Chapter 35

It wasn’t until half a minute later that they remembered they should hide. Qi Zhengchen supported the shaken Xu Heng and asked, “Can you hold yourself together?”

Xu Heng waved him off. “I’m fine.”

The more he said that, the more uneasy Qi Zhengchen became.

He helped the man, who was about his height, back to the spot where they had just gotten out of the car.

Unable to resist, he glanced back at the crowded street, watching his childhood friend and the woman he liked. In truth, there was no need to hide from them; they were so engrossed in each other that they wouldn’t have noticed Xu Heng and Qi Zhengchen passing by. Xu Zhiyi wouldn’t see them, and Jiang Sixun certainly wouldn’t.

Back in the car, Xu Heng felt utterly drained, not from seeing his sister with Jiang Sixun, but from the worry that they might have just run into them.

He gestured to the driver, “Start driving.”

The driver asked, “Where to?”

“Anywhere,” Xu Heng said, pinching the bridge of his nose. He realized that the car had local plates and wasn’t his own. “Never mind, just stop here.”

He rested his elbow on the window and turned inward, brooding.

On the other side of the back seat, Qi Zhengchen touched his forehead, finding no sweat.

Maybe it was because the desensitization from the other day had made him numb; the sweat had long since dried.

Now, he was in an anesthetic phase, not feeling any pain despite the deep wounds.

Qi Zhengchen glanced at Xu Heng. “You alright?” He tossed a bottle of water from the car fridge to him, despite his own injuries. He still had to take care of this burden.

Xu Heng was momentarily dazed. The soda bottle slipped from his grasp and rolled to the floor.

After a while, he bent down to pick it up.

Twisting the cap off, he brought the bottle to his lips but suddenly turned his head. “Did you have a premonition? Or did you pick up on some clues beforehand?”

Why else would he have guessed Jiang’s surname before coming?

Qi Zhengchen took a gulp of ice water to steady himself. “Jiang Sixun was desensitizing me daily, saying if Xu Zhiyi ended up liking him, he wouldn’t insist on remaining single. I thought it was Jiang Shenghe.”

Xu Heng drank half the bottle of ice water in one go. His original intention was to pull Qi Zhengchen out of this mess, to focus on his own life. Instead, he ended up dragging him into a deeper pit.

Qi Zhengchen couldn’t bear to think about the scene he had just witnessed, but the image of them holding hands in matching outfits kept invading his mind.

When did they start liking each other?

The past was full of trivialities, difficult to piece together.

He recalled six years ago, the night before Xu Zhiyi’s birthday. Jiang Sixun had called him: “In the future, don’t talk to me about your romantic issues. What if I let something slip? Also, I don’t like playing matchmaker.”

“Okay, okay, I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t bother you with pursuing Xu Zhiyi.” That night, he was too absorbed in wrapping gifts for Xu Zhiyi to think deeply about Jiang Sixun’s words.

Later on, Jiang Sixun shifted his focus to the Lu family. Sometimes, when they met, he would mention his interactions with Xu Zhiyi. Jiang Sixun would cut him off, saying he had no interest in love affairs and was too busy to listen.

“Want to grab a bite?” Xu Heng’s question snapped Qi Zhengchen out of his thoughts.

Qi Zhengchen pointed to his leg. “I probably can’t walk, and I’m not hungry. You go ahead and eat.”

Xu Heng called his secretary to arrange for two meals to be delivered to his room and instructed the driver to head back to the hotel.

Qi Zhengchen’s mind was slowly processing everything and he reminded Xu Heng, “Don’t let Jiang Sixun know that I already know he’s with Xu Zhiyi.”

After a pause, he added, “It must be tough for them. Just a few days ago, Jiang Sixun went to pick up Xu Zhiyi for a blind date.”

With those words, Xu Heng fell into an even deeper silence.

Qi Zhengchen recalled how, on the day of Xu Zhiyi’s blind date, Jiang Sixun had accepted a cigarette he tossed but hadn’t smoked it. The cigarette was crushed, its tobacco scattered on the ground, mixing with the fallen locust blossoms.

He also remembered the pair of commemorative coffee cups on Jiang Sixun’s coffee table—the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” centennial edition. Jiang Sixun said they were a gift, and while the cups and saucers were pristine, the watercolor illustration on the packaging had lost its vibrant hues, looking like it had faded over time.

He asked Xu Heng, “Could you find out when that coffee cup set was released? I’ll send you a picture later. And check when Jiang Sixun bought it; I need the exact date.”

Xu Heng’s mind felt like it was rusted: “Why are you looking into coffee cups?”

Qi Zhengchen replied, “It’s important. It’s my lifeline.”

“Are you still going to the concert?”

Without hesitation, Qi Zhengchen said, “No, we’re not going. Give the tickets away. We can’t let Xu Zhiyi know we’re here.”

Her interests were few, and because he didn’t play badminton, he didn’t want her to lose interest in concerts. If her boyfriend were a stranger, meeting him at the concert would only be awkward. But since the boyfriend was his childhood friend…

Xu Heng asked, “Heading back to the country?”

Qi Zhengchen replied, “Not yet.”

Once the anesthetic wears off and the pain sets in, he’d have to face it. For now, he wasn’t ready to go home. “I’ll stay in Madrid for another couple of days and then head to London. I’ll be fine; a couple of days of rest will do. You go ahead and do your thing.”

He didn’t look fine at all. Xu Heng was worried Qi Zhengchen might be struggling mentally, so he felt compelled to stay by his side. “I was planning to visit the London branch anyway, so it works out.”

Back at the hotel, they hastily ate lunch and then retreated to their respective rooms, not coming out again.

In the evening, Xu Heng, disinterested in the sunset, drank alone on the terrace. He didn’t call his sister for a video chat and couldn’t bring himself to be curious about his brother-in-law.

The next morning, Xu Heng got up early and messaged Qi Zhengchen to check if he was awake.

Half an hour later, Qi Zhengchen replied: [I’ve been up for a while, at the gym.]

Xu Heng changed into workout clothes and headed to the hotel’s fitness center.

The vast gym was nearly empty. Qi Zhengchen, who had been swimming, was now resting on a lounge chair with his eyes closed.

When someone sat beside him, he opened his eyes. “You don’t need to follow me around 24/7. I’m not as fragile as you think.”

Xu Heng, who had felt guilty the day before for bringing Qi Zhengchen to the concert, had regained his composure overnight. He realized coming to Madrid had been the right decision, even if it meant Qi Zhengchen ended up in a deeper pit. Facing it early was better than delaying.

Still, he couldn’t quite accept that Jiang Sixun, his peer, had become his brother-in-law.

He looked at the relaxed Qi Zhengchen and said, “Xu Zhiyi plays golf regularly now. You’re investing in a club. Is that supposed to be good for her?”

Qi Zhengchen responded, “Yeah, it’s a habit.”

It was also his daily motivation.

Xu Heng, who couldn’t stand sentimental gestures, suggested, “Since you have money to spare, how about this: starting tomorrow, if I like something, you invest in it for me. It’s the same anyway. Xu Zhiyi and I share the same parents, so our genes are pretty much the same.”

Qi Zhengchen stared at him in disbelief.

He couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation.

Xu Heng double-checked, “You really aren’t going to the concert?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll give the tickets away.” Xu Heng glanced at Qi Zhengchen. “After the concert, I’ll go pick up Xu Zhiyi. Want to come along? Dare you?”

Qi Zhengchen stayed silent.

Xu Heng knew he’d back down in a second.

On the day of the concert, Xu Heng gave the tickets to a couple outside the venue who hadn’t managed to get any, along with a note wishing them happiness and everlasting love.

In the sea of people, Jiang Sixun led Xu Zhiyi to the ticket check.

This time, they didn’t get guest area tickets from Cohen but bought two tickets for the highest tier, in the very back rows.

Looking up at the high seats, they had to climb up without an elevator, it was like scaling a mountain.

Jiang Sixun held Xu Zhiyi’s wrist. “If you can’t make it, I’ll carry you up.”

Xu Zhiyi, wearing flat shoes, replied, “It’s okay. It’s only five or six floors high. I can handle it.”

With the crowd growing louder inside, their voices were lost in the commotion. Jiang Sixun held her hand tightly, his pace quicker than hers, almost pulling her along.

Finally reaching the top, Xu Zhiyi was out of breath, while Jiang Sixun lightly patted her back to help her recover. With her wearing a T-shirt, he felt comfortable touching her back.

“Are you tired?” she asked, panting.

Jiang Sixun replied, “Not at all.”

The amount of exercise was nothing to him.

He handed her a bottle of water. “You’re out of shape.”

Xu Zhiyi replied, “As long as you’re in good shape.”

Realizing the unintended implication, she took a sip of water, falling silent.

Perhaps because of the heat, Jiang Sixun felt even hotter. He finished off the rest of her ice water, only to feel even warmer.

Xu Zhiyi looked out over the stadium. “This is my second time here.”

Jiang Sixun followed up on her comment, “Who did you come with last time?”

“My brother. He took me to a football match.” She sighed wistfully. “It’s a shame you didn’t come. The match was breathtaking, and the team you like won the championship.”

Every new place seemed to bring more regrets.

They found their seats, and Jiang Sixun kept glancing at her, while she sat upright, looking around the venue, still not accustomed to leaning against him.

But she no longer called him “Mr. Jiang” these days.

Her phone rang—it was her father, Lu Jianbo. Jiang Sixun dismissed the call.

Lu Jianbo was persistent, calling three times in a row.

Xu Zhiyi nudged him with her elbow. “Answer it. If he’s called this many times, he must have something important. It’ll be hard to hear anything once the concert starts.”

Jiang Sixun still didn’t answer, well aware of why his father was calling. Earlier that day, he had the butler pack Lu Jianbo’s luggage and leave it at the villa’s entrance, notifying him to pick it up.

Lu Jianbo had been out for the day and had likely returned home by now. Seeing his luggage at the door, he was understandably furious.

Unable to reach Jiang Sixun, Lu Jianbo left a voice message: “Jiang Sixun, you scoundrel!”

“I’m your father! Are you kicking me out?”

“Where are you? Get back here immediately.”

“Is it that I didn’t give you enough calls from the paparazzi? Do you want me to arrange more?”

A minute later, another message came: “I’m not going to argue with you! Who’s to blame for not teaching you better when you were younger!”

Fuming, Lu Jianbo reluctantly had his luggage brought upstairs.

He didn’t lack for houses; he owned so many luxurious properties around the world that he could barely keep track. But this place was the only one that felt like home.

What could he do? He had to accept his rebellious son’s actions and move on.

Jiang Sixun listened to the messages without responding and closed the chat.

The messages were in Cantonese, which Xu Zhiyi couldn’t understand.

“Did you understand any of that?” she asked him.

Realizing her question was a bit redundant, she added, “Do you speak Cantonese at home?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “Not often. Only when my father is really angry does he switch to Cantonese.”

Xu Zhiyi asked, “Can you say something in Cantonese? I’ve never heard you speak it before.”

Jiang Sixun smiled and said, “No, I won’t. I’m thinking of setting a condition. Agree to it, and then I might speak Cantonese for you.”

Xu Zhiyi, holding a bottle of water, playfully tapped his leg with it.

“No hitting,” he said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her closer.

Xu Zhiyi lost her balance and tumbled into his embrace, her forehead pressing against his shoulder. In a reflexive attempt to steady herself, her hand accidentally touched his inner thigh.

She quickly pulled her hand back, feeling a jolt.

Jiang Sixun remained unfazed, holding her close and encircling her with his arms. “Still planning to hit me?”

She wasn’t used to this kind of intimacy and threatened him to mask her discomfort. “Be careful, or I might just keep calling you Mr. Jiang.”

Jiang Sixun kissed her on the nose. “If I let go, what will you call me?”

Xu Zhiyi replied, “Call you a good person.”

Jiang Sixun chuckled. “You’re on a date with me, not accompanying your boss on a business trip. Relax and be yourself.”

Xu Zhiyi said, “I’m already working on it.” She then leaned in and kissed his cheek. It had only been six days since she learned of his feelings, and having been his subordinate for so many years, transitioning to a romantic relationship was challenging.

Jiang Sixun kissed her forehead and let her go.

As the concert was about to begin, Xu Zhiyi put on her glasses, as the seats were too far from the stage to see the large screen clearly.

The sun had yet to set, and the music started playing. After six years, she was seeing her idol again.

Amid the cheers and excitement, the concert began.

Sitting side by side with Jiang Sixun, Xu Zhiyi hummed quietly, struggling to fully let go.

The third song in the setlist was her favorite.

“Zhiyi.”

The chorus was too loud for her to hear.

Jiang Sixun leaned closer. “Zhiyi.”

It wasn’t until he called her for the third time that Xu Zhiyi turned her head. “Did you call me?”

Jiang Sixun pulled her close. At the London concert years ago, he had thought she was with Ning Yinqi and had not turned around to talk to her the entire time, leaving him unaware of what songs were played.

This was her first concert in six years.

With the deafening noise around them, Jiang Sixun’s lips brushed her ear as he spoke in Cantonese: “I’ve always wanted to watch another concert with you. Today, it’s not really you accompanying me; it’s me accompanying you. I was at that football match too, sitting on the other side of the stadium, and neither you nor Xu Heng knew. You were right; it doesn’t matter what cuisine, many local dishes are delicious. Since I went alone before and couldn’t order much, let’s go together again in the future. It’s been six years late, but today I’m telling you: I like you.”

Xu Zhiyi only caught the last four words of the long message.

In a daze, Jiang Sixun embraced her and kissed her.

Inside the venue, tens of thousands of people were passionately singing along to her favorite song.

At that moment, Madrid was bathed in the golden glow of sunset.

---

Three hours later, Xu Heng’s car arrived outside the concert venue. He called the driver and bodyguard for his sister to confirm the route she would take back to the hotel.

“I’m here to surprise Zhiyi,” he told the driver.

The driver, unaware of the surprise, provided a recognizable landmark.

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Xu Heng said before hanging up.

The driver was near the subway station. This time in Madrid, Jiang Sixun hadn’t arranged any cars; they had been using public transportation, exploring the city’s streets and alleys with Xu Zhiyi.

The landmark Xu Heng had just mentioned was the usual path from the stadium to the subway station. However, with the massive crowd tonight, even waiting there might not guarantee finding them.

Xu Heng instructed his driver to park nearby and asked his companion, “Are you getting out?”

Qi Zhengchen replied, “I’ll stay in the car.”

After all the psychological preparation, he still lacked the courage to face them.

Xu Heng didn’t push him. “Alright, I’ll go meet my soon-to-be brother-in-law.”

Tens of thousands of people poured out of the stadium, making it a sea of humanity. Even with a hundred pairs of eyes, it was impossible to spot anyone.

Abandoning the idea of a direct surprise, Xu Heng called his sister. It took five calls before she answered.

“Hello, brother. I didn’t hear you before,” she said, her voice barely audible over the noise.

Xu Heng asked, “Are you out yet?”

Xu Zhiyi replied, “Yes, we’re heading back to the hotel soon. Don’t worry.”

“Where’s your boyfriend?”

“Brother, you’re too concerned about him.”

“It’s because I care about you that I want to meet him.”

“Video calls are too awkward and lack sincerity. I’ll bring him home once things are more stable.”

“Meeting him at home is too late. I came all the way to Madrid to meet him in person. Is that not sincere enough?”

Xu Zhiyi hesitated in silence.

Xu Heng bluntly stated his location, “Bring him over. I’ll treat you both to a late-night snack.” The line went silent—no doubt, Xu Zhiyi was trying to come up with excuses to avoid him. “Tell your boyfriend that if he doesn’t even have the courage to meet me, he won’t pass my test if he wants to marry you.”

“I’ll be waiting for you two,” he ended the call abruptly.

Xu Zhiyi was caught off guard. She looked at Jiang Sixun. “Maybe you should head back to the hotel first? I can go find my brother alone. He won’t do anything. If you come with me, I’m worried he might be startled.”

Jiang Sixun responded, “Xu Heng probably guessed it’s me. He came here specifically to confront me. Don’t you want to introduce me to him?”

Xu Zhiyi hesitated no longer. “Alright, let’s go meet my brother.” She took his hand firmly.

Amid the throngs of people, the three of them finally faced each other.

Xu Heng squinted, contemplating how to assert his dominance.

Jiang Sixun said calmly, “Brother, thanks for flying all this way to treat us to a meal.”

Xu Heng was momentarily thrown off balance. “Jiang Sixun, you’re a few days older than me. How dare you call me ‘brother’?”

Jiang Sixun replied nonchalantly, “According to my mom, my due date was later than yours.”

Xu Zhiyi laughed, nudging Jiang Sixun to stop being so argumentative. She pointed to her brother’s car. “You wait in the car. I’ll talk to my brother for a bit.”

Xu Heng was taken aback, noticing Qi Zhengchen still in the car. “What about your own car?”

Xu Zhiyi answered, “We took the subway.”

As she spoke, Jiang Sixun was already heading toward the silver-gray car.

“Jiang Sixun!” Xu Heng called out, blocking his way. “You’re not taking our car. Go back the way you came!”

Jiang Sixun ignored him and continued walking towards the car’s rear door.

“Jiang Sixun! You’ll regret getting into my car.”

Neither Jiang Sixun nor Xu Zhiyi took the threat seriously.

Inside the car, Qi Zhengchen wrestled with whether to lock the doors. If they encountered each other directly, what should he say? What should he do?

But how long could they keep this secret? It was better to face the situation directly.

Qi Zhengchen was torn inside. Confirming that Xu Zhiyi hadn’t followed, he decided not to lock the doors.

As he watched Jiang Sixun approach step by step, he braced himself for the same fear he had felt the previous day.

Outside the car, Jiang Sixun lazily opened the door.

Without any hint of defensiveness, he met the intense, familiar gaze from the back seat.

His mind went blank for a moment.

Having mentally prepared himself twice before this, he thought he was ready for everything, but facing the reality was much harder than he anticipated.

With no time to think further, the next second, he slammed the door shut, gripping the handle tightly. Before he had a chance to say anything to Qi Zhengchen, he instinctively pushed against the door again, fearing someone might come out.

The door was shut tight, but then, the car window slowly rolled down.