zemian said, “I was like that the night before my college entrance exam. It was intermittent all night, sleeping for a bit then waking up for a bit. The next day I was particularly tired, but my mind was abnormally excited.”

Lu Zhuonian’s index finger moved slightly. He folded the receipt twice with one hand, his thumb repeatedly rubbing the spot where Chen Zemian’s name was written.

Chen Zemian and Lu Zhuonian walked side by side. Chen Zemian, standing on the other side, didn’t notice Lu Zhuonian’s actions.

“Not sleeping well is very uncomfortable.”

Chen Zemian’s thoughts were still stuck on Lu Zhuonian’s sleep issues. He sincerely offered suggestions: “Would some exercise help alleviate it? Or watch sleep-inducing live streams, or listen to some lectures. Have you tried philosophy classes? Those things make anyone drowsy.”

“My second major is philosophy,” Lu Zhuonian said. “Reading philosophy can pass the time; otherwise, I’ll overthink when I can’t sleep at night.”

Chen Zemian asked, “Thinking about what?”

“Anything is possible, mostly impractical things.” Lu Zhuonian paused for a few seconds: “Tonight, I’ll probably be thinking about you.”

Chen Zemian’s recently settled heart suddenly leaped up again: “Thinking about me for what? I’m the most practical person.”

Lu Zhuonian’s tone was calm, but his words grew more surprising with each sentence: “Thinking about why you signed an unfamiliar name, thinking about why you’re so different from the Chen Zhe I knew, thinking about why you always manage to catch my attention.”

One question after another pressed down, like continuous waves, weaving an invisible, tightening net.

Lu Zhuonian held up the receipt in his hand: “Thinking if it was intentional, or full of flaws.”

Chen Zemian unconsciously held his breath, his heart contracting violently, as if it would explode on the spot from overexertion in the next second.

Lu Zhuonian and Chen Zemian were very close, allowing him to clearly observe the other’s change in expression.

He saw Chen Zemian’s pupils dilate for a moment, saw Chen Zemian swallow, saw Chen Zemian step back half a pace, unconsciously glancing behind him, like a rabbit targeted by a large beast, ready to turn and run at any moment.

Lu Zhuonian lightly twirled the receipt in his hand, thought for a moment, then handed the receipt back to its original owner.

Chen Zemian’s eyelashes fluttered, and he suddenly raised his beautifully colored eyes, staring blankly at Lu Zhuonian.

Lu Zhuonian also looked at Chen Zemian, his expression calm and peaceful.

Chen Zemian tentatively reached out and easily took the piece of evidence.

Lu Zhuonian wiped his fingers clean with an alcohol wipe, throwing all his doubts and suspicions, along with the wipe, into the trash can.

He still let him go.

Even though Chen Zemian’s abnormalities were countless, even though Chen Zemian had a face that was very much worth investigating.

—-

When they returned to the private room, the musical performance Xiao Kesong had booked had already begun.

Pushing open the door, melodious singing flowed in, invigorating the spirit.

Waves of piano music accompanied the high, soaring, and graceful singing, like the calls of phoenixes and cranes, with very professional breath control and vocal technique.

Xiao Kesong patted the sofa, calling Chen Zemian to sit beside him to listen to the music and drink.

The wine had already been decanted, served in a crystal decanter. The deep red wine shimmered gold under the revolving lights, its rich aroma intoxicating.

This performance was grand, with over a dozen people. The performers were five female vocalists, accompanied by others playing various instruments. Silk strings, bamboo flutes, zithers, and lutes harmonized, sometimes gently plucked and slowly stroked, sometimes rapid like falling rain, varying in intensity and tempo, with continuous music and song.

There was even a row of chime bells in the corner.

As soon as Chen Zemian sat down, two waitresses in cheongsams brought hot towels. One of them half-knelt in front of him, first pouring him tea, then gently asking if he needed a massage.

It was the same for Lu Zhuonian.

There were only four guests in total, but including the performers and waitstaff inside and outside the private room, there were over twenty people.

This was truly exaggerated.

The lives of the wealthy were far beyond imagination.

Chen Zemian felt like he had entered the Silk Web Cave ^[1] from the 16th-century classic Chinese novel Journey to the West., not knowing where to put his hands and feet. He vigorously shook his head, refusing the waitress’s service, repeatedly saying he could do it himself.

Seeing Chen Zemian’s discomfort, Xiao Kesong snapped his fingers, signaling all the service staff to wait in the outer room.

“Don’t come in unless I call you,” Xiao Kesong leaned his head on Chen Zemian’s shoulder, smiling at the girl beside him. “My little brother here is shy.”

Lu Zhuonian tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over them lightly.

Ye Chen grabbed Xiao Kesong by the collar and pulled him aside: “Can you sit properly by yourself?”

Xiao Kesong had had some wine and was completely languid, collapsing onto Chen Zemian again as if he had no bones: “No way, I’m not allowed to have beautiful women accompany me, so I can’t even lean on my handsome brother?”

Ye Chen glanced at Lu Zhuonian, kindly reminding him: “Don’t tempt fate.”

Xiao Kesong failed to grasp Ye Chen’s kindness and shouted, “None of your business.”

Ye Chen chuckled softly, said nothing more, and let him suffer the consequences.

Xiao Kesong grumbled to Chen Zemian: “Ye Chen’s like he’s sick, he’s so controlling.”

Chen Zemian couldn’t help but laugh: “It seems with Young Master Ye around, you won’t be able to be the King Zhou of Shang ^[2] the last and notorious tyrant king of the Shang dynasty in a KTV.”

Xiao Kesong’s eyes flickered, and he leaned close to Chen Zemian’s ear, saying, “It has nothing to do with Ye Chen; it’s because Zhuonian is here.”

Chen Zemian was surprised: “Young Master Lu?”

The music in the room hadn’t stopped, and Chen Zemian and Xiao Kesong’s voices were low. Theoretically, Lu Zhuonian shouldn’t have been able to hear their whispered conversation.

But for some reason, Lu Zhuonian looked over again.

Chen Zemian felt guilty, fearing that Lu Zhuonian had heard him gossiping about him. So he lowered his voice even further, asking in a super quiet whisper, “What does your not having beautiful women accompany you have to do with Young Master Lu?”

At this point, it involved personal matters, and even if Xiao Kesong was carefree, he couldn’t just casually reveal it. He merely coughed lightly, raised his teacup to block his mouth, and vaguely said, “He doesn’t like these things. You see, when have I ever sought pleasure with him? Today is my birthday, so he can reluctantly sit here and listen to some music with me. Normally, with so many women around, he’d have left long ago.”

Chen Zemian praised, “Young Master Lu is truly an upright gentleman, strict with himself, and free from worldly desires.”

“Pfft!”

Xiao Kesong spat out a mouthful of tea and then coughed uncontrollably, almost choking himself to death.

Ye Chen and Lu Zhuonian both looked over.

Xiao Kesong clutched the coffee table: “I… cough cough cough cough cough cough, I’m fine cough cough cough cough cough cough cough.”

Chen Zemian quickly patted Xiao Kesong’s back, finally helping him get his breath back.

Just then, the song ended, and a new one began to play.

It wasn’t a common KTV song, but an ancient poem, with a graceful melody that was refreshing to the ears.

Chen Zemian’s attention was drawn by the singing, and he quickly forgot the previous topic.

He wasn’t an expert in music appreciation, yet he felt this song was like “Yangchun Baixue” ^[3] a high-brow piece of music, sounding more sophisticated than popular tunes. Especially when everyone sang in chorus, the sense of shock was indescribable. The music and song transcended a thousand years, instantly pulling one back to the past, as if they were in the Song Dynasty, back to the brightly lit Yuanxiao Festival, gazing at time from the end of a long street where phoenix flutes resonated and subtle fragrances flowed.

It’s really good to be rich; you can enjoy such elegant musical pieces.

Chen Zemian felt his entire being elevate, finally understanding why they say it’s easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

Xiao Kesong unwrapped a deck of cards and called out to Ye Chen and Lu Zhuonian: “Just listening to music is boring, let’s play cards.”

Ye Chen sat over: “What are we betting?”

Xiao Kesong, not a novice at this, skillfully said, “The loser takes turns treating the winner to a month of late-night snacks, how about it?”

Everyone agreed readily.

Xiao Kesong, rare to catch Lu Zhuonian in an interested mood, immediately said, “Your auntie’s fermented rice with shrimp is amazing, I want to eat that.”

Lu Zhuonian: “Win first, then order.”

Xiao Kesong put an arm around Chen Zemian’s shoulder: “Chen Zhe is very good at cards, you know. He loves me so much, he’ll definitely order me the fermented rice with shrimp if he wins, right?”

Chen Zemian didn’t know what level Chen Zhe’s card playing skills were to make Xiao Kesong specifically boast about him being ‘amazing’ in front of Lu Zhuonian, and immediately felt the pressure double: “Young Master Lu and Young Master Ye should also be very good, right?”

Xiao Kesong gave Chen Zemian a reassuring look, confident: “Far worse than you.”

Chen Zemian: “…”

Lu Zhuonian picked up a card: “Don’t be too confident, he’s not the same as before now.”

Chen Zemian lowered his head to pick up a card, not daring to respond.

Ye Chen was a little puzzled: “What do you mean ‘not the same as before’?”

Xiao Kesong explained: “You don’t know about this. Xu Shaoyang’s people beat Chen Zhe up a while ago. Chen Zhe hit his head and can’t remember a lot of things now.”

It wasn’t uncommon for Xu Shaoyang to throw his weight around, act arrogantly, and be violent, relying on his family’s influence. Allowing his subordinates to hurt someone was one thing, but injuring someone to the point of ‘not remembering things’ was another.

Ye Chen found it somewhat unbelievable and knew that Xiao Kesong always exaggerated. He subconsciously looked to Lu Zhuonian for confirmation: “Really?”

Lu Zhuonian looked at Chen Zemian.

Chen Zemian felt incredibly guilty. He lowered his head, fidgeting with the cards in his hand, his thumb unconsciously rubbing the edges. He appeared to be planning his next move, but his attention was actually fixed on Lu Zhuonian, waiting to hear what he would say.

Lu Zhuonian calmly averted his gaze and softly replied, “Hmm, he said he lost his memory from the beating.”

Chen Zemian’s fingers curled slightly.

Lu Zhuonian’s answer was cunning; he obscured the subject, using subtle phrasing to its fullest. Anyone listening would naturally assume a doctor had said this, but only Chen Zemian knew the true subject of the sentence was himself.

The conclusion of ‘amnesia’ hadn’t been based on any diagnosis, and Lu Zhuonian had never believed Chen Zemian’s story. Yet, he still provided false testimony for himself in front of Ye Chen.

Chen Zemian was distracted, handling the cards without truly focusing, and played terribly.

After losing several rounds, even the slow-witted Xiao Kesong noticed something was off. He flipped over the remaining cards in Chen Zemian’s hand, examining them one by one.

“Are you feeding cards to Lu Zhuonian?” Xiao Kesong picked out two black aces, suspiciously asking, “Why didn’t you play these two cards?”

Chen Zemian placed the cards face down on the table: “I might be a bit sleepy. I’m going out for some fresh air; you guys can play first.”

Xiao Kesong glanced at his watch: “Didn’t you sleep in the car?”

Lu Zhuonian said nonchalantly, “He sleeps a lot.”

A very strange feeling arose in Xiao Kesong’s heart, as if something he hadn’t noticed was quietly happening: “How do you know Chen Zhe sleeps a lot? You haven’t slept together.”

Ye Chen silently choked on his drink.

Chen Zemian didn’t hear any ambiguity in the statement. He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and asked Xiao Kesong, “Do you want anything else to eat? I’ll bring it back for you.”

“You’re going out?” Xiao Kesong asked.

Chen Zemian nodded. “There’s a snack street up ahead; I can go get some food.”

“Snack street?” Xiao Kesong’s interest was piqued. “I’ll go too.”

“Just tell me what you want, and I’ll bring it back,” Chen Zemian said. “There are shared bikes outside, so I’ll cycle there quickly. It’s hard to park over there.”

Xiao Kesong picked up his wallet and pushed Chen Zemian toward the door. “I’ll cycle too.”

Chen Zemian was pushed forward a couple of steps, then turned to ask Ye Chen, “Young Master Ye, do you want anything to eat?”

“Can’t eat,” Ye Chen replied.

“Can’t eat?” Chen Zemian didn’t understand. “What can’t you eat?”

Xiao Kesong gloated, “He can’t eat those things. Our Young Master Ye is so precious; his stomach is more delicate than a ragdoll cat’s.”

Chen Zemian then looked at Lu Zhuonian. “What about Young Master Lu?”

Lu Zhuonian shook his head.

Xiao Kesong was always quick to act, eager to leave. He pushed Chen Zemian from behind again, muttering, “No need to ask, Lu Zhuonian is a picky eater.”

Chen Zemian heartily agreed, expressing his approval: “He’s even more distinguished.”

Lu Zhuonian said faintly, “And you know this now?”

The private room was large, and people were still singing. Xiao Kesong and Chen Zemian had already reached the door while talking, both assuming Lu Zhuonian couldn’t hear them openly discussing him. No one expected Lu Zhuonian to suddenly interject like that.

The two were scared out of their wits, pushing each other in a frantic rush to escape the private room.

Fortunately, Chen Zemian was quick enough, moving faster than Xiao Kesong, and darted out, otherwise the two of them would have gotten stuck in the doorway.

As he dashed out, he just happened to brush past a waitress carrying a fruit platter.

Even while escaping, Xiao Kesong didn’t forget to eat. He casually grabbed a handful of kumquats, bit into one, and grimaced, saying it was too sour. He looked around, ready to find a place to discard it.

“Give it to me, Young Master,” Chen Zemian took the kumquat and tasted it. “It’s alright, quite tasty.”

Seeing Chen Zemian eat two without changing his expression, Xiao Kesong couldn’t help but wonder if he was just unlucky, having picked the only sour kumquat to start with. He wanted to try another but was afraid of the sourness, so he ultimately decided not to risk it.

The corridor, lined with sound-absorbing carpets, was magnificent, and the sound of music never ceased.

KTV hostesses with exquisite makeup smiled and greeted Xiao Kesong. Some held instruments, others wore dance outfits, gracefully clustering around him, surrounding Xiao Kesong, asking why Young Master Xiao was leaving so soon after just arriving, and if there was any inadequacy in their service.

Xiao Kesong was accustomed to such scenes and handled them with ease.

He put an arm around Chen Zemian and said, “We’re not leaving; my buddy and I are just going out for some late-night snacks.”

Xiao Kesong was a regular at Fanlou, always arriving with a retinue. Chen Zemian had been standing behind him before, his figure half-hidden in the shadows, his face vaguely indistinct. The girls had simply taken him for Young Master Xiao’s attendant and hadn’t paid much attention until Chen Zemian was pulled into the light by Xiao Kesong. Only then did they clearly see the young attendant’s face.

At that sight, the lively atmosphere immediately quieted.

The girls looked at each other, then suddenly smiled in unison.

“Young Master Xiao, I wondered why we haven’t seen you around lately. So, you’ve found company.”

“He’s too handsome, Young Master Xiao has such good taste.”

“Our manager is going to get upset again, always scolding us for not working hard, but look at his face and figure – can effort achieve that?”

“He’s truly handsome.”

“Why does he look like a celebrity?” A girl in a black dress suddenly raised her arm, reaching out to touch Chen Zemian’s cheek: “No wonder Young Master Xiao is so captivated.”

Chen Zemian only detected a waft of fragrance. Before his mind could react, his entire body’s muscles went into alert, and he instinctively grabbed the other’s wrist, preparing to execute an over-the-shoulder throw. It was only when he caught a glimpse of the beautiful vermilion nail polish out of the corner of his eye that he realized it was a girl, and he sheepishly let go.

He couldn’t throw a girl.

The girl, unaware she had almost been thrown, stroked Chen Zemian’s face and chuckled, “Such soft skin, whose little male model are you?”

Chen Zemian had a handsome face; even before transmigrating, he’d been mistaken for a male model in bars, so this was familiar territory for him. He wasn’t angry, merely smiled without speaking.

Xiao Kesong’s face, however, darkened, and he said unhappily, “What male model? This is my brother!”

With that, he ignored everyone’s apologies and pulled Chen Zemian away.

Just as they passed through the lobby, Xiao Kesong suddenly tugged Chen Zemian. “Hey, look who that is!”

Chen Zemian had just popped the last kumquat into his mouth and nearly choked from the sudden tug. He looked in the direction Xiao Kesong was pointing, only vaguely discerning a tall, slender, graceful back. Long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a long formal dress, seemingly holding a stringed instrument.

“Who is it?” Chen Zemian asked Xiao Kesong. “Do you know her?”

Xiao Kesong hesitated. “She looks like someone from our school.”

Chen Zemian frowned. “From your school?”

A young girl, holding a stringed instrument, Xiao Kesong’s schoolmate, appearing at a night venue performance… these elements stacked together created an indescribable sense of familiarity.

In a flash of insight, a brief background plot from the original book, mentioned in passing, suddenly surfaced in Chen Zemian’s mind.

“It’s Shen Qingwan!”

Chen Zemian grabbed Xiao Kesong’s arm in return, excited: “I remember now!”

On the night of Xiao Kesong’s twentieth birthday, Shen Qingwan was performing the zither at Fanlou. A girl playing the flute was being harassed by a group of drunk guests. No one else dared to intervene, only Shen Qingwan stepped forward, but she was then held captive by the guests in a private room…

After that, of course, Lu Zhuonian heroically saved the beauty, and the “iron trio” caused a ruckus at Fanlou.

This was a crucial plot point, appearing in Shen Qingwan’s memories in the original book. According to Shen Qingwan herself, it was on this night that she completely fell in love with Lu Zhuonian.

Chen Zemian felt like he was witnessing history, his heart pounding: “Quick, go get Young Master Lu, Shen Qingwan is in trouble!”

Xiao Kesong was stunned for a moment: “How do you know?”

Chen Zemian blurted out a fabrication: “Uh, I did some quick calculations, and I figured she has a tribulation tonight. She might encounter some troublesome guests.”

Xiao Kesong was skeptical, his intelligence suddenly asserting itself: “If she’s in trouble, what does that have to do with Zhuonian? Shouldn’t you tell their manager?”

Chen Zemian hadn’t expected Xiao Kesong to direct all his cleverness and sensitivity towards himself. He said helplessly, “Then you go tell their manager, I’ll go take a look.”

Xiao Kesong pulled Chen Zemian back, his tone meaningful: “You seem very concerned about Shen Qingwan.”

Chen Zemian was ambiguous: “I’ve met her before; she seems to like Young Master Lu.”

Xiao Kesong sniffed out the drama and instantly became interested: “You even noticed that? You’re very observant. Could it be that you like her?”

Chen Zemian was speechless: “Don’t be ridiculous, I’m thinking for Young Master Lu’s sake.”

Xiao Kesong mysteriously wiggled his finger and said, “Don’t bother. She and Lu Zhuonian have no chance.”

Chen Zemian was greatly shocked: “How could Shen Qingwan have no chance?”

In the original text, Shen Qingwan had quite a significant role and was even one of the top three popular female supporting characters. How could the male lead’s good brother have declared her “out of the running” before the plot had even officially begun?

“Kesong looked at Chen Zemian: “Hey, how should I put it? It’s a bit complicated. I’d have to tell you from the beginning.”

Chen Zemian was very patient: “I can listen from the beginning.”

Xiao Kesong hesitated: “Okay, I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else.”

Chen Zemian’s eyes were clear and innocent, and when he looked up, his face was full of sincerity and naivety: “Who would I tell?”

Xiao Kesong thought about it and relaxed: “Lu Zhuonian couldn’t possibly like her, because she’s very similar to one of our childhood friends – tall and slender, aloof, and she plays the guqin.”

Chen Zemian didn’t remember such a person in the book: “Besides Young Master Lu and Young Master Ye, you have another childhood friend?”

Xiao Kesong nodded: “Yeah, there’s also one named Su Yao. She was Ye Chen’s first love, but she went abroad and hasn’t come back since.”

Chen Zemian suddenly understood: “So Shen Qingwan looks like Young Master Ye’s first love. No wonder you said she has no chance with Young Master Lu.”

Xiao Kesong said: “Even if she didn’t look like her, she wouldn’t have a chance. She’s just not suitable for Lu Zhuonian. Shen Qingwan looks frail and unhealthy.”

Chen Zemian thought for a long time but couldn’t figure out what the necessary connection was between poor health and unsuitability.

Meanwhile, Xiao Kesong had already called the manager and asked him about Shen Qingwan.

The manager was deeply impressed by this campus beauty who played the guqin; many customers recently came specifically for Shen Qingwan.

“Her father embezzled public funds for stock trading, and now he’s trying to get a suspended sentence by making restitution,” the manager said. “The night venue at Fanlou has high earnings. A highly educated and beautiful girl like her can earn six figures a month just by playing the zither and drinking.”

Xiao Kesong folded his arms: “Just drinking?”

“Oh, Young Master Xiao, of course, it’s just drinking. We’re very legitimate here… If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.” The manager said, turning the surveillance computer screen around.

Everything in the surveillance footage was normal; there were no conflicts. Shen Qingwan sat in front of the stage playing the zither, separated from the guest seating by two coffee tables, about three or four meters away. The guests were drinking and chatting, not paying much attention to the girls performing on stage. Their expressions even seemed a bit bored, likely thinking that listening to this kind of music wasn’t as interesting as watching energetic singing and dancing.

Xiao Kesong turned to Chen Zemian: “Your calculations aren’t very accurate, Master Chen.”

Chen Zemian: “…”

Could it be that his intervention had flapped the butterfly’s wings, making that crisis disappear?

Seeing that Chen Zemian was still somewhat hesitant, Xiao Kesong instructed the manager again: “She’s from our school; we all know her.”

The manager bowed with a smile, politely saying: “Young Master Xiao, please rest assured. Since you’ve personally inquired, how could I not take care of her?”

Saying this, the manager waved over two security guards and told them to stand guard at the entrance to Shen Qingwan’s private room.

Xiao Kesong looked at Shen Qingwan on the monitor, sighing deeply: “She really looks like Su Yao. Ye Chen will definitely be sad when he sees her.”

Chen Zemian also stared at the monitor for a while, finding no abnormalities, and finally relaxed. He then asked Xiao Kesong: “Are we still going to the snack street? It’ll be closing soon.”

Xiao Kesong was still feeling sentimental for Ye Chen, and he didn’t expect Chen Zemian to be only thinking about food. He immediately gave him a reproachful look: “I said Ye Chen would be sad, and your response is ‘Is the snack street closing if we don’t go now?'”

Chen Zemian pointed at his watch: “It’s already eleven. The snack street is open until eleven-thirty, and it’ll take a while to cycle there.”

Xiao Kesong was speechless and said indignantly: “You clearly haven’t suffered the pains of love; you have no sympathy at all… Although Ye Chen doesn’t mention it, he hasn’t dated anyone else for so many years. He must still be thinking about Su Yao.”

Chen Zemian pulled Xiao Kesong up from the sofa: “Su Yao has been gone for so many years, a little while longer won’t make a difference, but the snack street will really close after these thirty minutes.”

Xiao Kesong: “…”

‘How could that actually make sense?’

Chen Zemian exited Fanlou, quickly scanned a shared bike, and pedaled away in a hurry. Before Xiao Kesong could even pick a bike he liked, Chen Zemian was already speeding away like a whirlwind.

Xiao Kesong had no choice but to hastily scan a bike, not even having time to adjust the seat height. He awkwardly bent his long legs and chased after him.

There’s a kind of incline in the world that you don’t notice when walking or driving, but only when cycling. The snack street looked close on the map, a straight line distance of less than a kilometer, but the actual street distance was nearly two kilometers, all uphill. Chen Zemian cycled incredibly fast, and Xiao Kesong chased hard from behind. When he truly couldn’t keep up, he had to stand up and pedal, pushing with such desperation that it felt like a rally race.

“Damn, how does this kid have endless energy?”

Xiao Kesong was caught by a red light at the crosswalk, only able to watch Chen Zemian’s elegant receding figure and complain, “You can ride a shared bike so gracefully? Are you shooting a movie, buddy?”

Young Master Xiao put in a lot of effort to meet Chen Zemian at the entrance of the snack street, his thighs aching from cycling.

Close to closing time, many stalls in the snack street had no customers, filled with the lingering scent of fireworks about to disperse.

Xiao Kesong felt a wave of nostalgia, remembering the many snack stalls outside his school when he was in junior high: “Back then, Su Yao hadn’t gone abroad, and Zhuonian wasn’t like this.”

Chen Zemian’s attention was on the delicacies on both sides, listening absentmindedly. He didn’t pick up on Xiao Kesong’s hesitation, assuming he was talking about Lu Zhuonian’s obsession with cleanliness, and casually replied, “Has Young Master Lu always been this particular about cleanliness?”

Xiao Kesong recalled, “He’s always been quite particular about cleanliness since he was little, and he could be really fussy. If I touched his toys, he wouldn’t play with them anymore. But overall, he was still better when he was a kid than he is now. Back then, us few were as close as one person, playing together during the day and sleeping together at night. Now, neither of them sleeps with me anymore.”

Chen Zemian: “You’re grown up now, and one bed can’t fit all three of you.”

Xiao Kesong said, “It can. Haven’t I told you about that time I went to a winter camp in the wild? It snowed heavily and the temperature dropped at night, almost freezing me to death. Eventually, I couldn’t bear it anymore and survived by crawling into someone else’s sleeping bag.”

Chen Zemian couldn’t help but laugh: “Why would you go to a wild winter camp in the dead of winter? Young Master Xiao, you’ve even done things that cost money to suffer.”

Xiao Kesong sighed: “I’ve done plenty of things that cost money to suffer. There was also that time Zhuonian and I went skydiving. The moment I jumped out of the plane, I already had my last words planned out. And then he actually invited me to climb Haba Snow Mountain. I told him he could kill me, and I couldn’t go.”

Chen Zemian spotted a takoyaki stall and stopped: “Young Master Lu really has a special fondness for extreme sports.”

“He has too much energy.”

Xiao Kesong then recounted a dangerous experience of high-altitude rappelling. Just as he reached the thrilling part, he turned his head and found no one beside him.

Xiao Kesong: “???”

‘Where did he go?’

He turned around and saw Chen Zemian stopped five meters away at the takoyaki stall, holding a serving of takoyaki, ready to eat.

“…”

The fragrant takoyaki balls were sprinkled with seaweed and dried bonito flakes, topped with a thick layer of cheese sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, and a hint of yellow mustard for extra flavor. The exterior was crispy, the filling soft, and the octopus chewy.

One bite unleashed several flavors on the tongue simultaneously, creating a rich texture and endless aftertaste. It was just a little hot.

‘Hoo-hoo-hoo.’

Chen Zemian, with the remaining half of a takoyaki ball in his mouth, looked up and met Xiao Kesong’s gaze from five meters away.

Xiao Kesong folded his arms and raised an eyebrow: “What are you doing, buddy? I’ve almost walked two li^[4] approx. 1 km, and you’re still here happily eating.”

Chen Zemian swallowed the half-eaten ball and made up a wild explanation: “I don’t know what happened, I just remember smelling a scent, and then I lost consciousness. When I woke up, this takoyaki was already in my mouth.”

“I’m truly impressed,” Xiao Kesong grabbed Chen Zemian’s sleeve and walked forward. “Are you a cat? You just disappear the moment I let go. Is this flour ball really that delicious?”

Chen Zemian wanted Xiao Kesong to try it, letting the takoyaki conquer Young Master Xiao with its deliciousness, but he looked down, counted the remaining pieces, and fell into a dilemma.

One serving of takoyaki had five pieces. Now, there were only three left in the paper box. If he shared one with Xiao Kesong, only two would remain. If Xiao Kesong also found it delicious and wanted another, then Chen Zemian would only be able to eat one more himself. Takoyaki was so delicious; Xiao Kesong would definitely eat two. He might even eat all the rest.

‘Fine, let him eat them all. He’s my brother after all.’ Chen Zemian popped another one into his mouth and handed over the box: “You’ll know once you try it.”

Xiao Kesong picked up a bamboo skewer and meticulously poked at the takoyaki in the box: “Tsk, so many seafood options at the birthday banquet, and you drag me to a night market to eat this stuff.”

Chen Zemian instantly hesitated, raising the paper box high. “You don’t have to eat it, then.”

Xiao Kesong, quick as a flash, swiftly speared one and popped it into his mouth.

The deliciousness of the octopus was irresistible.

The two explored the snack street from end to end, sampling a variety of delicacies including baodu ^[5] tripe with sauce https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baodu , luzhu ^[6] pork offal stew https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzhu_huoshao , ludagun (e( glutinous rice rolls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lüdagun)), kebabs, fried tofu, fried starch jelly, bamboo-fragrant duck, cheese mashed potatoes, and lotus root soup. In the end, they only brought two servings of takoyaki and a handful of kebabs back to Fanlou.

Passing the front desk, Chen Zemian specifically asked the manager, “Nothing happened, right?”

The manager replied, “No, Shen Qingwan has already left for the day.”

Strictly speaking, outside food wasn’t allowed in Fanlou, but with Xiao Kesong present, who would dare to truly stop them? Even the manager turned a blind eye, pretending not to see.

However, the grilled squid was simply too fragrant.

Several guests whose food and drinks had been confiscated looked over, following the scent, and complained indignantly, “Why can they bring their things in?”

Another person, as if finally having a valid point, seized on Fanlou’s perceived error: “You’re open for business; why aren’t you treating everyone equally? If you allow it for some, allow it for all. Otherwise, don’t allow it for anyone.”

The staff member gently explained that their alcoholic beverages could be stored there, or they could consume their items on-site, or if their spending reached a certain amount, their drinks would be permitted inside.

That group not only refused to listen, but one person even pulled out their phone, recording Xiao Kesong’s face and threatening to post it online.

Xiao Kesong’s expression darkened, about to erupt.

Chen Zemian intervened, saying, “Forget it, why get angry with them? It’s your birthday today. Why don’t you go up first? There are only a few bites left; I’ll just eat it outside.”

Xiao Kesong couldn’t bring himself to get angry at Chen Zemian, so he just walked out in a huff.

It was the dead of night; most shops and ground-floor businesses had turned off their lights, creating a unique sense of quiet solemnity. The streets were peaceful, and the night air was cool.

Xiao Kesong walked along the street for a while, slowly calming down. It took two skewers of grilled squid to fully restore his good mood.

He hadn’t even had a chance to announce his improved spirits when he suddenly heard a scream.

Xiao Kesong turned around just in time to see a beer bottle flying through the air, heading straight for his head!

Chen Zemian reacted quickly, his hand clamping onto Xiao Kesong’s forehead as he ducked, narrowly dodging it.

The bottle flew a considerable distance further due to inertia before crashing to the ground, sending shattered glass flying high.

Xiao Kesong’s heart pounded with lingering fear. If that had hit him on the head…

Chen Zemian straightened up, looking in the direction the bottle had come from.

He saw Shen Qingwan supporting another girl, stumbling and running towards a lighted area.

Behind the two girls were four or five drunken middle-aged men, yelling and shouting, their arrogance palpable. One of them was the person who had just thrown the bottle, his arm still raised.

The plot point that was meant to happen, eventually did.

Chen Zemian seemed to have anticipated this; his face was devoid of expression. He simply handed the half-eaten skewer in his hand to Xiao Kesong.

Xiao Kesong instinctively took the skewer. Before he could speak, he saw a lightning-fast figure flash past him, bypassing Shen Qingwan and the other girl, and charging directly towards the five burly men.

Shen Qingwan only felt as if a gust of wind had swept past.

The strands of hair scattered across her cheeks gently lifted, offering a fleeting glimpse, revealing a strikingly handsome, pale face. ‘It was Chen Zhe!’

Shen Qingwan and Xiao Kesong’s minds simultaneously registered that name, their gazes instinctively following Chen Zhe’s figure.

The next second, the man who threw the bottle shot into the air, flying backward even faster than the bottle had.

After kicking one man away, Chen Zemian took his place, standing amidst the group of drunkards. The expression on his face remained unchanged as he calmly uttered two words:

“Get lost.”

—-

Author’s note:

Mianmian gently strung up the drunkards and beat them.