ITC Chapter 29

The car steadily made its way to Bai Xizhou’s residence. After parking, Wen Ruqing pulled out the key, handed it back to Bai Xizhou, and unfastened his seatbelt, ready to get out.

“Where are you going?” Bai Xizhou grabbed his arm before he could leave. “Come up for a while.”

Wen Ruqing didn’t respond immediately. He looked at Bai Xizhou, noticing the stark bandage on his brow—it was hard to ignore, and somehow irritating to look at. But in the end, he didn’t refuse and silently followed Bai Xizhou upstairs.

He had been to Bai Xizhou’s place many times, but never had it been this quiet. Bai Xizhou wasn’t speaking, and Wen Ruqing didn’t know what to say either.

To break the awkward silence, Bai Xizhou pretended to be busy with his phone, though he was really just scrolling through the news. Unsurprisingly, his injury had already made the headlines.

The comments were still the same: “Serves him right,” and other mocking remarks. Many people were openly gloating, as if Bai Xizhou were the one in the wrong. They completely ignored the fact that throwing rocks at someone, regardless of motive, is still violence.

Among the comments, Wen Ruqing came across a photo—taken at the courthouse gates. Bai Xizhou was holding his brow, expression calm as if unfazed by the pain, yet the blood seeping through his fingers was jarring.

As Wen Ruqing stared, lost in thought, the phone was suddenly snatched from his hands. He looked up and met Bai Xizhou’s gaze. The latter frowned and hid the phone behind his back.

“It looks scary, but it’s not that serious.” Bai Xizhou turned off the screen. “Stop paying attention to what they say. If you’re curious, ask me directly.”

The elevator arrived at Bai Xizhou’s floor. He walked out, still holding Wen Ruqing’s phone. From behind, Wen Ruqing sighed and followed, his footsteps drawing closer.

With his back to Wen Ruqing, Bai Xizhou allowed a small smile to creep onto his lips.

He reached the door first—but didn’t open it right away.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Ruqing leaned out from behind him. “Why aren’t you opening the door?”

“Nothing,” Bai Xizhou shook his head, finally opening it. “Come in.”

Not long ago, the property management had offered to install fingerprint locks for residents. Bai Xizhou had been too busy to respond, and now he wasn’t sure if the offer was still valid.

If it was, he could register Wen Ruqing’s fingerprint.

After entering, Wen Ruqing went straight to the kitchen. He was already familiar with the place—knew where everything was without needing to ask.

Bai Xizhou didn’t stop him. He went into the bedroom to change clothes. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang.

“I heard you got hurt?” Teng Yuan’s voice came from the other end. “Not to be harsh, but why’d you get involved in that mess? Aren’t you a senior partner now? Isn’t this going to affect Xinze?”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve done something like this. Why are you still so shocked?”

He’d taken on similar cases before—it’s just that the internet hadn’t been so explosive back then, nor the impact so huge.

“I get it, I get it. You’re always standing up for justice. I’m just a businessman—I only know how to avoid trouble.”

“Taking on challenges is just who I am.” Bai Xizhou brushed back his hair, which tugged uncomfortably at the wound. “It’s just a scratch. Who doesn’t get hurt sometimes?”

“I’m just throwing something together with the leftovers you had,” Wen Ruqing’s voice floated in from the kitchen—loud enough for Teng Yuan to hear.

“Anything’s fine,” Bai Xizhou called back, then refocused on the call. “Go on.”

“Hmm… Wen Ruqing is at your place again?” There was a pause, then a change of tone.

Teng Yuan suddenly remembered that not long ago, Qu Qingchen had casually mentioned Bai Xizhou asking for a stomach-soothing recipe. Wen Ruqing was at his place again, and had even spent New Year’s there.

Why did it feel like the two were always together?

“Yeah. He gave me a ride back,” Bai Xizhou replied as he sat down on the couch.

“Okay, I don’t know if I should say this…” Teng Yuan hesitated, clearly choosing his words. “Do you… like him? It feels like you treat him differently from others.”

Suddenly, the area around Bai Xizhou’s brow began to throb.

“Why do you say that?”

They had only met Wen Ruqing a few times. The most recent was during a New Year’s hotpot. Where did this assumption come from?

Even if Teng Yuan didn’t know Wen Ruqing well, he surely knew that he wasn’t Bai Xizhou’s type. Wen Ruqing was nothing like the people Bai had dated before.

So why did Teng Yuan think that?

A fog settled in Bai Xizhou’s chest, dense and unshakable.

“Just a gut feeling. I’ve known you for years—you never let me stay over, never invited me to your place, never picked food into my bowl during meals…” Teng Yuan started listing off, probably counting on his fingers. Then he paused briefly, and added coolly, “And you know what? Qu Qingchen used to do all those things for me.”

As someone who knew all too well what had happened between Qu Qingchen and Teng Yuan, Bai Xizhou froze when he heard this.

Had he really acted like that?

He quickly sorted through everything between him and Wen Ruqing. Before leaving Yunduan Town, they had just been normal friends. So when did things start going off course?

Maybe it was two months after they got back from Yunduan Town. He’d started opening Wen Ruqing’s chat window dozens—hundreds—of times a day, always without sending a message. Every time, he’d feel a kind of hollow emptiness.

But he brushed it off as just needing time to adjust.

Later, he successfully handled a major case and was praised by the Bar Association. Everyone congratulated him, but Bai Xizhou felt nothing. When he became a senior partner at Xinze, he still didn’t feel fulfilled.

Because he had no one to share it with. Or maybe… he didn’t know who he wanted to share it with.

Then he realized—he had always been like this. Even before Yunduan Town.

Until that day in the hospital, when he saw Wen Ruqing huddled in a corner. He recognized him at a glance—even after all that time, he still knew it was him.

His first emotions were anger and the urge to confront him—but more than that, it was joy. And when he saw the condition of Wen Ruqing’s life, the anger gave way to overwhelming pity.

Still, he didn’t think it was unusual—just concern between friends.

But now, with Teng Yuan’s comment, all those buried feelings felt… strange.

“Do I… like him?”

For the first time in his life, Bai Xizhou was uncertain about his own feelings.

“Like what?” Wen Ruqing suddenly appeared. “Are you done talking? Wash up—it’s time to eat.”

Bai Xizhou’s back went rigid. He turned to look at him.

Different. So different. Nothing like his exes. Could one person really change his entire idea of what he liked?

“I’ll let you eat. I’m hanging up,” Teng Yuan said, pulling Bai Xizhou back to the present.

He hung up and moved to the dining table. The food was simple—he hadn’t shopped in a while, and the fridge was nearly empty.

Under the cool white light, the two sat across from each other. Wen Ruqing ate quietly, while Bai Xizhou absentmindedly held his bowl, eyes fixed on him, a string inside his chest quietly trembling.

He had never invited Teng Yuan to spend New Year with him. Never let him sleep over after getting drunk. Never cooked for his stomach issues. Never sought his approval after controversial choices.

Back in Yunduan Town—if it had been Teng Yuan instead…

He wouldn’t have given away the watch he’d worn for six years.
Wouldn’t have shown up repeatedly just to chase dogs away.
Wouldn’t have overcome his germophobia to apply Red Flower Oil for him.
Wouldn’t have asked, “Will we meet again?” before leaving.
And certainly wouldn’t have wanted to bring him home after seeing where he lived.

If it had been Teng Yuan instead of Wen Ruqing—none of that would’ve happened. Not because he didn’t care for him, but because those actions already crossed the line between friends.

And today, when he brought Wen Ruqing home—he had thought, maybe he could stay.

“Stop staring. Do I have rice on my face?” Wen Ruqing finally broke under the intensity of Bai Xizhou’s gaze and put down his chopsticks. “Or do you want to say something?”

Say what? That I might like you? He’d have to be crazy.

“I’ll be coming home pretty late before the final trial,” Bai Xizhou changed the topic, keeping his feelings hidden. “After work, could you come feed the rabbits?”

That had been his actual reason for asking Wen Ruqing to stay—but Teng Yuan’s call had knocked all that out of his mind.

“When will the case end?” Wen Ruqing asked, stuffing a bite of rice in his mouth.

His lashes cast faint shadows on his cheeks. He chewed slowly.

He wasn’t just asking about feeding the rabbits.

He was asking: Will there be more extremists in the future? More violence in the name of justice?

“Early May.”

“Alright. Got it.” Wen Ruqing nodded.

Bai Xizhou smiled slightly and went back to eating.

After dinner, they cleaned up the dishes. Bai Xizhou led Wen Ruqing to the rabbit cage, opened it, and took out the black-and-white bunny Kaikai, placing it gently in Wen Ruqing’s arms.

Wen Ruqing panicked a little. Kaikai was so small—he was afraid he might crush it. He’d never dared to hold it before, but now Bai Xizhou forced him to.

The bunny wiggled twice in his arms, then curled up into a cozy spot and stopped moving. Its soft fur brushed against Wen Ruqing’s hand like a warm little heater.

“They’re not that fragile. You can hold or pet them whenever you want. Just remember to feed them.” Bai Xizhou rummaged in his pocket, then handed over his house key. “Kaikai and Xinxin are in your care for now.”

“Alright, I’ll take good care of them.” Wen Ruqing puffed up, like he’d just been entrusted with a national treasure. “But even though I said I respect your choices… still, be careful, okay? Don’t get hurt again.”

You’ve got such a pretty face. If it scars… it might ruin your chances of finding a partner later.

Bai Xizhou had no idea what Wen Ruqing was thinking—he just assumed it was concern. He reached out, ruffled Wen Ruqing’s hair. The texture was no worse than the bunny’s. He stared at him, his gaze incredibly gentle.

“Okay. I’ll be careful.”

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Frozen Starlight
Bai Xizhou: …maybe I really am catching feelings.
Wen Ruqing: Great, now Lawyer Bai’s face is ruined…