The online controversy over Wen Ci’s ability to swim was something Xi Nan had already briefed her team on. The official stance was that Wen Ci had been trying to learn to swim two years ago under the guidance of his family, but with little success. When he suddenly fell into the water in an unfamiliar environment, he panicked and struggled instinctively, so any claims of him faking it were unfounded.
Xi Nan also had her team send legal notices to some netizens speculating that Wen Ci had maliciously framed Mo Ming, while simultaneously pushing positive PR for Wen Ci.
The explanation was met with mixed reactions. Whether people believed it or not was up to their judgment, but written statements were far less convincing than photographic evidence. As the situation escalated, the general sentiment online turned against Wen Ci and his team, with most people expressing distrust.
So, when Wen Ci received a call from Han Shao Zhou, he knew exactly what Han Shao Zhou was going to question him about.
Back at the hospital in T City, Wen Ci had told Han Shao Zhou that he fell into the water because his safety harness suddenly came loose. If not for the quick rescue by the show’s crew, he would have drowned. It was because his life had been at stake that Han Shao Zhou agreed to demand an apology from Mo Ming on his behalf.
But now… it was clear that Han Shao Zhou was starting to doubt every word Wen Ci had said.
Especially with this cold, interrogative tone, it made Wen Ci feel even more disheartened.
“I didn’t lie.” Wen Ci said. “Just because I misremembered a few details, does that mean you’re going to start doubting me, just like everyone else online?”
He understood this was like a tug-of-war, where the truth of the details could never be fully known. Everyone’s judgment was colored by their biases, and if Han Shao Zhou still had even a shred of affection for him, he should trust his explanation.
For three years, Han Shao Zhou had always been like that, never questioning him, always standing by his side unconditionally.
“If you’ve already started leaning towards Mo Ming in your heart, then nothing I say will matter.” Wen Ci’s voice trembled slightly. “I haven’t even received a single apology, yet now the whole world blames me. Even the person who swore to protect me for a lifetime is questioning me like I’m some kind of criminal.”
Han Shao Zhou remained silent.
Wen Ci sniffled, his voice catching. “I’ve always treated this as an accident. I never thought Mo Ming did it on purpose. Have I ever said a bad word about him in front of you?”
“This isn’t over…” Han Shao Zhou’s voice was still cold.
Wen Ci was about to respond, but Han Shao Zhou had already hung up.
Back in his room, Wen Ci grabbed the red ring box and hurled it to the ground. When Shen Xi Xi entered, the small box rolled to her feet.
Shen Xi Xi was shocked. This was the first time she had seen Wen Ci so angry, so out of control…
“Why does Mo Ming even exist…” Wen Ci pressed his hands to his forehead, muttering bitterly, “If it weren’t for him, Han Shao Zhou and I could have easily reconciled… Why does he have to be in the way?”
Shen Xi Xi quickly pieced things together. It seemed that as long as Mo Ming was around, Han Shao Zhou and Wen Ci could never truly start over.
Men are like that—even if they have a true love in their hearts, their bodies will still honestly pursue desire, especially when it comes to someone who has been willingly by their side for three years…
Shen Xi Xi picked up the ring box, biting her lip.
They needed to deal with Mo Ming quickly, not just for Wen Ci, but for her own future as well.
Mo Ming had just left Zhou Yi Xiang’s office when he received a call from Han Shao Zhou.
On the other end of the line, Han Shao Zhou hesitated for a moment before saying in a complex tone, “Mo Ming, I want to apologize. I shouldn’t have asked you to apologize to Wen Ci earlier. There’s definitely something off about that whole situation. I shouldn’t have just taken Wen Ci’s word for it.”
It was lunchtime, and the hallway was bustling with people coming and going.
Some people from the theater troupe who recognized Mo Ming greeted him, and he nodded and smiled back at them while responding to Han Shao Zhou in a gentle tone, “I accept your apology. Is there anything else?”
Han Shao Zhou was momentarily at a loss for words.
Mo Ming’s voice wasn’t cold, but rather so calm that it seemed like he hadn’t cared about the matter at all. It made Han Shao Zhou feel tongue-tied, unable to say anything to bridge the gap between them.
“It was my fault. I believe you.” Han Shao Zhou said softly. “Mo Ming, I’m really sorry for putting you through all that. I regret it deeply.”
Once he started apologizing, Han Shao Zhou found that dignity and pride no longer mattered. He suddenly realized how foolish he had been, insisting on keeping up appearances in front of Mo Ming, which had only led to this situation. The torment of the past few days only highlighted how stupid his arrogance had been…
Now, he couldn’t care less about anything except getting his little treasure back.
“It’s all over now. Mr. Han, there’s no need to dwell on it.” Mo Ming said. “If there’s nothing else…”
“There is. Mo Ming, can we meet up?” Han Shao Zhou quickly added, worried that Mo Ming would refuse. “I need your help with something, and only you can help me. Just for the sake of the years we spent together, please.”
Mo Ming was silent for a few seconds. “I’m about to have lunch. Let’s meet somewhere.”
Soon, the two met in a private room at a restaurant in the city.
Mo Ming didn’t dislike Han Shao Zhou. After all, they had been together for three years. He was just clear-headed, not heartless. If Han Shao Zhou treated him with respect as a friend, he wouldn’t deliberately distance himself.
He still believed that Han Shao Zhou had played an irreplaceable role in a certain period of his life.
Since he was coming from farther away, Mo Ming arrived a bit later than Han Shao Zhou.
With a white jacket draped over his arm, Mo Ming was wearing a light gray wool sweater. The thin, soft fabric made him look both poised and sharp. When he entered the private room, he saw the man by the window. “Mr. Han…”
“Don’t call me Mr. Han.” Han Shao Zhou said, standing up from the table. His expression was complicated as he looked at Mo Ming walking toward him. “And don’t call me Han Shao.”
He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Mo Ming. It suddenly dawned on him that the frustration he had been feeling over the past few days wasn’t just anger or resentment—it was simply that he missed his little treasure. He just wanted to see him… That was all.
Mo Ming smiled slightly and said, “Then, Han-ge?”
Han Shao Zhou also smiled wryly. “You always called me Shao-ge…”
Mo Ming sat down at the table. “You said you needed my help. What’s the issue?”
“Here’s the thing…” Han Shao Zhou sat back down, speaking softly. “I promised my grandfather that I’d bring my boyfriend home for dinner tomorrow. It was supposed to be the two of us, but now… I really don’t have anyone else who can help, so I wanted to ask you one last favor.”
Mo Ming thought about it seriously for a moment. “Maybe you should be honest with your grandfather. I really don’t think lying to an elder is a good idea.”
Han Shao Zhou looked at Mo Ming’s hands resting on the table, slender and fair. He suddenly had the urge to reach out and hold them, but he shifted his gaze and continued, “If I don’t bring someone home tomorrow, it might just give him a heart attack. I just want to go along with it for now, make him happy for a while. Later, when I’m seeing someone else, I can come clean. If you don’t help me, and I bring someone else, it might be even worse…”
Mo Ming nodded thoughtfully. “When should I be there tomorrow?”
“Around noon, just for lunch.” Han Shao Zhou said, his mood brightening. Mo Ming was still willing to help him after all. “We were together for three years, so if you’re the one with me, my grandfather won’t suspect anything. Anyone else wouldn’t pass muster.”
Mo Ming smiled slightly. “Alright, I’ll help you out.”
The waiter brought the food, and Mo Ming didn’t stand on ceremony, eating naturally. The atmosphere at the table finally became as warm and relaxed as Han Shao Zhou had hoped.
“Have you really forgiven me about Wen Ci?” Han Shao Zhou asked cautiously. “You’re not mad at me anymore?”
Mo Ming was busy eating a salt-baked shrimp and couldn’t speak, so he just blinked at Han Shao Zhou and nodded earnestly.
Watching Mo Ming’s obedient demeanor, Han Shao Zhou felt a warmth spread through his chest. “Mo Ming, let’s get back together.”
Mo Ming looked up at the man across from him.
Han Shao Zhou felt a bit guilty, his face heating up slightly. “Honestly, I didn’t really want to break up with you before. It was just something I said on a whim, and I didn’t expect you to take it so seriously… Let’s put the past behind us. Let’s move forward together, okay?”
Mo Ming swallowed his food, gently setting his chopsticks down, and looked at Han Shao Zhou with a calm gaze.
“The past should stay in the past, Han-ge. We both need to be honest with ourselves about what we truly want. Neither of us should settle or deceive ourselves when it comes to life or love…”
“I know. I’m very clear about what I want.” Han Shao Zhou said, a smile touching his eyes. “I like you, Mo Ming.”
“No, Han-ge, you’re just used to having me around for the past three years, but that’s not love.” Mo Ming’s voice was soft but firm. “We were always just in a transactional relationship. You took me in back then because of my face. Your ‘love’ was about projecting your feelings for Wen Ci onto me. I feel ashamed and guilty that even after Wen Ci came back, I shamelessly clung to you, occupying your time and, without realizing it, driving a wedge between you and the person you really care about…”
“…”
Han Shao Zhou couldn’t believe how calmly and clearly Mo Ming was analyzing everything, as if he had already come to a precise conclusion about all the emotional entanglements between them.
But it was all wrong!
“That’s not true at all. Why would you think that?” Han Shao Zhou laughed bitterly. “I admit, when we first got together, it was exactly as you said. Back then, I was driven by emotions, and even taking you in was a spur-of-the-moment decision. But over time, I didn’t really think you looked much like Wen Ci. Gradually, I started seeing you as my own lover. After a while… Honestly, I don’t even know when I started liking you. You were always there, so obedient and dependent on me, that I never really thought about whether I liked you or not… If I have to say it, then now, yes, I’m sure I like you, Mo Ming. I like you in the way a man likes his partner…”
He had always imagined that if he were to confess, it would be in a carefully prepared, romantic setting. But now, he found himself blurting out everything in a rush, as if he might miss his chance if he waited even a second longer.
But he still felt like he wasn’t saying it right, like there was so much more he wanted to convey to Mo Ming.
Mo Ming sat still, his pupils contracting slightly.
“I’ve long since gotten over Wen Ci. I’ve said this to Zhao Cheng, to my grandfather, to everyone…” Han Shao Zhou suddenly felt a bit aggrieved. “I never meant to break up. I was just trying to scare you. I even planned to announce our relationship in front of everyone on my birthday, so from then on, we’d officially be together…”
Mo Ming lowered his gaze, staring at the table, his dark eyelashes casting a shadow.
Han Shao Zhou slowly reached out to take Mo Ming’s hand resting on the table. “I’d even marry you right now if you asked. Doesn’t that prove that I really like you?”
Mo Ming suddenly pulled back his hand just as Han Shao Zhou was about to grasp it. Standing up, he picked up his coat. “Sorry, you’ll have to find someone else to help you tomorrow. I don’t have the time.”
With that, Mo Ming turned and walked away.
Han Shao Zhou was completely dumbfounded. He quickly stood up and blocked Mo Ming’s path.
“Wait, what… what happened?” Han Shao Zhou frowned as he saw Mo Ming’s tightly pressed lips. “Did I say something wrong…”
“Mr. Han.” Mo Ming said, closing his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his gaze was cold. “I don’t like you. Please don’t waste any more of your feelings on me.”
“…”
“I hope you won’t contact me again. I don’t want to see you anymore.”
With that, Mo Ming brushed past Han Shao Zhou, heading for the door.
Han Shao Zhou grabbed Mo Ming’s arm, feeling a deep chill spreading through his confusion. “Even if I said something wrong, you don’t have to be so cold all of a sudden. What do you mean you don’t want to see me again?”
He had never seen Mo Ming react like this before. Just moments ago, they had been so calm and peaceful.
All he had done was confess…
That’s all it took.
Heh. Fool.