ITC Chapter 47

The next day, Wen Ruqing yawned as he entered the office and happened to run into Feng Yuhua. She sped up to walk beside him, a beaming smile on her face, patting him on the shoulder in a friendly, overly familiar way. Wen Ruqing felt completely baffled.

“Ruqing, you don’t have anything urgent this afternoon, do you?” Feng Yuhua asked while walking in with him.

“Just tying up some loose ends,” Wen Ruqing answered honestly. He wasn’t used to her sudden friendliness and glanced at Chen Qi for help.

“What’s the happy occasion, Sister Feng?” Chen Qi smoothly pulled Wen Ruqing aside.

“The TV station is producing a documentary series on cultural relics. The Cultural Bureau called yesterday—someone’s coming this afternoon to shoot a promo video on ancient book restoration. They’ll be doing interviews too, and it’ll eventually air on TV.” Feng Yuhua looked at Wen Ruqing. “I’m thinking of having you and Liang Yuchen go. Unless someone else wants to volunteer?”

“I mean, I’m not interested in filming anything… But, Sister Feng, why did you choose Ruqing and Yuchen specifically?” Xu Yuanyuan looked up from a book, her eyes curious.

“Don’t you think they look great together? A talented man and a beautiful woman.”

Wen Ruqing’s hand trembled, almost spilling water from his cup. He looked at Feng Yuhua, words on his lips but ultimately unsaid.

“This is great exposure for our profession—it deserves more public recognition. Ruqing, any objections?” Feng Yuhua turned to him.

Wen Ruqing forced a stiff smile, shook his head. “No problem.”

“Don’t you have a partner?” Chen Qi asked once Feng Yuhua left. “Weren’t you just picking out rings the other day?”

“It’s just a promo shoot,” Wen Ruqing muttered, rubbing his hands until they turned red and sore.

“I just don’t want your partner getting jealous. Although… it doesn’t seem like Yuchen is interested in you anyway. But seriously, we’ve known each other this long and I’ve never met your partner. I’m curious. What does he do?” Chen Qi grabbed a bag of chocolates from Wen Ruqing’s desk, bit off a piece, and frowned. “Ugh… this one tastes terrible.”

“Lawyer.” Wen Ruqing broke off a piece too—also didn’t like it.

“A hotshot attorney, huh?” Chen Qi perked up. “When are you going to introduce us? Let me vet him.”

“There’ll be a chance.” Wen Ruqing dodged. It wasn’t really up to him—he still needed to ask Bai Xizhou.

---

Afternoon.

Just like usual, Wen Ruqing went to grab his lunch delivery. Same insulated bag. He picked it up and was about to leave when someone called out to him.

Outside the research institute gate, Bai Xizhou waved in a black bucket hat. He wore a short jacket and loose pants—looked surprisingly youthful today.

“You came?” Wen Ruqing was startled. “Didn’t say anything beforehand.”

“Had the afternoon free. Thought I’d bring you lunch.”

Wen Ruqing pursed his lips and glanced at the security guard. Bai Xizhou watched as he spoke to the guard, who pulled out a name log for him to fill. While Wen Ruqing bent to write, the guard gave Bai Xizhou a weird look.

Soon, the gate opened. Wen Ruqing walked over with the bag, took Bai Xizhou’s hand, and led him into the institute.

Bai Xizhou followed behind and noticed the red marks on Wen Ruqing’s hands.

“Wait.” He stopped him. “What happened to your hands?”

“I scratched them myself.” Wen Ruqing obediently held them out. Red marks and broken skin covered both. “I tend to do this when I’m anxious. It doesn’t hurt.”

“Your anxiety…” Bai Xizhou frowned. He had been watching Ruqing take his meds recently—he shouldn’t be relapsing.

Wen Ruqing’s condition had once gone undetected for so long that Bai Xizhou never dared relax again. He’d even asked Qu Qingchen—who warned him anxiety disorders often come with suicidal tendencies. Bai Xizhou didn’t want to see a single scratch on Wen Ruqing again.

A sudden warmth at his brow snapped him out of thought. Wen Ruqing’s fingers were smoothing the crease between his eyebrows.

“Don’t frown. I’ve been taking my meds properly. This isn’t a relapse.” He knew Bai Xizhou was scared—probably still haunted by that incident in Jingcheng. “There’s an interview this afternoon. I’m nervous. Plus, I didn’t trim my nails, so I scratched myself.”

“An interview?” Bai Xizhou relaxed a bit. “Can I stay? I want to watch.”

“You’re already in—am I going to kick you out?” Wen Ruqing chuckled. “Besides, I wrote down you’re family. If anyone asks, just say that.”

Bai Xizhou nodded, quite happy with the title “family.”

They ate together in a quiet corner. Before work resumed, the film crew arrived.

Feng Yuhua brought them into the office. Everyone looked a little nervous in front of the camera—especially Chen Qi, who stiffened like a robot. The photographer shook his head and suggested filming work scenes in the studio.

“There’s no one in the studio right now. Just get two people and film like they’re working,” he said.

Wen Ruqing had just walked in and hadn’t introduced Bai Xizhou when Feng Yuhua pulled him and Liang Yuchen away to be filmed.

Bai Xizhou stood behind the photographer. On-screen, Wen Ruqing looked more awkward than usual—his stiff limbs made him look like a puppet. Bai Xizhou couldn’t help laughing.

“Hey bro, have we met before?” Chen Qi had been watching him the whole time—his face looked familiar. Then it hit him. “Oh! You’re that lawyer who chewed me out at the office! Wen Ruqing’s boyfriend!”

Wow. Small world.

“No wonder he defended that lawyer so hard… Even scolded Han Mu on his behalf.” Chen Qi muttered.

“Who’s Han Mu?” Bai Xizhou caught that.

“Oh, someone from the department next door who liked Ruqing. Got rejected after confessing and disappeared. Though, strangely, he started avoiding Ruqing like the plague after that.”

Bai Xizhou thought for a moment. He remembered once seeing a guy following Wen Ruqing after they had a rough night. That was probably Han Mu.

“I know him.” Bai Xizhou smirked. “He had a thing with someone who’s involved in funding your institute.”

“You mean Song Yang? Yeah, shady guy. Heard he’s coming later today.”

The two chatted until Feng Yuhua gave Chen Qi more tasks. Bai Xizhou, with nothing to do, went out for a walk.

And—speak of the devil—he ran into Han Mu at the staircase. Han Mu, laughing with someone, dropped the name “Song Yang” mid-sentence.

Neither expected to bump into each other. Han Mu froze when he saw Bai Xizhou. Song Yang, confused, asked who that was.

“Wen Ruqing’s boyfriend,” Han Mu muttered.

“Then why are you scared? I mean, how good can someone be if they’s into that boring Ruqing guy?” Song Yang said loudly.

Bai Xizhou stopped dead in his tracks, eyes sharp, smile cold.

“Why don’t you say it to my face instead of whispering behind my back?” he said politely but menacingly.

“I’m just speaking facts. If you don’t like the truth, that’s your problem,” Song Yang sneered. “Seriously, what do you even see in that wooden log?”

“Well, the Ruqing I know isn’t like that at all. Maybe the problem is you—you can’t see what’s good about him. Instead of blaming others, maybe reflect on yourself for once. You’re not exactly a saint either.”

Calm words, sharp as blades.

Han Mu pulled Song Yang away. They left, not before Song Yang scowled in defiance.

—

After the shoot, Wen Ruqing couldn’t find Bai Xizhou. Chen Qi said he went for a walk, so he called him. Following directions, he ran downstairs, so fast he didn’t even notice brushing past Song Yang.

Song Yang stopped. He hadn’t seen Wen Ruqing smile so brightly in ages. His feet moved to follow, until he turned the corner and saw Bai Xizhou waiting.

Half a day’s filming was more exhausting than restoring books. Wen Ruqing leaned on Bai Xizhou, who opened a water bottle for him.

“Did Chen Qi badmouth me?” Bai Xizhou asked.

“Are you hiding something from me?” Wen Ruqing shot back.

“…Shouldn’t be.”

“Then why worry?” Bai Xizhou laughed, massaging the back of his neck.

“I want to treat your coworkers to dinner tonight,” he said.

“Why?” Wen Ruqing was confused.

“Etiquette. And…” Bai Xizhou leaned in, lips teasingly close, “…aren’t you going to give me a proper title, boyfriend?”

Bai Xizhou’s fingers kneaded the sore muscles in his neck.

Watching from a distance, Song Yang clenched the wall until the plaster crumbled beneath his fingers. He remembered how Ruqing used to flinch even when touched—but now, he leaned into another man with such ease.

That man wasn’t even better than him.