After Zhao Yi’s reminder, Yu Ju nearly blacked out.

What kind of idiot was he?

Gu Qianxing asked, and he actually answered—again and again, without hesitation.

Still, on the surface, Yu Ju remained perfectly composed. He picked up his fork with a natural ease, as if nothing significant had happened—just a few harmless questions, nothing more. Unbothered, he calmly speared a strawberry and popped it into his mouth.

Then, he heard the person sitting beside Gu Qianxing chuckle and say, “Your little cutie is really adorable.”

Gu Qianxing lifted his head and glanced at Yu Ju.

But Yu Ju kept his head down, pretending he hadn’t heard or seen anything.

Gu Qianxing responded, “Right?”

In the end, it wasn’t anything serious—Gu Qianxing had asked, Yu Ju had answered, and that was that.

The birthday celebrant was a sophomore at A University’s affiliated high school. Earlier, Yu Ju’s arrival had steered the conversation toward academics, and now, the topic at the dinner table had shifted back to the student’s studies.

Zhou Jinye was busy berating his underachieving cousin, showing no mercy despite it being the kid’s birthday.

“You’re so adorable.”

From the left, Zhao Yi leaned in, teasing Yu Ju.

“Adorable, my ass.” Yu Ju speared another strawberry and popped it into his mouth before turning to Zhao Yi. “Why didn’t you warn me earlier? You waited until I answered so many questions to say something!”

Zhao Yi burst out laughing. “How was I supposed to know you’d be like this? Just answering whatever he asked.” He added with amusement, “I always thought you were pretty sharp—how did Gu Qianxing end up leading you around like that?” Then he asked, “You two don’t actually have something going on, do you?”

Yu Ju shot back, “Something going on, my ass.”

Zhao Yi casually stole one of Yu Ju’s strawberries. “But seriously, who do you like? How come I didn’t know about this?”

Yu Ju replied, “Who said I like anyone?”

Zhao Yi smirked. “You didn’t deny it earlier, though.”

Yu Ju shrugged. “Yeah, I didn’t deny it.”

Zhao Yi: “Not answering means you like someone, doesn’t it?”

Yu Ju: “Why does not answering automatically mean I like someone?”

Zhao Yi: “If you didn’t like anyone, you could’ve just said so. Why didn’t you answer?”

Yu Ju was momentarily at a loss.

…That kind of made sense?

“Who is it?” Zhao Yi had already decided that Yu Ju definitely had someone in mind. “That gorgeous model from your company? The one you shot that perfume ad with?”

Yu Ju: “No.”

Zhao Yi: “Then that junior from your school?”

Yu Ju: “No.”

Zhao Yi: “Who, then? A childhood sweetheart?”

Yu Ju: “Where would I even get a childhood sweetheart…?”

Zhao Yi: “Shit, did you make a new friend behind my back?”

Yu Ju: “Why would I need to hide it from you if I did?”

Zhao Yi was beyond curious. “Then who is it?”

The words “No one” were just about to leave Yu Ju’s mouth when Zhao Yi suddenly cursed.

Zhao Yi: “Shit, scared the hell out of me.”

Yu Ju: “You scared the hell out of me.”

Zhao Yi had been looking past Yu Ju, so Yu Ju followed his gaze—only to see Gu Qianxing standing there at some point without them noticing.

“Your earbuds.” Gu Qianxing lifted his hand slightly in Yu Ju’s direction.

Yu Ju’s earbuds were supposed to be in his pocket, but he must have left them in Gu Qianxing’s car when he got out.

Yu Ju took the earbuds and politely said, “Thanks.”

Gu Qianxing: “No problem.”

After Gu Qianxing left, Zhao Yi leaned in again. “You think he heard everything?”

Yu Ju: “No idea.”

Zhao Yi continued, “How close are you two, really? Sometimes it looks like you can’t be separated, and other times you act all polite, like you just met.”

“When have we ever been inseparable…?” Yu Ju muttered before adding, “We’re really not that close.”

Zhao Yi scoffed. “Not close? Then why, when I asked in the group chat who was free to pick you up, was he the one who said he’d go? He initially said he was busy tonight and couldn’t make it.”

He didn’t even give Yu Ju a chance to respond before continuing, “Not close, but he sent you home last time? Not close, but he keeps looking out for you?”

Not close, but he let you sleep in his car without waking you.

Not close, but he stayed with you until three in the morning.

I’m not familiar with you, but seeing you hungry, I’ll take you to eat right away.

Yu Ju cursed in his heart, wondering the same thing.

So, Yu Ju asked Zhao Yi, “Do you know why?”

Zhao Yi widened his curious eyes. “Why?”

Yu Ju stabbed a strawberry with his fork and raised his chin slightly. “What else could it be?” He raised his eyebrows. “He likes me.”

“Damn, Gu Qianxing, why are you here again?” Zhao Yi looked behind Yu Ju.

Yu Ju’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned around.

There was nothing.

Yu Ju: “…”

Zhao Yi: “Hahaha.”

Yu Ju: “…”

Zhao Yi: “If you’ve got the guts, go say that in front of Gu Qianxing.”

Yu Ju: “I don’t.”

Perhaps even Zhao Yi found the idea of Gu Qianxing liking Yu Ju a bit unrealistic. Maybe Gu Qianxing’s actions really did seem like he was just looking after a friend’s younger brother. After the joke passed, Zhao Yi didn’t say anything more.

Zhao Yi actually let it go.

Yu Ju sighed inwardly.

He really was messed up.

While his mind was wandering, Yu Ju suddenly heard a name.

Zhang Qiyi.

Yu Ju looked up and heard a guy across from him talking about it.

“Is he coming back to the country in a few days?”

Zhou Jinye said, “He’s already back, okay? He’s in F City now.”

The guy responded with an “Oh,” and added, “Didn’t his whole family move to F City?”

“Yeah,” someone chimed in and continued, “Back then, his mom… sigh, it was ridiculous. How did she end up with that kind of man? No money, no reputation. What was she even after?”

“Exactly, caused a mess for everyone.”

“Is there more alcohol?”

Gu Qianxing suddenly spoke, cutting off the conversation.

Someone immediately stood up, “Yes, yes! Let’s pour another for Mr. Gu.”

Beside them, Zhao Yi asked Zhou Jinye, “Who’s Zhang Qiyi?”

Zhou Jinye said, “A friend.”

Zhao Yi asked again, “Did his mom cheat?”

Zhou Jinye: “Yeah.”

Yu Ju took a deep breath.

He couldn’t stay any longer. Turning to Zhao Yi, he said a quick goodbye and left on his own.

Downstairs, the breeze cooled him off a little.

He pulled out his phone to call a ride, only to remember that his bag was still in Gu Qianxing’s car.

The only contact he had for Gu Qianxing was on WeChat. Considering how important his laptop was, Yu Ju hesitated for a moment before sending a message.

Yu Ju: “Hello, Mr. Gu. My bag is in your car. Would it be convenient for you to come down?”

After sending the message, Yu Ju waited for a long time, but there was no response.

Thinking again about how important the laptop was, he decided to just head home. It wasn’t like he had to get it right away. He could wait until Gu Qianxing saw the message. Besides, he was exhausted.

Just then, a taxi happened to be parked by the roadside. Yu Ju put his phone away and walked toward it.

But just as Yu Ju took a few steps, someone called out from behind him.

“Little Period.”

Yu Ju turned around to see Gu Qianxing, the one who had just asked for more alcohol.

“I didn’t reply for five minutes, and you’re already leaving?”

Yu Ju said, “My car is in your bag.”

Gu Qianxing burst into laughter. “What?”

Yu Ju: “…”

What the hell… my car in your bag?

Yu Ju corrected himself, “My bag is in your car.”

Gu Qianxing sighed helplessly, “We’ve met so many times, yet you’re still this nervous.”

Yu Ju awkwardly replied, “I’m not.”

Gu Qianxing suddenly tilted his head and looked into Yu Ju’s eyes.

Yu Ju froze for a moment and quickly looked away.

Gu Qianxing straightened up and gently rested his hand on Yu Ju’s head. “I’ll drive you home.”

As if expecting Yu Ju to refuse, Gu Qianxing added, “Your car is in my bag.”

Yu Ju: “Not funny.”

But he knew exactly what Gu Qianxing meant.

Honestly, he was fine.

Yu Ju: “You’ve been drinking. How are you going to drive me?”

Just as the words left his mouth, he saw Gu Qianxing’s car slowly driving over from across the street.

Ah… Why was he even worrying? Of course, Gu Qianxing had a driver.

Gu Qianxing opened the car door for him, and as soon as Yu Ju got in, he spotted his bag.

Before Gu Qianxing could get in, Yu Ju had already clutched the bag tightly in his arms.

Gu Qianxing chuckled, “I’m not going to steal it.”

Yu Ju stared out the window. “Not funny.”

Once Gu Qianxing was seated, the driver, Xiao Chen, started the car.

As the window rolled up, the noise from the bustling street was mostly shut out.

The car’s interior instantly became quiet. With nothing to do, Yu Ju continued staring out the window.

They passed one street after another. Just when Yu Ju was beginning to think the silence was becoming unbearable, Gu Qianxing finally spoke.

He said, “Don’t be mad.”

Yu Ju froze for a moment.

But he quickly realized—

Indeed, he had every right to be angry.

This guy had promised to take the punishment drink for being late, yet in the end, he sided with others to punish him instead.

And asked so many unnecessary questions.

Absolutely!

He should be angry!

With that thought, Yu Ju turned his head even further away.

Yu Ju: “Oh.”

What Yu Ju didn’t notice was that the person beside him was secretly smiling.

Gu Qianxing asked again, “You really don’t want to talk to me?”

Yu Ju slowly furrowed his brows, pretending the car window was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen, his eyes fixed on it.

This matter indeed deserved Gu Qianxing’s cold shoulder.

“What should I do?”

Gu Qianxing seemed to be talking to himself, yet it sounded like he was seeking Yu Ju’s advice.

Yu Ju, of course, was determined to stay angry. Not only did he refuse to speak to Gu Qianxing, but he also turned away and hugged his bag tightly.

From behind, the scene practically came with subtitles that read: “Gu Qianxing, I will never speak to you again in this lifetime.”

This kind of scene… Yu Ju could recall it clearly. In the past, Gu Qianxing loved teasing him.

But back then, Yu Ju would always give in. As long as Gu Qianxing coaxed him a little, he’d let it go.

Now, things were different. Yu Ju had matured.

“Do you have a habit of eating late-night snacks?” Gu Qianxing suddenly asked.

Yu Ju remained silent.

What he didn’t expect was that when he stopped talking, Gu Qianxing also went quiet.

Yu Ju appeared to be staring at the trees, flowers, houses, and buildings outside the window, but in reality, his heart was already glued to Gu Qianxing. He wished he had eyes on the back of his head to see what he was doing.

So… that’s it?

Yu Ju thought for a moment and finally couldn’t resist replying, as if granting him charity, “Occasionally.”

Gu Qianxing asked again, “Wanna grab a late-night snack?”

Yu Ju immediately responded, “No.”

The moment he finished speaking, he heard Gu Qianxing’s deep laughter.

What’s so funny?

Gu Qianxing asked, “Wanna have a few drinks with me?”

Yu Ju was puzzled but didn’t turn around.

Drinking all of a sudden?

Just as he was about to refuse, Gu Qianxing added, “I’m not in a good mood.”

Yu Ju paused for a moment, then finally turned his head and shifted his body to face him.

He thought, shouldn’t the one in a bad mood be him right now?

Besides, with that expression on Gu Qianxing’s face, he didn’t look troubled at all.

So Yu Ju asked, “You? In a bad mood?”

Gu Qianxing replied confidently, “Yeah.”

Yu Ju: “……”

Yu Ju still asked, “What happened?”

Gu Qianxing said, “Someone’s mad at me.”

Yu Ju: “……”

Yu Ju sighed, “I’m already talking to you properly.”

But Gu Qianxing returned to the same question, “Wanna drink?” Then, he added, “I feel like drinking.”

Before Yu Ju could make up his mind, Gu Qianxing added, “I have plum wine at home.”

Yu Ju blinked, suddenly reminded of the delicious plum wine from his grandma’s house.

While he hesitated, Gu Qianxing spoke again.

“Just give me a chance… to comfort you.”

Yu Ju had to admit, that one sentence made his heart tingle.

After all, Gu Qianxing was probably the only one who knew why Yu Ju suddenly decided to leave, and the only one who understood what he was feeling right now.

Yu Ju seemed convinced, but… something still felt off.

“You’re the one in a bad mood. Why are you comforting me?”

Gu Qianxing unexpectedly followed Yu Ju’s words and said, “Then you comfort me.”

Yu Ju mumbled, “Stop fooling me. Are you really in a bad mood?”

Gu Qianxing simply replied, “Mm.”

Yu Ju asked, “Why are you in a bad mood?”

Gu Qianxing said, “I just got dumped,” and then asked, “Is that reason good enough?”