Zhou Yang had arranged for them to dine at a high-end restaurant where the atmosphere was peaceful and the staff well-mannered, showing no signs of curiosity about their identities.

After escorting them in, he left to dine with the driver, understanding his role as a competent employee was to know when to disappear.

A server took their coats and hung them up, then handed over two menus as they settled down, also bringing some lemon soda.

Qin Mingyuan, having been raised by his grandfather, had inherited some of his habits, including a preference for Chinese food, showing little interest in other cuisines except when dining with foreign clients. He casually picked a few dishes before returning the menu.

Across from him, Yun Yuexian was choosing carefully. The assistant had obviously booked the restaurant to cater to Yun Yuexian’s tastes; French cuisine was his favorite, a detail mentioned a few times in the novel, especially during dates with the protagonist.

“Thanks, Brother Mingyuan, for taking the time to dine with me. It’s been a while since I had French food,” Yun Yuexian said as he handed back the menu, smiling brightly. “I’ve been watching my diet during filming, not daring to indulge much. Luckily, I’m almost done with my scenes and can treat myself this once.”

Qin Mingyuan simply raised his eyebrows noncommittally and took a sip of his drink, replying perfunctorily, “Glad you liked it.”

“I really do. Brother Mingyuan, you always seem to know what I like… just like a real brother would…” Yun Yuexian’s voice trailed off as he looked down, his tone wistful, “If only my real brother were like that…”

Qin Mingyuan paused with his cup mid-air before setting it down firmly, looking up to ask, “What, he isn’t good to you?”

“Ah?” Yun Yuexian seemed startled that his muttering had been overheard, waving his hands hurriedly. “No, no, my brother is great. It’s just me—I’m too clumsy to be likable.”

Leaning back, Qin Mingyuan rested a hand against his chin, observing Yun Yuexian’s subdued expression without responding. Yun Yuexian’s brother was scarcely mentioned in the novel, depicted as aloof and difficult to approach, understandable given his past—a car accident that killed his mother and left him with a lifelong disability, not to mention a stepmother and a half-brother born from his father’s affair.

However, the original story didn’t allow for the protagonist to be criticized based on his origin. It painted his parents’ marriage as a tragic love story forced by family alliances, eventually portraying a fortunate union with Yun Yuexian as an innocent product of love.

Scoffing, Qin Mingyuan squinted cynically. Betrayal is still betrayal, and while Yun Yuexian might be blameless, his brother’s disdain seemed only natural—nothing worth feeling wronged about.

The conversation cooled again, but Yun Yuexian seemed oblivious, shifting topics with a smile. Qin Mingyuan gave occasional noncommittal hums, contemplating that this meeting with the book’s protagonist seemed mundane with no clues that might lead him out of this world.

Was it not him? Could it be the protagonist, or did he need a catalyst?

His irritation evident as he tapped his fingers, Qin Mingyuan acknowledged the slim chance that he might need to maintain contact with Yun Yuexian, disliking the uncontrollable nature of the situation.

The dishes arrived, artfully presented and appetizing, but Qin Mingyuan ate only a bit, his interest waning.

After the meal, as Yun Yuexian savored his dessert, Qin Mingyuan, not fond of sweets, sipped champagne sporadically and checked his watch impatiently.

“By the way, Brother Mingyuan, this is for you,” Yun Yuexian said suddenly, pulling a card from his backpack and sliding it across the table.

Qin Mingyuan glanced at the invitation to a birthday party on the twelfth, next Wednesday evening. He remembered this plot point—the original character had attended, gifted Yun Yuexian a long-desired sports car, and brought a new business proposal to his family, all dressed up to support the event.

The Yun family, only modestly wealthy in A City’s elite circles, wouldn’t normally draw a notable crowd. But Qin Mingyuan’s presence would change that; even those who scoffed at the Yuns would attend, some without invitations finding ways just to see him.

“I wanted something low-key, just a dinner with close friends, but dad insisted on going big. I couldn’t persuade him otherwise,” Yun Yuexian said with an apologetic smile, looking hopeful, “I don’t have many friends, and though I know you’re busy, Brother Mingyuan, I thought of inviting you. You’ve been a great help lately, and I wanted to thank you.”

Ah, using him as a draw—truly a unique way to show gratitude. Qin Mingyuan fiddled with the card nonchalantly, placing it back on the table and meeting Yun Yuexian’s gaze, “No need to be so formal.”

“But I must. You’ve been very good to me,” Yun Yuexian persisted, fidgeting with his dessert fork, “Will you come?”

Qin Mingyuan regarded him silently, letting the pause stretch until Yun Yuexian’s expression tensed. Satisfied, he nodded, “Of course.”

Relieved, Yun Yuexian’s smile returned as he resumed his dessert.

When it was time to leave, Qin Mingyuan headed back to the office and Yun Yuexian to another appointment. The car awaited outside; Qin Mingyuan didn’t offer a ride but simply waved and departed.

In the front seat, Zhou Yang couldn’t read Qin Mingyuan’s mood or determine whether the meal had been enjoyable, opting to remain silent.

The chime of Qin Mingyuan’s phone broke the silence—a Weibo notification from Yun Yuexian, posting about their lunch and a selfie captioned with thanks to his “best friend and brother.” Despite not being highly popular, Yun Yuexian’s fans praised his looks and reassured him about his weight.

Qin Mingyuan scrolled through indifferently, then deleted Weibo from his phone—such a pointless app had no place on his device. Then, remembering something, he checked his photo gallery, filled with Yun Yuexian’s images—official and fan-taken, all meticulously attractive. He deleted them all without a second thought, glad he hadn’t stooped to setting any as his wallpaper.

With some time before reaching the office, Qin Mingyuan browsed his chat app to gauge Yun Yuexian’s social connections. The top conversation, once familiar, offered no special insights; he unticked it and turned on the do-not-disturb mode.

The next chat was with his mother, which he hesitated to open, last active a month ago. Not for lack of closeness—his mother, a busy fashion designer, was constantly traveling for shows, a typical career-driven woman.

His father had handed over the company to him right after college, chasing after his wife instead, both devoted to their passions rather than family business, leading to frequent disputes with Qin Mingyuan’s grandfather.

Qin Mingyuan had always been the favored grandson, raised to succeed in the family business, fulfilling his grandfather’s high expectations. But this only distanced him from his parents, making interactions awkward, like strangers. His younger brother, lively and musical, bonded well with their father, leaving Qin Mingyuan the outsider.

After their grandfather’s death, the funeral was the longest they had spent together, an uneasy time marked by discomfort and distance. Since then, Qin Mingyuan seldom returned to the family villa.

Perhaps it was just as well, Qin Mingyuan mused. Even if he was in another world, it wouldn’t make much difference to him.