Chapter 31
“Ahhh! What a pity!” Tang Jin shouted into a loudspeaker. “What were you guys doing at the end? You had such a great position, so how did Suinian still misfire? Without that accident, you could’ve won!”
Tang Jin was nearly dying of frustration.
He sat in the central control room, watching the battle through the surveillance feed.
Everything was going well at first, but at the final critical moment, the three of them actually huddled together… chatting.
Lu Zhiyue was even pulling his brother around.
They acted like the camera wasn’t even there.
In the end, who knew what they were talking about, but Chi Suinian’s expression suddenly changed, and he accidentally fired a blank shot.
Then, the enemy swarmed in and took them all down in one fell swoop.
Xu Qing lowered his head with guilt. “Sorry, it’s my fault. I dragged everyone into a conversation.”
Discussing what drink suited them best in the middle of a battlefield—what a huge mistake.
Tang Jin had calmed down a little now. Looking at Chi Suinian’s dark expression, he was curious and asked Xu Qing, “What exactly were you guys talking about in the trench?”
Lu Heng, who had been silent the whole time, quietly perked up his ears.
Xu Qing: “Huh? Oh… we were talking about tea.”
Tang Jin was completely baffled. “Tea? What kind of tea?”
Chi Suinian practically had a conditioned reflex at the mention of “tea.” He instinctively wanted to leave, cursing Lu Zhiyue a thousand times in his head for being insane. He pressed his lips together and started walking away.
But just as he got up, someone tugged at his sleeve.
Tang Jin and Xu Qing both turned to look in confusion.
Chi Suinian reflexively lowered his head and saw a familiar hand with long, well-defined fingers on his sleeve.
“Let go.”
Lu Zhiyue barely moved his lips before catching Chi Suinian’s murderous gaze.
He hesitated for a moment, then released his grip.
Chi Suinian left without a word. Just as he was about to step out the door, he suddenly stopped.
Lu Zhiyue had no filter on his mouth. If he blurted something out, it would only embarrass him.
Chi Suinian gritted his teeth, forced himself to turn back, and kicked Lu Zhiyue’s leg. “Get up. Come with me.”
“Where to?” Lu Zhiyue stood up.
“Just come. Stop talking nonsense.” Chi Suinian said.
With that, he walked off. Tang Jin called after him, “Where are you going? We’re having dinner together tonight. I booked a lakeside barbecue.”
Chi Suinian didn’t even turn back. “Got it.”
After they left, the room fell into an odd silence.
“So, uh…” Xu Qing was the first to react. “Why do I feel like there’s something weird between Lu Zong and Chi Shao?”
Lu Heng glanced at him. “You just noticed?”
Lu Zhiyue’s possessiveness could practically reach the sky and shake hands with the sun. How oblivious could he be?
“Seriously?!” Xu Qing looked stunned. “They’re not going to fight, are they? Suinian looked really pissed off. Should we go break them up or something?”
The atmosphere grew eerily quiet.
Tang Jin raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t get it?”
“Huh?” Get what?
Tang Jin rolled his eyes, looking utterly resigned. “They won’t fight. And I advise you to keep your distance from Suinian in the future.”
Xu Qing was confused. “Why?”
Tang Jin and Lu Heng exchanged a glance, both rolling their eyes, and shut their mouths at the same time.
Chi Suinian returned to the hotel, exhausted and sleepy, and immediately collapsed onto the bed. He hadn’t slept well the night before, and today he had woken up early. He was completely drained.
Lu Zhiyue followed him in and shut the door.
Chi Suinian, still drowsy with his eyes closed, said, “Take your stuff and get out.”
Lu Zhiyue paused. “Where am I supposed to go?”
Chi Suinian burrowed further under the blanket and muttered, “I don’t care. Just don’t stay in my room.”
After a moment, he added, “Liar.”
Lu Zhiyue hesitated. “What did I lie about?”
Chi Suinian lay face down, half-opening his eyes. He looked completely unthreatening—like a groggy cat too sleepy to bare its claws. “There are so few tourists at the resort, and you’re telling me all the empty rooms were taken?”
Liar.
Damn bastard.
Lu Zhiyue looked at the drowsy person on the bed and chuckled. “You’re quite sharp.”
The bed was too comfortable, and Chi Suinian was already drifting off. Hearing Lu Zhiyue’s voice, he instinctively mumbled, “…What bullshit. I’ve always been this smart.”
Lu Zhiyue chuckled in response, lowered the air conditioning temperature, and gently pulled the blanket over the person on the bed. His voice was warm and soft. “Sleep.”
And with that gentle voice, Chi Suinian fell straight into slumber.
A few minutes later, after confirming that he was fast asleep, Lu Zhiyue quietly stepped onto the balcony.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The call was answered quickly.
“Manager Zhang, I want to know how many vacant rooms you have left in your hotel?”
The person on the other end talked for a while. Lu Zhiyue, unfazed, said, “I’ll take all of them. Three days.”
The hotel manager seemed quite excited, his voice leaking enthusiasm. Lu Zhiyue glanced warily at the room behind him and lowered his voice. “Don’t let my information get out… Mm, that’s all.”
Chi Suinian didn’t get to sleep through the night. At 8 p.m., his phone on the bedside table started buzzing.
Irritated, he turned over and buried himself in the pillow. But the vibration was too persistent—there was no way to sleep through it.
Without opening his eyes, he reached out to grab the phone. But before he could touch it, the buzzing stopped on its own.
Chi Suinian let out a breath of relief. Sleep crept back in… Then the phone rang again.
This time, it only rang for a second before someone hung up. A quiet voice spoke in the room.
“…Yeah. He’s asleep. We’ll eat later. There’s a late-night snack. Hanging up now.”
…Hanging up?
Chi Suinian’s half-asleep brain filled with question marks.
Dazed, he opened his eyes. The room was dimly lit and silent. There didn’t seem to be anyone else around.
Then who had just spoken?
Still groggy, Chi Suinian turned his head—and immediately spotted the man sitting at the foot of the bed.
Only a single wall lamp was left on in the room, casting a weak glow. But even against the light, Chi Suinian instantly recognized the silhouette.
Lu Zhiyue.
“Why are you still here?”
Lu Zhiyue was working, a laptop resting on his lap. He replied calmly, “Waiting for you to eat dinner.”
“Who asked you to wait?” Chi Suinian lazily turned over. He had slept too well, and now the sky outside was dark, his limbs weak from rest.
Lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling, his eyes held a hint of confusion. It took him a few seconds to piece his thoughts together. Then he turned his head. “I was asking why you haven’t moved out yet.”
“No available rooms.”
“You think I’m stupid?”
“This afternoon, someone booked all the remaining rooms,” Lu Zhiyue said.
Yeah, right.
Chi Suinian grabbed his phone to book a room himself, but when he searched for the hotel, every room was marked as “sold out.”
Even the basic standard rooms were fully booked.
It wasn’t a holiday—where had all these tourists come from?
“A company booked them for a team-building event,” Lu Zhiyue added. “So, I have no choice but to ask you to keep letting me stay.”
There was no way this was just a coincidence. The moment he tried to book a room, suddenly a company reserved all of them?
Chi Suinian couldn’t help but suspect Lu Zhiyue was behind it.
But then again, why would Lu Zhiyue do that? Just to sleep on his floor?
That would be insane.
“You believe me now?” Lu Zhiyue sighed. “I really didn’t lie.”
Chi Suinian couldn’t be bothered with him. He tossed his phone aside, threw off the blanket, and got out of bed—barefoot—rushing straight to the bathroom.
He had been so caught up arguing with Lu Zhiyue that he almost forgot he needed to pee.
After handling his needs, he remembered Tang Jin mentioning the lakeside barbecue. He hadn’t eaten dinner, and after sleeping, his mouth felt dry and tasteless. He craved something heavy, greasy, and spicy.
Pulling out his phone, he saw a series of messages from Tang Jin over the past two hours, trying to reach him.
Chi Suinian glanced at the address. He had a general idea of where it was.
His fingers slid over the screen, then paused. He suddenly recalled that Lu Zhiyue hadn’t eaten dinner either.
But as soon as the thought appeared, he dismissed it immediately.
What did it matter to him whether Lu Zhiyue ate or not?
If he starved, that was his own problem.
Chi Suinian grumbled internally.
Lu Zhiyue glanced at the files in his hands. There were some major issues—he circled a few abnormal data points and sent them back to the company, but they hadn’t responded yet.
Just as he was about to call and follow up, he saw Chi Suinian, who had reached the door, suddenly turn around and stomp back toward him.
Without a word, he pressed down on Lu Zhiyue’s laptop.
“If you’re not eating dinner, are you planning to starve to death in my room?”
The mountain night was cool and refreshing. The sky was deep and vast, and the occasional croak of frogs added a peaceful atmosphere, one that couldn’t be found in the city.
But Chi Suinian’s mood was far from serene.
The moment those words left his mouth, he nearly wanted to slap himself.
The moment those words left his mouth, he almost wanted to slap himself.
Just then, Lu Zhiyue suddenly chuckled.
Chi Suinian’s face darkened. “What are you laughing at?”
“I’m happy that you care about me,” Lu Zhiyue said.
Chi Suinian reacted like an animal caught in a weak spot, his face filled with embarrassment and anger. “Like hell I care about you!”
He must’ve had a brain malfunction just now.
As they reached the lakeside, Lu Zhiyue noticed a sudden movement ahead.
He glanced over.
Two girls were playfully pushing each other under a tree.
“Don’t push me…”
“If you don’t go now, it’ll be too late. He’s about to leave.”
“Wouldn’t it be too abrupt if I just went up to him? Maybe I should just—”
“Oh, come on, it won’t be weird at all! Just go, or you’ll miss your chance.”
“…Alright.”
The young girl in a denim suspender dress took two deep breaths, quickly smoothed down her wind-blown hair, and then, with a determined expression, walked straight toward Chi Suinian.
Lu Zhiyue’s lips instantly pressed into a firm line.
The girl stopped beside them, her smile bright and beautiful under the night sky.
She took a nervous breath and said earnestly, “Hi—”
Before she could finish, a sharply dressed man suddenly strode forward and grabbed the young man in front of her.
Then, he leaned in. “Don’t move, there’s something on your head.”
Chi Suinian looked doubtful. “What is it?”
“A bug.”
Chi Suinian froze. He wasn’t exactly afraid, but in the mountains, there were all kinds of insects, and who knew if it was poisonous?
He frowned. “Where is it?”
“On your head.” Lu Zhiyue wrapped an arm around him and ran a hand over his hair.
A few moments passed, and Chi Suinian grew impatient. “Did you get it yet?”
Lu Zhiyue stepped closer, making them even more intimate. “Almost.”
Chi Suinian cursed in frustration, “Stop dragging it out! Just tell me what kind of bug it is—I’ll do it myself.”
“Don’t move.” Lu Zhiyue held him still. “I’ll handle it. It’ll be done soon.”
“…”
The girl stood frozen in place.
The two of them were way too close. From her angle, the guy she liked was practically nestled in another man’s arms, obediently letting him ruffle his hair.
The whole scene looked inexplicably sweet.
“Still not done?” Chi Suinian’s neck was getting sore. He tilted his head back to look at Lu Zhiyue—only to realize how close they were. His sudden movement almost made their faces bump together.
Startled, he quickly stepped back.
“Done.” At the same time, Lu Zhiyue withdrew his hand. “The bug’s gone.”
“…”
For a moment, Chi Suinian suspected he was being messed with.
But Lu Zhiyue looked completely serious, so he had no choice but to trust him. “You better not be playing with me.”
Lu Zhiyue arched a brow and smiled. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Chi Suinian sneered. “Good for you.”
Lu Zhiyue’s gaze drifted casually to the side.
The girl who had been about to confess met his eyes. Her face paled slightly, and after a moment of stunned silence, she turned away in disappointment.
Lu Zhiyue let out a soft sigh.
Two admirers in one day.
Whose marriage prospects were more at risk than his? You wouldn’t find another case like his in all of Jin City.
·
Drinking at night was a great way to bond and build friendships, especially in such a serene and picturesque place.
The owner of the resort seemed to have thought the same and had set up a night market by the lake. It wasn’t as bustling as the ones in the city, but it had everything one could ask for.
Outside a barbecue stall, a lively crowd was gathered. Ye Xu sat among them, holding up his glass and chatting with his former classmates over drinks.
“How’s everyone been lately?”
“Not bad. Just closed a few big deals last month.”
“Congrats, congrats! Hey, did you guys hear? Apparently, Lu Zhiyue is also vacationing here.”
“No way. A big shot like him would come to a place like this?”
“Old Yuan said he saw him with his own eyes. It’s definitely him.”
“It’s been ten years since we last saw him, right? Think he’ll show up at our class reunion?”
“Ye Xu, do you know anything about this?”
Caught off guard, Ye Xu snapped back to reality and pursed his lips. “No idea.”
“Weren’t you with Old Yuan this morning? You didn’t run into Lu Zhiyue?”
Ye Xu’s expression darkened slightly. “No.”
“Ah, what a pity… Hey, look over there—is that Lu Zhiyue?”
Everyone turned toward the lake.
The boardwalk stretched into the distance, the water shimmering under the moonlight.
A young man walked out from the shade of the trees, dressed casually in a simple T-shirt and sneakers, exuding a laid-back vibe—completely different from the tall, handsome, and composed man following behind him.
“It’s really Lu Zhiyue!” someone exclaimed. “Who’s that in front of him?”
“…Looks kind of familiar.”
“Doesn’t he look a bit like Chi Suinian?”
“Who?”
“No way.”
The crowd quieted down as many began recalling past events.
If Lu Zhiyue was the unattainable moon in the sky, then back in the day, Chi Suinian was the little troublemaker with a terrible attitude.
The two of them had been notorious for their rivalry—so intense it was impossible to reconcile.
So how did two people who were constantly at each other’s throats in school end up walking together after graduation?
·
Under the trees, Chi Suinian had already noticed the people outside the barbecue stall.
It was hard not to—dozens of heads had turned in perfect unison to look at them.
Just as he was observing them, they were silently studying him as well.
Though, most of their gazes were fixed on the person behind him.
Chi Suinian wasn’t in the habit of scrutinizing strangers. He glanced at them briefly before looking away. “Your friends?”
Lu Zhiyue lifted his eyelids. “Don’t know them. Where’s Tang Jin’s place?”
Chi Suinian glanced up at the signboard and was about to answer when a man in a black shirt suddenly stood up.
He pushed his chair back and strode toward them with a clear purpose. The moment he saw Lu Zhiyue’s face, his expression brightened with excitement.
“Lu Zhiyue! It really is you,” the man said happily. “What a coincidence! Are you here for the class reunion too?”
Hearing that, Chi Suinian raised an eyebrow and finally spotted Ye Xu, who was standing among the crowd with an odd expression.
Oh, right. Ye Xu had mentioned something about a class reunion before, but Chi Suinian hadn’t paid much attention to it.
Now it seemed like quite a few people had shown up.
His gaze swept across the faces in the crowd, recognizing more than a few familiar ones.
The former classmates gathered in front of the barbecue stall quickly surrounded them, eagerly inviting Lu Zhiyue to join their reunion.
Not wanting to offend Lu Zhiyue, they all deliberately ignored Chi Suinian.
“What a stroke of fate! Why don’t we have a meal together? I booked a private room at the resort so we can have a proper gathering,” someone suggested.
“Great idea. The mosquitoes by the lake are bad anyway. A quieter place would be better.”
“By the way, Lu Zhiyue, our class beauty is still single. She’s had a crush on you for years—you should have a drink with her today.”
A shy girl was pushed forward in front of Lu Zhiyue.
Chi Suinian noticed the flicker of emotions in her eyes—expectation, nervousness, and excitement. She looked at Lu Zhiyue with such admiration that her eyes sparkled.
But Lu Zhiyue didn’t even glance at her. His voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “No need, I have things to do.”
Then, he turned to Chi Suinian. “Where is it?”
Chi Suinian raised an eyebrow, glanced at the signboard above them, then gestured toward the distance with his chin. “Over there.”
Lu Zhiyue said, “Let’s go.”
Seeing him about to leave, the man quickly spoke up, “Come on, we finally ran into each other. Don’t kill the mood like this. I heard your company’s doing really well—afraid we’ll try to take advantage of you?”
Lu Zhiyue’s expression remained neutral, his tone indifferent. “You remembered wrong. I’m just a regular employee.”
Chi Suinian paused mid-step and turned to him in confusion.
“You’re joking, right? You don’t own a company? Then what are you doing now?”
Chi Suinian sensed Lu Zhiyue glance in his direction.
A second later—
“I’m bankrupt. Now I work as a housekeeper.”
Chi Suinian: “…”
The old classmates who had been trying to curry favor with Lu Zhiyue instantly turned pale.
hahaha