Walking While Hugging…

Chu Lai raised his eyes to look at Cen Wei and asked, “What were you looking at?”

Adults don’t usually do that. Chu Lai had never been held like that by his parents even when he was young. “It can’t be what I think, right?”

Cen Wei realized the subtle undertone of that comment and averted his gaze, “No.”

“It’s just that I saw someone doing it today at lunch…”

Chu Lai made an “oh” sound. “Did you even check how old that person was?”

Cen Wei replied, “Kindergarten.”

Chu Lai gave him a half-smile. “And how old am I?”

Cen Wei chose to keep quiet.

Chu Lai, after watching Shen Quanzhang leave, released his grip and asked, “Haven’t you finished your meeting yet?”

Cen Wei responded with a hum. Chu Lai said, “Then go. I’ll wait for you here.”

Chu Lai never felt bored by himself, so Cen Wei wasn’t really worried. “If your phone runs out of battery, just charge it on the desk,” Cen Wei added, then left.

Chu Lai looked around at the massive office and thought it could easily accommodate their entire team. Both sides of the room were lined with floor-to-ceiling windows. On the side facing the corridor, if the curtains weren’t drawn, anyone could see in. Out of nowhere, Chu Lai wondered, Isn’t this usually supposed to be one-way glass? Then he thought, And walking while hugging, how strange.

It was likely that Cen Wei mentioned it after seeing a child being comforted by a parent like that. Chu Lai couldn’t help but think, Is he treating me like a child, or does he want to act like my father?

He turned to look out the other window; the sky had already darkened, and the lights of the skyscrapers were twinkling. Chu Lai played some games on his phone. When his battery ran out, he did as Cen Wei suggested and plugged it in at the desk. As he plugged in the cable, his hand brushed against the monitor, and Chu Lai accidentally saw the desktop of Cen Wei’s personal computer.

Surprisingly, there was no lock screen password, and Chu Lai immediately saw the last page left open. It was a conversation with artificial intelligence. This kind of page felt so private that even though Chu Lai quickly looked away, he still remembered the first question.

How do you make your feelings for someone appear subtle and unnoticed?

Chu Lai couldn’t recall the AI’s response, but just that question alone felt very “Cen Wei.”

He didn’t doubt anyone else. After spending time together recently, Chu Lai had gained a shallow understanding of Cen Wei’s social habits. Cen Wei was a complete workaholic, living a simple, two-point routine between work and home, much like Chu Lai himself. Even trips to the gym were scheduled with precision.

Chu Lai had seen the packed electronic calendar on Cen Wei’s work desk at home, filled with dense schedules, making it seem like every day was just a net of tasks waiting to be caught. Since meeting Chu Lai, his days had become even busier, and he had even taken over the morning dog-walking routine.

Cen Wei had mentioned a few times how his friends and colleagues were curious about Chu Lai, but he always added, “Don’t worry, I’ve declined them all.” He was very aware of Chu Lai’s dislike for trouble and, even after crossing certain lines, respected his opinions.

But despite all that, Cen Wei had never directly said he liked him. He only ever met Chu Lai’s gaze every time he looked over, never once ignoring him.

In the end, Chu Lai decided to suppress his curiosity about asking Cen Wei that question. He held his phone and, before Cen Wei returned, focused on finishing as many game levels as he could. His fingers flew across the screen, making him seem completely absorbed.

When the meeting was over, Cen Wei didn’t immediately push the door open. He stood outside the glass window and watched the young man standing at the desk. Over the past few days, Chu Lai had been playing mobile games at home, and from the chat messages in yesterday’s livestream, fans had been complaining that he hadn’t updated in a while.

After coming in, Cen Wei asked, “Why not sit down? Isn’t standing tiring?”

Chu Lai responded without looking up, “Sitting all day, standing feels alright for a change.”

He wore his headphones, and the sound effects from the game were blasting with full intensity. Cen Wei picked up his coat but didn’t rush him, choosing to wait for Chu Lai to finish the level.

Chu Lai finally asked, “Can we go now?”

Cen Wei nodded, “Even my grandma called to rush me.”

The meeting for the new project had dragged on a bit, and when Cen Wei returned earlier, Shen Yangxu, who sat beside him, had been surprised and whispered, “You’re not leaving right away?”

Cen Wei had casually replied, “No rush.”

Shen Yangxu had sighed, “It’s true that when you work for yourself, you’re even stingy with spending time with your wife.”

His words had been whispered in a sarcastic tone, leaving Cen Wei a bit helpless. “So, will you handle the wrap-up yourself?”

Shen Yangxu immediately backed down. He couldn’t wait for Cen Wei to stay, after all. Cen Wei wasn’t just a figurehead heir. In recent years, he had even worked on the factory floor and had considerable experience with international marketing. He wasn’t simply someone who made final decisions; having him there ensured stability.

“It’s not that I’m afraid your partner will wait too long,” Shen Yangxu paused before adding, “You’ve kept things so secret. Are you really going to wait until you get married before introducing them to us?”

Cen Wei looked at his watch and said, “We’ll talk about it when the time comes.”

Perhaps because of Chu Lai’s arrival, the mood in the meeting room had lightened noticeably after Cen Wei returned. The head of the product team had unveiled several new proposal packages and received feedback without much tension. The atmosphere reminded him of the events over the weekend.

He had heard the rumors circulating within the team, such as the possibility that their proposals had been rejected because the boss was in a bad mood due to personal issues with his partner. But he had known Cen Wei for many years, and when it came to work, Cen Wei was impeccable.

Even during the well-known time when his private life was in disarray, with everyone aware that he had been cheated on, it hadn’t affected his work. This time, it was purely an issue with the new product direction, so the criticism wasn’t entirely unfounded.

After the meeting ended, the head of the product team let out a sigh of relief, watching as the CEO, vice president, and upper management entered the elevator. He turned to the rest of his team who were still working late and said, “You can all head home. I’ll treat you. What do you want to eat?”

The remaining team members, exhausted from working overtime, quickly agreed.

The team leader glanced at Shen Quanzhang, who appeared to be focused on adjusting some designs, but in reality, the measurements didn’t even line up. He patted Shen Quanzhang on the shoulder, startling him.

“Come on, let’s grab something to eat.”

Shen Quanzhang nodded.

A group of them descended in the elevator and, upon reaching the ground floor, saw a young man standing outside the glass doors.

The sky was completely dark, and the city’s neon lights were flickering.

Lotus Umbrella Co. owned several buildings within the complex, and the headquarters building was particularly grand. Even the lights outside were high-end, and many employees joked that taking selfies at the entrance made them look more upscale. It had become a popular spot for interns to post check-in pictures on social media.

Chu Lai stood outside waiting for Cen Wei to bring the car around. Cen Wei had mentioned that his car was parked a bit far away today since the lot had been full in the morning.

Chu Lai had even asked, “Shouldn’t the big boss have a dedicated parking spot?”

Feigning disappointment, Cen Wei sighed, “Grandpa said no special treatment, so there’s never been one.”

Wearing a woolen coat over his suit jacket, Chu Lai kept his head down, catching a glimpse of the long reflection in the glass out of the corner of his eye.

Cen Wei joked, “Today, you’re coming home with me. Maybe you could suggest it. Who knows, I might just get my own parking spot.”

Chu Lai didn’t believe he had that kind of influence and shrugged slightly.

They needed to walk from this building’s basement to the basement of Building F. In the elevator, Cen Wei had complained about how big the place was. When words like that come from the heir to a company, there’s always a subtle sense of showing off. Chu Lai, being naturally lazy and not fond of walking, didn’t bother to follow along, and instead, Cen Wei told him to wait while he fetched the car.

The wind in December was biting. Chu Lai’s puffer jacket looked oversized but wasn’t particularly warm. The only collar sticking out from underneath seemed to be for wind protection, and he had pulled on a hat as well.

As the group from the product team exited, they noticed the young man standing at the entrance and someone commented, “The boss will be thirty next year, which isn’t too old, but his partner really looks like a student.”

“That slim frame, looks like the wind could blow him over. His skin’s so pale too.”

“Yesterday, I heard from Miao Miao in operations that the boss’s partner is a pretty well-known game streamer.”

“Really? What’s the account? I wanna check it out.”

“How’d they find out?”

“Don’t the people in IT have to do background checks on anyone associated with the company? They found out because the boss’s partner liked one of his Weibo posts, and then someone dug it up.”

“Oh, I know about this! Isn’t the boss still the number one fan?”

“Who would’ve thought that Cen Wei would be like that? So good at business, yet he got cheated on?”

“You don’t understand the rough side of romance.”

“Can romance even be rough?”

The interns behind them were chatting casually, while Shen Quanzhang stood alone, walking behind his colleagues and team leader, unsure how to face Chu Lai standing at the door.

Chu Lai had headphones in and was responding to Liu Yuan’s WeChat messages. Liu Yuan was asking if the marriage certificate they took a photo of last week had been issued yet, because he wanted to see it.

A few employees walked past, glancing more obviously in his direction. Shen Quanzhang, who was falling behind, couldn’t resist calling out to him.

“Chu Lai.”

The person in question didn’t hear, his ears still filled with the sound of a newly released song by a Japanese artist, full of energy and passion.

Shen Quanzhang called again, but there was no response, so he stepped forward and tapped Chu Lai on the shoulder.

The product team leader turned around just in time to see Shen Quanzhang tap the boss’s partner on the shoulder.

It was Friday, with dreaded Monday morning meetings just around the corner. Even though the team leader knew Cen Wei was someone who kept work and personal life separate, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. He knew that no matter how he looked at it, this kid had lingering feelings for his ex, and the current situation felt like a nightmare.

Just as the team leader was about to shout out for Shen Quanzhang, he noticed a car approaching.

The Cen Wei family had several cars, and while the one approaching wasn’t flashy, the team leader, who owned a car himself, could recognize the top boss’s vehicle from the parking garage.

The whole situation felt more dramatic than a TV show. The team leader’s mind was filled with the theme music from a well-known melodramatic soap opera.

Chu Lai took off his headphones and asked, “What’s up?”

At this closer distance, Shen Quanzhang could clearly see Chu Lai’s eyes, and they were cold. Seeing that he wasn’t saying anything, Chu Lai moved to put his headphones back on.

Suddenly, Shen Quanzhang grabbed his wrist, but Chu Lai quickly shook him off.

“If it’s nothing, just go.”

Since the other person didn’t move, Chu Lai was ready to leave first. He had only taken a step when Shen Quanzhang asked, “How…how’s Da Cai doing?”

By this time, Cen Wei had driven up and noticed the group from the product team standing nearby. Further away, he saw Chu Lai, who was easy to spot.

The other man, he also recognized.

Since that day, Cen Wei had encountered Shen Quanzhang more often. Though he didn’t usually remember the names and faces of regular employees, his secretary had been overly considerate and, after hearing some rumors, had put Shen Quanzhang’s file on his desk.

Even when Cen Wei went downstairs occasionally, he could run into him. Although he didn’t usually think about such things during work, these encounters only served to remind him of Chu Lai more frequently.

As the car passed by the product team, the team leader’s mind was filled with gossip.

The anonymous company chat was full of all sorts of discussions. Just that morning, someone had mentioned Cen Wei’s sudden marriage, and now the rumor had escalated to tales of passionate dominance.

Chu Lai frowned slightly. He rarely wore contacts, preferring glasses, which gave him a more refined and scholarly appearance.

“What does that have to do with you?” he asked.

“I’m just asking. I wanted to know how it’s doing,” Shen Quanzhang replied.

“Does it have anything to do with you?” Chu Lai retorted, and then, as if suddenly realizing something, he asked warily, “You’re not planning to steal the dog, are you?”

Shen Quanzhang had never realized that Chu Lai had such a playful side. At this moment, even his gaze carried a hint of a smile. “After all, I used to walk it too.”

Chu Lai couldn’t take it anymore. “Walk it? You even complained that it ate too much.”

“I’m leaving. From now on, just pretend you don’t know me when you see me.”

In matters like this, Chu Lai was always straightforward—one might even say ruthless. He had been decisive when they got together, equally so when they broke up, and even in getting married. The only thing that had caused his resolute nature to falter was this agreement marriage with Cen Wei, which had sparked uncontrollable emotions, leaving him hesitant and greedy for more.

Thinking back to the hugs between Chu Lai and Cen Wei, to the marriage certificate Chu Lai posted in his moments, and to their intertwined figures leaving together over the weekend, Shen Quanzhang couldn’t help but ask, “Can you truly love someone?”

By this time, Cen Wei had parked the car in front, but neither of them noticed. He rolled down the window, just in time to hear the question. He decided to step out of the car.

Standing with his back to Cen Wei, Chu Lai didn’t notice him. The irritation in his brows broke through his usual calm, giving his expression a rare vibrancy.

“I was right, wasn’t I?” Shen Quanzhang continued, his tone accusatory. “You never really loved me. You just used me as a tool.”

It felt as though they were back in that bar, with Shen Quanzhang full of righteous indignation, as though everything had been Chu Lai’s fault.

But Chu Lai felt much calmer this time than he had back then. He asked in return, “And what about you?”

“When you chose me, was there no ulterior motive?” Chu Lai added.

There were many things Chu Lai had already known, such as the conversations Shen Quanzhang had with his classmates. Yes, same-sex marriage was possible now, but the benefits of marriage never really changed because of sexual orientation.

“You were the one who said it,” Chu Lai said, his voice calm.

“Local residency, a house, decent income… Sure, the bedroom stuff is a hassle, but it doesn’t matter.”

Chu Lai always spoke clearly, and his tone left little room for interpretation, as though he were simply repeating someone else’s words.

Shen Quanzhang’s smile stiffened, his voice faltering as he asked, “H-How do you know that?”

Chu Lai’s smile turned cold. “I just know.”

Standing at the bottom of the steps, Cen Wei noticed how tightly Chu Lai’s fists were clenched. He was just about to say something when Shen Quanzhang noticed him and raised his voice.

“So, you married Cen Wei just for nothing else?”

The truth was, Chu Lai hadn’t wanted anything in particular. He always knew exactly what he had, what he could have, and what he would never have no matter how hard he tried.

Cen Wei was the one unexpected occurrence in his otherwise meticulously planned life. Chu Lai hadn’t wanted anything from him initially. But emotions couldn’t be controlled, and the more he spent time with Cen Wei, the deeper he sank into the whirlpool.

Yet it was still easier than being with Shen Quanzhang.

Even though it was an agreement, it was far more fulfilling than being with an ex-boyfriend.

Chu Lai responded calmly, “What I want, you could never give me.”

He looked at the person in front of him. Shen Quanzhang was decent-looking, with prominent eyebrows and large eyes, but he paled in comparison to the truly handsome men. He wasn’t even close to being breathtaking.

And yet, someone like him would still cheat, still let desire take over, never content with the present, always wanting this and that.

Chu Lai thought back to that time in the cafeteria when the other had formally confessed to him with a five-yuan milk tea in hand, saying, “I like you. Your eyes are beautiful.”

That had been the first time Chu Lai had ever been complimented for his appearance.

Even though he knew the compliment didn’t truly apply to him, it had still made him happy.

No one dislikes being praised.

After that, Chu Lai never received such compliments again. It fit the typical narrative of losing interest once you’ve won someone over.

Now, three months after their breakup, Chu Lai was still being accused by his first boyfriend.

Filled with anger, Shen Quanzhang finally blurted out, “You must’ve been flirting with him online long before! You broke up with me just to climb up the ladder, didn’t you?”

Chu Lai looked at him with a mix of astonishment and disbelief.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Quanzhang didn’t even care that his boss was now approaching. He pressed on, “Isn’t that what happened? His account followed you ages ago. Who knows what’s been going on behind the scenes…”

“Wasn’t it you who cheated?” Chu Lai interrupted coldly.

Standing in front of Shen Quanzhang, Chu Lai felt more distant than ever before. His eyes were filled with disappointment, but not sadness.

He was no longer the Chu Lai who would stay up all night, heartbroken, waiting for him to return.

Now, Chu Lai had someone who silently waited for him.

Just like now, Cen Wei hadn’t intervened. He knew that at this moment, stepping forward would be the wrong move.

But as an “outsider,” Cen Wei could still hear the lingering infatuation and jealousy in Shen Quanzhang’s words.

“That’s because…”

“No,” Chu Lai shook his head. “You never loved me.”

Although Chu Lai didn’t believe he could ever receive lasting love, that didn’t mean he had no expectations. At moments like this, hearing about love in such an impersonal way made him feel even sadder. “If you really respected me, even if you had fallen for someone else, you would’ve at least told me the truth, wouldn’t you?”

His voice was just as melodious as it had been when Shen Quanzhang first heard it in the library, and that memory still haunted him.

“Remember when we were together, I told you, if we ever stopped liking each other, we’d just say so.”

Chu Lai had been resolute in breaking up, but it had taken Shen Quanzhang half a month to process it, while Chu Lai had already moved on and married quickly.

Now, his marriage partner was standing right there, a tall, handsome man with dignified features and an aristocratic air, completely unlike anyone from their previous lives.

That night, stars twinkled above, and the honking of cars echoed faintly from the streets.

Shen Quanzhang opened his mouth, then turned his head aside, finally muttering an apology, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t watch my livestreams anymore, and don’t send me gifts. Can you do that?” Chu Lai asked.

Shen Quanzhang took a deep breath. “That’s none of your business, is it?”

With a sneer, Chu Lai responded, “Have you become rich now? I don’t care. I’ll just consider the money as compensation for the years you freeloaded off me.”

His words were harsh, and as he laughed, he added, “After all, I’m not a romantic person.”

The self-deprecating remark mirrored their breakup scene.

Shen Quanzhang couldn’t bear to look at him, and Chu Lai turned around, finally noticing that Cen Wei had been standing there for who knows how long.

The man’s usually neat hair, carefully styled for work, had been tousled by the wind. His typically sharp features softened as he smiled at Chu Lai.

“All done? It’s time to go home for dinner,” he said casually.

There was no awkwardness in his tone, despite walking in on a confrontation between his partner and an ex. His voice was affectionate, “Grandma’s already sent me over ten voice messages, scolding me.”

Chu Lai glanced at him in surprise and nodded before striding past Shen Quanzhang toward Cen Wei.

With gentlemanly grace, Cen Wei circled around to the passenger side to open the door for Chu Lai, and then they drove off.

The cold wind howled as Shen Quanzhang stood there, his mind replaying those words: It’s time to go home for dinner.

He suddenly remembered something Chu Lai had said while they were dating, a simple vision for the future:

“I don’t have any big ambitions. I just want to live a peaceful life, where there’s someone to share three meals a day with.”

“Since we’ve just started working, maybe one meal together a day is enough.”

“You can manage that, right?”

What had he said at the time?

With the enthusiasm of a new relationship, he’d boldly promised, “If I can’t, let lightning strike me.”

There had been no lightning strikes, proving how useless promises were. But Chu Lai didn’t need him anymore and was doing just fine.

Two traffic lights later, Chu Lai kept his head down, gripping the seatbelt tightly, still not daring to look at Cen Wei.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” said Cen Wei.

“You heard everything?” Chu Lai asked.

“Not all of it.”

Chu Lai sighed. “He’s one of your company’s employees. Will this cause any problems?”

Soft French music filled the car as lights flashed outside. Christmas was just around the corner.

Their wedding was in one week.

“He’d need to get promoted to management before we’d have any actual work-related conflicts,” replied Cen Wei with a shake of his head.

Chu Lai nodded.

“Are you worried about him?” asked Cen Wei.

Shaking his head, Chu Lai apologized, “It’s all Liu Yuan’s fault for getting too into his web dramas. He said that if a writer for their company wrote our story, someone like Shen Quanzhang would get fired and wouldn’t even need to show up to work tomorrow.”

With a chuckle, Cen Wei replied, “Well, he doesn’t have to show up tomorrow.”

Chu Lai was momentarily confused. The man driving raised an eyebrow, “Tomorrow’s Saturday.”

It took Chu Lai a moment to realize he was joking. A few minutes later, Cen Wei’s phone rang with a video call from Xuan Rongqing.

“Can you answer it for me?” he asked.

Chu Lai accepted the call, and on the other end, the woman asked, “Why aren’t you home yet? Grandpa’s been waiting forever. Don’t tell me you’re still at work.”

In the background, Grandma Hong’s voice chimed in, “I’m starving!”

Grandpa Cen immediately responded, “Don’t talk about starving! I’m still alive!”

The elderly couple bickered in the background as Chu Lai greeted, “Auntie.”

The lighting wasn’t great on their end, and Xuan Rongqing responded with an “Oh?” before realizing, “You’re in the car, huh? Okay, no lying to me. Not bad.”

“It’s my fault. I had something to take care of, so Ah Wei was waiting for me. I’m sorry,” said Chu Lai apologetically.

The woman chuckled, “What’s there to apologize for? We all had some snacks this afternoon.”

Feeling the clear difference in treatment, Cen Wei couldn’t help but interject, “How come it’s like this?”

“Well, Chu Lai is more important,” Xuan Rongqing replied without hesitation.

Not wanting to disturb the couple any further, she quickly hung up.

The music resumed after a few seconds of silence, the atmosphere suddenly feeling a bit intimate.

“Your family is really nice,” Chu Lai said softly.

“They could be your family too,” replied Cen Wei with a smile. “If you don’t mind, that is.”

How could Chu Lai mind? He had met the parents before, even though it hadn’t progressed to marriage with Shen Quanzhang. Although Shen’s parents were aware of their son’s sexuality, they were not the easiest people to get along with. Even though same-sex marriage was legal now, there were still hidden prejudices, and they had always seemed to blame Chu Lai for everything.

Once, he had dinner with Shen’s parents when they were visiting from out of town, and it had been a miserable experience.

Even though the Cen family had made quite the fuss when Cen Wei was on a business trip, they were still far more lovable compared to Shen’s parents.

Chu Lai might complain to Cen Wei about it, but deep down, he was grateful.

It was easy to tell when someone truly cared about you, just as it was easy to see in moments like this how even Cen Wei’s awkward attempts at comforting couldn’t hide his feelings.

And yet you claim you like someone subtly? Chu Lai thought. No wonder the AI’s advice was that love is usually pretty obvious.

He began to wonder, Can this AI really be trusted?

Perhaps sensing that Chu Lai had been silent for too long, Cen Wei, afraid he had overstepped, apologized.

Chu Lai, however, shook his head as Liu Yuan sent two more messages, likely after finishing work. This time, they were voice messages.

When Chu Lai played them, his headphones hadn’t connected yet.

“Chu Lai, why do you only like your husband’s Weibo posts but don’t follow him? Your top-tier husband is insane! He’s the number one gifter in your stream. You should kiss him more—he’s already given enough to buy half a house!”

At first, Chu Lai didn’t react, but seeing the look on Cen Wei’s face, he realized his headphones hadn’t connected.

Embarrassed, Chu Lai muttered, “Don’t worry, it’s not real.”

There was even a hint of grievance in his voice when he said it.

Just as Chu Lai was about to explain, the next message automatically played.

“The third person on your livestream’s leaderboard is definitely that idiot Shen Quanzhang! I told you, that guy wants to come crawling back after cheating on you. And to think he had the nerve to call you boring. It’s obvious he’s the one with problems…”

Chu Lai finally turned off the screen entirely.

Liu Yuan really is someone who shouldn’t be played on speaker, he thought.

Awkwardly, Chu Lai tried to explain, “Liu Yuan, he… he has a, uh, lively personality.”

“He’s very straightforward,” offered Cen Wei with a slight nod.

Chu Lai: …

Since they were already on the topic of livestreams, the couple’s usually peaceful week of cohabitation without interfering in each other’s lives had already crossed over into the online realm.

“I’ll return the money you gifted to me next month after the payout,” Chu Lai said.

Shaking his head, Cen Wei replied, “The entire company knows that my legal spouse is a livestreamer, so I’m obligated to maintain my status as your number one fan.”

Chu Lai couldn’t help but detect a hint of feudalism in his tone, though he wasn’t sure exactly what was off.

“Wait, the whole company?” Chu Lai asked in surprise.

“You forgot that the like feature shows up on your followers’ pages, didn’t you?” Cen Wei sighed. “I’m benefiting from your popularity. Even the company’s official store has had your fans buying products, asking if there’s a collaboration line.”

“And I can’t repay you for that?” asked Cen Wei.

“All I want is—”

“I know, you just want a hug. But this is a bonus,” interrupted Cen Wei with a knowing smile.

He knew all too well about Chu Lai’s vulnerabilities, about the insecurities that fueled his worries. That’s why he chose to be a steadfast support, allowing Chu Lai to stop worrying about debts or any need for transactional repayment.

“Chu Lai, you make me feel happy, and that’s priceless.”

“This is just a small part of how I want to thank you.”