8:08

Lian Sheng paused, completely taken aback that Xia Songbai would ask him such a question. After a long moment, he replied, "I had some business at the company."

Unfortunately, Xia Songbai had read the original novel beforehand and naturally knew exactly why he hadn't come yesterday. In the story, Lian Sheng had encountered Ning Qing, who was being extorted after a car accident. Overcome by righteous indignation for the sake of a beauty, he had gotten into a fight, sustained minor injuries, and was taken home by Ning Qing to have his wounds dressed. Their relationship had progressed significantly as a result.

Of course, that was the plot of the original text. It was only because Lian Sheng had saved Ning Qing at the Marseille restaurant that Ning Qing had brought him home. But now, things were calm at the restaurant, and he had no idea if Ning Qing had taken him home at all.

It must be said that Xia Songbai’s guess was remarkably accurate. Last night, Lian Sheng had indeed encountered Ning Qing and had indeed helped him deal with the hoodlums. However, although he was injured, Ning Qing had merely accompanied him to the hospital, and once his wounds were bandaged, Ning Qing had bid him farewell. Lian Sheng felt inexplicably that things between him and Ning Qing shouldn't have ended that way, but he couldn't put his finger on what had gone wrong. He could only stew in his frustration and go home to sleep, completely forgetting that he had a fiancé in the hospital who needed visiting.

Xia Songbai lowered his eyes and gave a soft "Oh." His voice was very low, and because of its soft quality, it sounded almost as if he were on the verge of tears. The restaurant lighting was somewhat dim, and whether out of nervousness or sadness, Xia Songbai’s fingers were twisted together so tightly they took on the color of begonia flowers. This touch of red was particularly striking against his milk-white skin, and even his pink knuckles appeared exceptionally delicate.

Even though Lian Sheng had been full of complaints, seeing Xia Songbai like this made him feel that the young man truly loved him deeply. Recalling Lian Runwen’s words, Lian Sheng finally compromised: "Alright, don't be angry. It was my fault for not visiting you yesterday; I really did have things to attend to. How about I take you skiing in Switzerland another day? Haven't you always said you wanted to go?"

The original owner didn't want to go skiing; he wanted to take photos to post on social media to make his superficial friends jealous. Unfortunately, even a wish as easy as this for Lian Sheng to grant had never been fulfilled.

Xia Songbai smiled faintly and looked up at Lian Sheng. His eyes were like shimmering seas in the light, flashing with a brilliant, beautiful luster. Lian Sheng suddenly remembered the moment of excitement he felt when he saw Ning Qing last night. If Ning Qing was like cool, subtle ice, then Xia Songbai was like a radiant, brilliant sun. It was just that Ning Qing was too far out of reach, while Xia Songbai was right at his fingertips.

Things that cannot be obtained are always more fascinating. Things within arm's reach, conversely, become mere fish eyes. Previously, Lian Sheng had been convinced that Xia Songbai loved him with all his heart. His love was so intense and persistent, like a moth to a flame; Lian Sheng had never doubted that if he asked Xia Songbai to die, he would willingly comply. But now, there were many moments when Lian Sheng felt that Xia Songbai had changed—becoming distant and then close, making him impossible to fathom.

Lian Sheng suddenly grabbed Xia Songbai’s wrist. The slender wrist was no wider than his thumb and forefinger circled around it; the protruding wrist bone felt like polished jade, warm and smooth to the touch. Lian Sheng pulled Xia Songbai’s hand toward him and asked, "Where is your engagement ring?"

"I took it off when I showered and forgot to put it back on." Xia Songbai’s reflex was to pull away, but thinking of how the original owner would behave, he feigned timidity. "What’s wrong?"

"Wear it wherever you go from now on," Lian Sheng said with a cold, sharp tone. "Do you understand?"

His grip was very strong, causing Xia Songbai some pain, yet his gaze was inexplicably serious, filled with the possessiveness and aggression typical of a male creature. Xia Songbai didn't know what kind of madness had taken hold of him, so he pursed his lips in a show of grievance. "Brother Sheng, you're hurting me."

Lian Sheng finally let go, but a red mark had already been left on Xia Songbai’s wrist. Xia Songbai rubbed his wrist, cursing Lian Sheng in his heart. A male lead with a propensity for violence is a ticking time bomb, always ready to explode at any moment. Fortunately, Lian Sheng was done with his frenzy and signaled for the chef to serve the food.

Xia Songbai had a standard Chinese palate and lacked interest in raw fish and vinegared rice. He ate a few plates perfunctorily and then began to zone out. In truth, Lian Sheng didn't necessarily like this food either. But this restaurant was notoriously difficult to book. When Lian Sheng had tried to book a table on short notice before, he had been rejected, and his arch-rival, He Kaiwen, happened to find out and mocked him mercilessly. Since then, Lian Sheng had begun his journey of consumption at this restaurant, finally eating his way into becoming a "star diamond" member who could waltz in without a reservation just to be a sucker.

Regarding this, Xia Songbai’s evaluation was: ...Oh my god, how pathetic. Do you really have to eat at this place?!

The two finished their meal in a rush, and Lian Sheng handed Xia Songbai a bouquet of flowers. The bouquet was enormous. Xia Songbai held it in his arms, barely able to see the road, and Lian Sheng had no intention of helping him carry it, feeling instead that he was being incredibly thoughtful. "Do you like it? I specifically asked them to wrap a large one."

Xia Songbai hid his face behind the flowers and rolled his eyes openly right in front of Lian Sheng.

When they went downstairs, Lian Sheng was still fussing over Xia Songbai. In the original text, his character was that of a playboy who had been through countless relationships and could easily please anyone. It was just that the original owner had been so infatuated with him that Lian Sheng hadn't bothered to put in any effort. Now, having received orders from Lian Runwen, Lian Sheng was practically radiating male charm toward Xia Songbai.

If the original owner were here, he would have been overjoyed. Unfortunately, it was Xia Songbai now, and seeing Lian Sheng like this, he couldn't help but complain internally. If he’s working this hard now, won't he think *I* was the one seducing him when he looks back on this after having a falling out with Ning Qing?

Xia Songbai felt a sense of crisis and quietly moved to the side, distancing himself from Lian Sheng. Lian Sheng didn't notice and, instead, leaned in even closer.

There were only the two of them in the glass elevator. Because it was a sightseeing elevator, it moved very slowly. From the sixty-third floor downward, one could see the winding, enchanting coastline in the distance, with lighthouses blinking like shooting stars. Every floor offered a different view, but for Xia Songbai, every second felt like a year.

Lian Sheng had already braced his hands against the elevator wall behind him, tilting his head slightly to reveal his sharp jawline and handsome profile, gazing at Xia Songbai with affection. "Little Bai..."

Before Xia Songbai could react, he lowered his head, intending to kiss him. Xia Songbai’s eyes hardened, and almost reflexively, he ducked, dodging Lian Sheng’s "deadly" kiss. Lian Sheng couldn't catch himself and, losing his balance, slammed into the elevator wall with a loud thud.

Lian Sheng: ...
Xia Songbai: ...

What to do? How to explain this? Xia Songbai’s brain raced. The elevator stopped just then, and out of the corner of his eye, Xia Songbai saw a familiar figure. "Ning Qing!" he cried out, almost with tears of joy.

Outside the elevator, Ning Qing stood not far away, surrounded by several burly men. The leader was pointing at his chest, speaking to him in a highly aggressive manner.

...What is this plot point? It wasn't written in the book!

Just as this thought crossed Xia Songbai’s mind, Lian Sheng behind him had already turned dark-faced and charged over with a ferocious aura. Without a word, he grabbed the man who had been manhandling Ning Qing and threw him away.

What followed was a cinematic scene. After Lian Sheng beat up a circle of men single-handedly, several more jumped out. One of them pulled a knife and stabbed Lian Sheng. When Lian Sheng cried out in pain, Ning Qing, to block a beer bottle being smashed down on Lian Sheng, took the hit himself and collapsed. Then, Lian Sheng’s "superpower" exploded, and after instantly taking down everyone, he carried Ning Qing away in a grand flourish.

Xia Songbai: ...

It was like watching a highlight reel of a movie’s climax. Every frame was so classic and cliché. So, the plot really does have inertia. Since Lian Sheng’s heroic rescue last night failed to move Ning Qing, today a grander scenario had been arranged—almost as if forcing Ning Qing to follow the pre-set script and develop a relationship with Lian Sheng.

Xia Songbai stood in place for a long time, then let out a soft sigh.

***

Only after heading outside did he realize it had started to rain. The harbor was windy and rainy, and the entire city was shrouded in a dense, humid mist. Rainwater pooled on the ground, reflecting the neon lights like an oil painting, splashing with vibrant colors.

The rain hadn't cooled the air down. Xia Songbai held the flowers and stared blankly at the sky, realizing the rain showed no signs of stopping. He had let Uncle Feng go home early since Lian Sheng said he would take him back, so he couldn't call him back now. On his ride-hailing app, the wait time was already over four hours—enough for Xia Songbai to walk from Central back to Repulse Bay. If he hadn't lacked an umbrella, he might have actually had the impulse to do so.

He hadn't eaten well at dinner, and with low blood sugar and a low-grade fever, Xia Songbai felt a bit unsteady. Fearing he might pass out again, he took a candy from his pocket, held it under his tongue, and found a spot that wouldn't block others to crouch down, closing his eyes and waiting for the sugar to take effect.

In the distance, a pair of bright headlights pierced through the curtain of rain, illuminating the raindrops like strings of pearls. A pure black Rolls-Royce Phantom drove up and slowed to a stop in front of Xia Songbai.

The door opened, and Shen Tingzong leaned down slightly and stepped out. His pale skin, black shirt, and gold-rimmed glasses were the only colors on him. Even from a distance, one could feel his orderly, grand, and highly distant aura of nobility. He held a wooden-handled black umbrella in his hand, which he opened, blocking the light from the streetlamp behind him.

Hearing the sound, Xia Songbai slowly looked up, watching Shen Tingzong walk toward him and then stop in front of him. This moment was disheveled and subtle; the flowers were bent, petals scattered all over the ground, mixing with the rainwater and neon moonlight to reflect a hazy halo.

Xia Songbai had half his face buried in his knees; the visible half was less than the size of a palm. The physiological tears brought on by his discomfort made his round, upturned eyes look as if they were covered in a layer of mist. He looked like a kitten soaked in the rain, a homeless puppy, or a siren luring sailors into the abyss in the dark of night.

Sweet, vivid, dangerous, and something one should stay away from.

Yet, he was unaware of this, staring unblinkingly at Shen Tingzong. *Could I be hallucinating from low blood sugar? Otherwise, why would I see the "big boss" standing in front of me?*

But it was clearly not an hallucination.

Shen Tingzong looked down at Xia Songbai, tilting the umbrella slightly to shield him from the raindrops, while half of his own shoulder was instantly soaked by the rain.

"Why are you crouching here alone?"

Xia Songbai finally came to his senses. "My blood sugar dropped."

Shen Tingzong said, "I'll take you to the hospital."

"No need," Xia Songbai said quickly. "I ate some candy, I'll be fine after a rest." Fearing Shen Tingzong wouldn't believe him, he took out the unwrapped candy wrapper, held it in his palm, and offered it to Shen Tingzong with both hands.

The candy was a creamy soft sweet, an old local brand that was still wrapped in soft, white cotton paper. Because it was mostly bought by the elderly, it was much sweeter than typical candies. Even on such a damp, rainy night, one could smell the faint, milky sweetness—exactly the same as the lingering scent on Xia Songbai himself.

Xia Songbai’s palm was the color of a peach, white with a faint pink hue, and his nails were rounded and neat. Everywhere about him was clean and beautiful.

Shen Tingzong lowered his eyes and didn't speak. He was too tall, and standing like that, even while looking down, his demeanor was gentle yet imposing. Xia Songbai took a beat to realize what he had actually done. He had actually shown Shen Tingzong a candy wrapper!

Just as Xia Songbai wanted to pull his hand back, Shen Tingzong reached out and took the wrapper from his palm. Xia Songbai didn't react in time, and his hand brushed against Shen Tingzong’s. Their fingers collided, and Xia Songbai pulled away as if electrocuted, his face turning red. "Mr. Shen, I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Shen Tingzong said, tucking the wrapper away. "Have you had dinner?"

Xia Songbai: "Huh?"

Shen Tingzong reached out a hand toward him. Xia Songbai paused, not daring to lean on him for support, and stood up on his own. Shen Tingzong tilted the umbrella to cover most of him, shielding him firmly by his side. "Get in the car."

Sitting in the car, Xia Songbai’s brain was still lagging. First, why did Shen Tingzong take his candy wrapper? He wouldn't think I was giving it to him as a gift, would he?! Who gives someone a leftover candy wrapper as a gift?! Heaven is my witness, I’m not that cheap.

Second, where is Shen Tingzong taking me... to eat?