It wasn’t until much later that Shi Yi finally figured out why Ying Ming had looked so familiar.

Turns out, he was a celebrity.

Considering that face of his was his meal ticket, that made sense. Shi Yi tried to recall what roles Ying Ming had played but couldn’t come up with anything specific.

It wasn’t a huge surprise. He never really had much interest in movies to begin with.

Watching movies had always felt like something to pass the time back in his student days. After leaving those carefree years behind, he lost interest in that kind of indulgence.

Shi Yi’s impression of Ying Ming remained stuck on that brief encounter from the other night. He never asked about whether Wang Le found Wang Yiqi or how things ended between them. Relationship problems had always seemed too tangled for him to deal with, and with his own personal life bordering on chaos, he was hardly in a position to judge how anyone else handled theirs.

He hadn’t expected to run into Ying Ming again.

Especially not at his own birthday party.

To Shi Yi, celebrating a birthday always felt like a waste of time. You spend your own money to get a bunch of people together, some you know and some you don’t, and they eat, drink, and talk about stuff that has nothing to do with you. Every once in a while, they might toss you a compliment you’d heard a thousand times before. Then, once the night wound down and things calmed down, you’d be the one left paying the bill.

It’s a waste of time, but you do it anyway.

If you didn’t make a big deal out of it, someone else would.

If you didn’t care, someone else would.

There was always someone ready to seize the chance for free food and drinks. Often, Shi Yi hadn’t even decided whom to invite before ten people had already received invitations.

Nobody ever knew who sent them.

Eventually, the room would fill up anyway. People would come and go, and most of their faces would blur together until only a few were recognizable.

Ying Ming stood out because he was late.

By the time he arrived, everyone else had eaten, drunk their fill, and moved on to a KTV room. Ying Ming strolled in unhurried, with two people following behind him.

Shi Yi recognized one of them. The other seemed vaguely familiar.

“Young Master Shi, we’re so sorry we’re late. As punishment, we’ll have three drinks,” the person he recognized said, trying to be cheerful.

It was Kou Jing.

Without waiting for a response, Kou Jing grabbed a glass, filled it, and downed three drinks in quick succession. He didn’t even seem to notice that he might have used someone else’s glass.

Ying Ming followed more quietly, lifting his gaze just in time for his eyes to meet Shi Yi’s. His brow lifted slightly, as if by reflex.

When Kou Jing finished, some people cheered while others teased him, creating a lively commotion. Shi Yi stayed silent, keeping his attention on Ying Ming.

Only a few people in the room understood the problem between them.

To the rest, they were just strangers.

After Kou Jing finished his drinks, he wiped his mouth with his hand and pulled Ying Ming forward a step.

“Shi Yi, do you know him?”

Shi Yi gave a faint smile. “No, never seen him before.”

“He’s Ying Ming. You must’ve watched that old movie, Rogue, when you were a kid. He played the lead, the rogue himself. Military kid, same background as you. You’re practically family.”

As Kou Jing finished speaking, Wang Le, who was sitting nearby, let out a quiet “Ah.”
He’d obviously remembered.

In fact, it wasn’t just him. Shi Yi realized it too.

Finally, the nagging feeling of familiarity made sense. That’s why Ying Ming had seemed so familiar. Back then, Shi Yi had really liked that movie because it reminded him of his own life. He even bought the DVD and kept it at home.

Of course, it was probably long lost by now.

Ying Ming’s features still bore traces of that familiar look, but now they were sharper, more defined. The youthful aura was gone, replaced by something more mature. Only the smile remained unchanged, still carrying that hint of mischief, as if he was joking or mocking.

Kou Jing’s introduction quickly triggered recognition in the others. Soon, several people gathered around Ying Ming, chatting with him about the past. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, nodding politely to everyone.

Eventually, he managed to slip away and poured himself a drink. He raised his glass to Shi Yi with a casual grin.

“Since it’s your birthday, I’ll play along and say the usual. Happy Birthday.”

Then he downed the whole glass in one go.

Shi Yi unexpectedly picked up the bottle and poured him another drink.

“No present is complete without a second round,” he said.

Ying Ming didn’t flinch. He lifted the glass and drank it down without hesitation.

Shi Yi poured again. “Let’s see how deep your feelings for me are.”

Ying Ming paused briefly at these words, his expression subtle and hard to read. But his hand never slowed down. Shi Yi poured and Ying Ming drank until the bottle was half empty. Only then did Shi Yi put it back on the table.

“That’s what I call loyalty!”

After that, the crowd got even louder, and they really let loose.

Shi Yi was already feeling a bit bored, but Ying Ming’s sudden appearance piqued his interest. The two of them ended up drinking competitively until the people around them started to look visibly pale.

In the end, no one could remember exactly how much they’d drunk.

Shi Yi vaguely remembered that he hadn’t partied this hard since he graduated from college. At some point, amidst the shouting and chaos, he’d grabbed a microphone and sang a few songs. But the details were fuzzy. Everyone had been practically wiped out that night, so no one could give a clear account of what actually happened.

His only real gain from that birthday party was a new friend: Ying Ming.

When it came to making friends, Shi Yi had always relied on instinct.

If someone matched his vibe, status and background didn’t matter. He could still treat them like a brother.

And to him, Ying Ming was a straightforward guy. Refreshingly so. No pretense, no unnecessary fuss. He spoke his mind, acted decisively, and didn’t waste time playing mind games. But he wasn’t reckless or clueless. He knew how to draw the line, how to handle things with the right balance.

Of course, Shi Yi hadn’t come to this conclusion just because of the birthday party.

He met Ying Ming several times after that.

In their social circles, things were pretty much the same wherever you went. The same familiar faces, the same routines. No matter who was in charge, the parties followed a predictable pattern that rarely changed.

Ying Ming, with his easy charm and solid connections, had no shortage of friends. As a result, his and Shi Yi’s paths crossed again and again.

At first, no one realized that Shi Yi and Ying Ming had any sort of connection. Occasionally, someone would even make a redundant introduction, unaware of their acquaintance. Eventually, Shi Yi simply declared that they were friends, and the unusual pairing was gradually accepted without question.

Privately, Kou Jing once commented to Ying Ming, “Mingzi, I’ve got to hand it to you. Getting along with Shi Yi isn’t easy.”

People with Shi Yi’s kind of background usually carried at least some air of superiority.

Shi Yi wasn’t the most arrogant of them, but he was definitely the most transparent. Ordinary people didn’t even register on his radar.

Ying Ming had just taken a drag from his cigarette and smiled lazily. “We’re just drinking buddies. You’re thinking too much.”

He never claimed to be particularly close to Shi Yi.

Getting along over a drink was one thing. Having a good conversation was another. Whether they could really get along in life was something else entirely.

Even though people said that the entertainment world and political and business circles were deeply connected, Ying Ming understood that he and Shi Yi came from very different backgrounds. They didn’t share the same goals, and they barely crossed paths outside of some casual get-togethers where they mostly just talked nonsense. They didn’t have much in common, and it was hard for them to form deeper connections.

“The most important thing is to know your place,” Ying Ming said, exhaling smoke as he leaned back on the sofa and half-closed his eyes in contentment. “Don’t underestimate yourself, but don’t overestimate yourself either.”

The world keeps spinning, no matter who leaves it. Life goes on, with or without anyone.

When Ying Ming wasn’t tied up with a movie project, he usually had complete control over his schedule.

He didn’t participate in too many commercial events. When he had time, he’d travel, go to the gym, or occasionally indulge in extreme sports. Some people said that artists and actors would always crave thrills because an empty inner world would be the death of their careers. Ying Ming thought that view was a bit too absolute, although he couldn’t deny that there was some truth to it.

When Shi Yi called Ying Ming over the weekend, Ying Ming was standing by a mountain stream getting ready to go rafting.

The phone signal wasn’t very good, so their voices were intermittent.

“Ying Ming, where are you?”

“I’m out of town,” Ying Ming replied without giving his exact location. It wouldn’t matter anyway, because no matter what Shi Yi needed, there was no way he could rush back in time.

“Can you make it back tonight?”

“What time?”

“Around eight.”

“Maybe, but it’ll be tight.” He figured he’d be stuck there until at least six. Even if he skipped the dinner meeting, he wouldn’t be able to get back until eight or nine.

Something about the call felt out of place, and Ying Ming instinctively took a few steps away from the crowd to a quieter spot. “What’s going on? If something’s wrong, just tell me.”

“I need a favor,” Shi Yi said. “I’ve got a group of clients coming over tonight, and I need someone to keep things lively. The usual people I rely on are all out of town, so I thought I’d ask you to help set things up.”

Shi Yi typically wouldn’t ask Ying Ming unless he had no other choice.

Usually, Ou Yang handled these arrangements, and Shi Yi rarely had to get involved. But Ou Yang happened to be away on a business trip, and everyone else was unavailable due to various last-minute issues. After scrolling through his contacts, Shi Yi thought of Ying Ming.

Ying Ming only paused briefly before giving a straightforward answer. “Alright. I can be in the city in two hours. I’ll call you when I get there.”

After hanging up, he quickly packed his things. Even though he had been asked to stay, he got into his car and apologized, saying that he would host the next get-together.

Shi Yi waited for about an hour and a half after making the call.

Eventually, Ying Ming sent him a text, letting him know he’d already arrived and was waiting downstairs at Shi Yi’s office.