The car headed towards the mountaintop. As they ascended, the panoramic view widened, with city lights occasionally flashing beyond the densely packed green vegetation on both sides. The full view of this bustling metropolis gradually unfolded before them.

The local driver in the front seat, speaking Mandarin more awkwardly than the Mr. Shibai from earlier, provided introductions as he drove. Ning Zhiyuan found it amusing after listening for a while and reminded the driver to focus on driving.

The talkative driver, somewhat regretful, was disappointed since the boss didn’t want to hear more.

In the back seat, Ning Zhiyuan and Cen Zhisen sat on opposite sides, with some distance between them. Ning Zhiyuan focused on the night scenery outside the partially lowered car window. The night breeze in the mountains was not as hot, dispersing the murky atmosphere he had accumulated throughout the day.

His hand was held, fingers entwined and gently rubbing. He didn’t bother turning around.

Thinking back to the discussion about “sense of belonging,” he seemed to have a slightly different feeling now.

Having seen the night scenes of many different cities, some similar and some different, he had gradually realized that a sense of belonging might not necessarily be where he was born or grew up. Perhaps it was wherever the person he cherished was; that place was his home.

Returning the grip on Cen Zhisen’s hand, he lightly touched his ring and asked, “Want to go for a drink?”

Cen Zhisen turned his head, “Didn’t we drink enough earlier?”

“Not much, really,” Ning Zhiyuan suggested, “Let’s find a bar. Since we’re here, we should experience the nightlife in this area.”

Cen Zhisen had no objections, instructing the driver to change course and head downhill.

They went to Lan Kwai Fong, randomly choosing a bar. When they entered, Ning Zhiyuan received a message from Kuang Yaoting, and he invited him for a drink as well. Ning Zhiyuan casually sent the location over.

Cen Zhisen looked at him with a slightly strange expression, “Inviting others to drink too?”

“Kuang Yaoting has helped me a lot in these past few days,” Ning Zhiyuan explained. “Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to connect with those big shots. It’s good to have more connections and friends. It’s only natural to invite him for a drink.”

Cen Zhisen raised his hand and pressed it firmly on Ning Zhiyuan’s shoulder, not saying much, “Let’s go inside.”

They sat at the bar, ordered some drinks, and not long after, Kuang Yaoting arrived. He greeted Ning Zhiyuan first and, when his gaze turned to Cen Zhisen, paused before saying, “I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to meet Mr. Cen until tomorrow. Unexpectedly, we watched the horse race together this afternoon, and now we can have a drink together here.”

Cen Zhisen’s tone was indifferent, “Thanks to Mr Kuang Yaoting for taking care of Zhiyuan these past few days. He has told me about your great help.”

Kuang Yaoting looked at Ning Zhiyuan, “Have I helped you?

Ning Zhiyuan replied calmly, “yes, thank you.”

Kuang Yaoting smiled, “No need. It’s my pleasure.”

Cen Zhisen frowned slightly, not quite liking his tone.

“You don’t have to come to a place like this if you just want to drink. I can take you to a private club, much quieter.” Kuang Yaoting suggested.

“No, we just want to experience it,” Ning Zhiyuan laughed. “Those private clubs and establishments are boring. It’s more enjoyable to drink whiskey in a lively place.”

Kuang Yaoting pondered for a moment, agreeing, “You make sense.”

They chatted, discussing business and other topics. Cen Zhisen rarely interjected, but the few words he spoke were in perfect harmony with Ning Zhiyuan.

After two drinks, Ning Zhiyuan wanted to continue, but Cen Zhisen stopped him.

“Don’t drink too much; you’ll get drunk again later.”

Ning Zhiyuan tilted his head back and looked at him, “Ge, it’s rare to go out. Can’t we have some fun?”

Cen Zhisen sneered, “I don’t want to carry you back later.”

Ning Zhiyuan chuckled with closed eyes, “When have you ever carried me?”

Kuang Yaoting observed their natural and intimate interaction, suddenly suggesting, “Drinking alone is boring. How about going upstairs to the billiards room?”

Ning Zhiyuan asked Cen Zhisen, “Do you want to play?”

Cen Zhisen said, “Up to you.”

Since they were just killing time, Ning Zhiyuan agreed without much hesitation, “Let’s go.”

As they stood up, Ning Zhiyuan leaned in and reminded Cen Zhisen, “Kuang Yaoting is an expert. He said he used to be in the top three of the Hong Kong Snooker Amateur Tournament. Are you sure you want to play with him?”

“Top three in the regional amateur tournament, which means third place. Nothing special,” Cen Zhisen commented.

Ning Zhiyuan was amused by his words, “Ge, don’t be too overconfident.”

“That’s not necessarily.” Cen Zhisen said.

“Cen always plays what?” After going upstairs, Kuang Yaoting asked Cen Zhisen first this time, seemingly giving him face, but his tone carried a hint of disdain.

Cen Zhisen ignored him and turned to ask Ning Zhiyuan, “What do you want to play?”

“Nine-ball,” Ning Zhiyuan said, then asked Cen Zhisen, “Are you playing with Mr. Kuang?”

“Yeah.”

Nine-ball, nine games.

Having the advantage of winning the opening shot.

The first game was played by Kuang Yaoting. Before bending down, he asked Ning Zhiyuan, “Who between you and Mr. Cen is better at this?”

This time, Cen Zhisen answered for Ning Zhiyuan: “Zhiyuan is good. Last time, we played Chinese eight-ball, and I lost to him.”

Ning Zhiyuan also remembered the last time. In fact, they only played one game at that time, and the win or loss didn’t really prove anything.

Kuang Yaoting smiled, without asking again, he bent down and pushed the cue ball out.

This person was indeed skilled, with a playing style similar to Ning Zhiyuan’s, patiently contemplating repeatedly, only making a shot when finding the perfect angle.

But Cen Zhisen was not interested in accompanying him slowly. Cen Zhisen claimed that he relied on luck in this game, but in reality, his skills were decent. He was just accustomed to a rough and direct playing style. Although there were occasional mistakes, his imposing manner could put pressure on others.

Kuang Yaoting also felt it. At a similar age, the person who could make him feel pressured like this, Cen Zhisen was probably the first one, quite interesting.

By the end of the eighth game, the two were surprisingly tied.

Before the final game started, Cen Zhisen went outside to take a call and asked Ning Zhiyuan to take the opening shot for him.

When Kuang Yaoting was rubbing the cue stick with chalk, he asked Ning Zhiyuan, “When you came to Hongcheng last time and played this with me, we ended up in a tie. I think Mr. Cen is quite good too. Did he really lose to you?”

“Yeah,” Ning Zhiyuan nodded. “He probably didn’t let me win on purpose, or maybe I was just lucky.”

“Can I ask?” Kuang Yaoting looked at him. They were each standing on either side of the table. “You and Mr. Cen, are you a couple?”

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t deny it. “You noticed it earlier?”

“It’s intuition,” Kuang Yaoting said. “Aren’t you afraid your family will find out, like Mrs. Liu and Liu Sheng? “

“Of course, I’m afraid,” Ning Zhiyuan said calmly. “But being afraid shouldn’t hold me back. Him and I aren’t the type to be held back by such things.”

“Last year when we chatted, you mentioned Mr. Cen, but the tone wasn’t like this,” Kuang Yaoting said with some regret. “At that time, I didn’t think your relationship would develop into this. I actually liked you and thought there might still be a chance. Today, it seems impossible.”

“At that time, I didn’t know that he and I weren’t blood brothers,” Ning Zhiyuan smiled and continued, “Mr. Kuang, I have many flaws. Only my brother can tolerate them. Let it be.”

Kuang Yaoting also smiled. “You two are quite special. I have brothers too, and with them, if not mutual dislike, there’s always a lack of common ground.”

“I know,” Ning Zhiyuan was not surprised. “I’ve seen plenty of cases where relationships turned sour. My relationship with him wasn’t that great before. If we have to say it’s special now, it’s probably due to our growth experiences and personalities.”

“Have you ever been in a relationship before?” Kuang Yaoting asked.

“In love? No,” Ning Zhiyuan shook his head. “Not interested.”

“I’ve had several, but someone like you is a first for me.” The other person said, the tone still filled with regret.

Ning Zhiyuan: “Mr. Kuang, can I also ask a question?”

He gestured for him to go ahead.

“Most people won’t only experience one love in their lifetime,” Ning Zhiyuan said, appearing genuinely puzzled. “If each time is serious, then what’s the difference between this love and the next? Does love always have to fade away?”

Kuang Yaoting didn’t expect him to ask such a question. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “The similarity or difference is probably something only the individuals involved can feel. As for whether love must always fade away, I can only say there are no absolutes. Most people’s love will naturally fade, but there are exceptions. Whether you can be an exception depends on luck and the concept of ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way.'”

He chuckled again, “Are you asking this question because you lack confidence in Mr. Cen or yourself? If so, I might need to reconsider my previous conclusion. Perhaps it’s not entirely impossible?”

“No,” Ning Zhiyuan’s voice showed no hesitation. “It’s not possible.”

If he had to love someone, it could only be Cen Zhisen. Apart from Cen Zhisen, there would be no one else. This was predetermined from the moment his destiny was rewritten at birth.

Cen Zhisen was on the phone for quite a while. When he returned, Ning Zhiyuan had almost finished the game for him.

Only the nine-ball remained on the table, and the ball was currently in Ning Zhiyuan’s possession.

Ning Zhiyuan aimed for a moment behind the pool table, then looked up, arrogantly addressing Cen Zhisen on the other end of the long table, “Winning this game counts as mine.”

Cen Zhisen chuckled softly, “Alright.”

Ning Zhiyuan’s gaze returned to the target ball. He struck it decisively, and the ball resounded as it fell into the pocket.

Back at the hotel, it was almost eleven o’clock. Ning Zhiyuan, yawning, was about to return to his room when he was grabbed by Cen Zhisen, who pulled him in front of himself.

“Ge, there are surveillance cameras in the hallway,” Ning Zhiyuan lazily reminded him.

“Go to my room or not?” Cen Zhisen asked.

Recalling what this person said on the phone yesterday, Ning Zhiyuan declined, “I’m not interested in playing those games outside, and I’m really tired. I haven’t slept well these past few days.”

“I’ll go check on the project tomorrow; accompany me,” Cen Zhisen suggested.

“That’s your project, Cen An’s project. What do I do there? I have to leave in the afternoon.”

“Go tomorrow morning.”

“I won’t go. I won’t make it to the flight. I have work the day after tomorrow.”

“If you can’t make it, change to a later flight,” Cen Zhisen insisted. “You personally signed the project. What does it look like now? Don’t you want to take a look?”

Ning Zhiyuan was moved by his words, “Alright.”

“Come to my room,” Cen Zhisen still held him. “We won’t do anything.”

Ning Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, “You want me to go to your room to do nothing?”

“Is it not allowed?” Cen Zhisen asked, looking at him. “Before, you didn’t like sleeping with me. Now, I’m giving you the chance. Do you want it or not?”

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t want to talk anymore; it felt childish.

When they returned to Cen Zhisen’s room, he took a shower first. When Cen Zhisen came out after showering, Ning Zhiyuan was already lying on the bed, almost falling asleep. Cen Zhisen sat down next to him, and his hand slowly moved down his neck, gently touching, “Zhiyuan.”

“Yeah,” Ning Zhiyuan responded in a half-asleep state.

“Why ask others such questions?” Cen Zhisen spoke up.

Ning Zhiyuan’s eyebrows moved, and he opened his eyes, “You heard that?”

“Is it lack of confidence in me or yourself?” Cen Zhisen’s lowered gaze met his. “Do you think love will disappear?”

Ning Zhiyuan’s expression looked unusually gentle under the bedside lamp, even a bit dull. After a while, he said, “I don’t know. I haven’t fully figured out what love is.”

“I said my love for you won’t disappear. Don’t you believe it?” Cen Zhisen said seriously.

Ning Zhiyuan frowned, “You fell in love with me for less than a year, and now is the hottest time for you. What guarantee do I have?”

“Not just a year, it’s been over twenty years,” Cen Zhisen reminded him. “When you were my younger brother, I loved you. I admit that I didn’t do a good job as an older brother, but you can’t deny that I loved you.”

After a moment of silence, Ning Zhiyuan asked, “Is familial love the same as romantic love?”

Cen Zhisen said, “The essence of human emotions is essentially the same. The only difference is physical desire. I don’t know about others, but for me, if I love you, I will continue to love you. If this is an exception, then let it be an exception.”

He had also recently come to realize that, in a sense, he too was clinging to Ning Zhiyuan.

All along, it wasn’t only Ning Zhiyuan who felt lonely.

Though not connected by blood, Ning Zhiyuan’s presence did fill the void in his heart, something that no one else could replace.

Ning Zhiyuan finally smiled, “Cen Zhisen, you really know how to argue your case.”

“Are you convinced?” Cen Zhisen insisted on asking.

Ning Zhiyuan replied, “More or less.”

Cen Zhisen’s hand on his back slid down, slipped into his pajamas, and pressed against his skin, “Zhiyuan, before, you advised others to find a classy rival to stimulate their opponents. Is that what Mr. Kuang means?”

“Do you still remember that?” Ning Zhiyuan caught his hand, stopping his increasingly bold actions, “I had forgotten about that. Do you consider Mr. Kuang a rival?”

“Should I?”

“Of course not, Cen Zhisen. In my eyes, you have no rivals.”

A playful smile appeared in Cen Zhisen’s eyes, “And what about you? Will love disappear?”

His question skipped over whether or not, and went straight to the possibility of disappearance.

Ning Zhiyuan looked into his eyes, “Cen Zhisen, you are forever the only one.”

In whatever kind of relationship they had, they were each other’s special and unique one.

He didn’t easily express these words, not because he wanted to tease Cen Zhisen, but because he also wanted to confirm in the end, after unraveling all the complexities and paranoid entanglements that had haunted him for so many years, what remained was love.

Cen Zhisen nodded, leaned down, interlaced his fingers with Ning Zhiyuan’s, and kissed him.