TBS Chapter 32

In a strange place, the presence of one familiar person made Xu Miao feel much more at ease. He smiled at Liang Dong:
“It really has been a while—more than a month, right?”

Liang Dong nodded, his tone slightly teasing:
“You remember so clearly. Looks like you’ve been missing my cooking. Well, that’s only natural—takeout is no match for my skills.”

By the end, his words carried a trace of self-mockery. After all, no one is born a great cook; he had only gone to classes and refined his skills for one reason—because he wanted to please Xu Miao.

Even if Xu Miao had never given him that chance.

Before Liang Dong had even fully realized his own feelings, Xu Miao was already dating someone else. One after another, with almost no breaks in between.

Liang Dong never knew when one relationship ended and another began. The only clues came when he overheard voice messages accidentally played on speaker—different voices each time, signaling that Xu Miao had yet again changed partners.

Over time, Liang Dong realized no one ever lasted long with Xu Miao. Lovers came and went in cycles. But Xu Miao’s friends were constant—as long as they didn’t walk away, their place was secure.

So Liang Dong carefully positioned himself: close, but never crossing the line beyond friendship. Still, it was a precarious balance, easy to tip over.

Often, after hearing Xu Miao on long calls, Liang Dong couldn’t help but ask if that was Xu Miao’s girlfriend. Xu Miao would always deny it—“No, just a friend.”

But no one talks to a friend in that tone. Xu Miao never spoke to him that way.

Liang Dong had guessed at the reasons for these denials: maybe Xu Miao didn’t want others to know he was dating men, or maybe he just wanted to shut down prying questions.

So Liang Dong clung to those habitual denials, asking again and again, knowing the answer but using it as consolation.

Things had seemed to be working out for him. He’d become Xu Miao’s closest friend. They lived together, went to work in the mornings, shared meals at the same table, split house chores.

He had everything—except a title, and except a relationship that went beyond friendship. As long as Xu Miao’s lovers didn’t show up in front of him, Liang Dong told himself, it was enough.

But thoughts are the most useless thing of all.

Xie Ge had appeared—without warning, with overwhelming force—and taken everything away.

It was too easy to tell the difference between a fling and something serious. Xie Ge gave Liang Dong a sense of crisis he had never felt before. He had tried to drive Xie Ge away, but every attempt failed.

So he comforted himself: it wouldn’t last. Soon enough, Xie Ge would be like all the others—just another ex.

But then, Xu Miao married him.

Dating and marriage were worlds apart. Liang Dong knew this meant permanence. Still, he couldn’t stop himself from asking:
“You and Xie Ge… why get married so quickly?”

Xu Miao was about to answer, but Xie Ge cut in first, bold as ever:
“Because he loves me too much. He had no choice.”

Xu Miao smiled, playing along:
“Exactly. If I didn’t hurry, I’d risk him running away.”

Seeing Liang Dong’s expression falter, Xu Miao added lightly:
“What’s wrong? Worried I’ll bully your cousin? Relax—even for your sake, I’ll treat him well.”

Who wants that kind of favor? Liang Dong thought bitterly. I don’t.

But Xie Ge was thrilled, grinning ear to ear at Xu Miao’s casual promise. He turned to Liang Dong, smug as a child flaunting a prize:
“Thanks, cousin. He said he’ll be good to me—so now you don’t need to worry!”

It was the perfect sting: infuriating Liang Dong, while Xu Miao remained oblivious. Xie Ge was in such a good mood he could hardly contain himself. He tugged at Xu Miao’s hand:
“My parents won’t be home for a while. Want to see the flowers I planted? On the rooftop—it’s gorgeous.”

Twenty minutes later, Xu Miao returned to the living room holding a small bunch of flowers. Liang Dong was gone.

Xie Ge asked Aunt Zhao, who was setting the table:
“Auntie, where’s Liang Dong?”

“Oh, Xiao Liang? He left a little while ago. I asked him to stay for dinner, but he wouldn’t—said he had urgent work, just stopped by to pick something up.”

She sighed, like a mother scolding her own children:
“You young people, never taking care of your health. Work will always be there. Isn’t that right?”

Her eyes landed on Xu Miao. Caught off guard, he gave a guilty little laugh:
“Right, right. Nothing’s more important than health.”

Aunt Zhao thought again, then added:
“And even more important than work is family. Spending time with your partner—that’s what really matters, don’t you think?”

Xu Miao felt something strange about the way she said it, but nodded anyway. He didn’t know that long before this, Xie Ge had already described him to the family as a total workaholic.

Soon after, Xie Ge’s parents arrived home. Xie Min was still away on a study trip, due back the following week.

His parents were the gentle, smiling type—not strict, not probing. Whatever nervousness Xu Miao had left quickly melted away.

At dinner, none of the questions he had dreaded came up. No age, no job, no family background, no grilling about why he was with Xie Ge or what their future plans were.

They only asked if he liked the food, if Xie Ge was treating him well, and if Xu Miao would be willing to keep accepting Xie Ge’s affection—as long as it didn’t go against his own heart.

And if Xie Ge made small mistakes, they hoped Xu Miao could be forgiving.

The meal went smoothly, pleasantly. By Sunday evening, Xu Miao and Xie Ge returned to their own place.

Keeping his promise, before starting his new job, Xu Miao gave almost all his time to Xie Ge.

Another month passed. Soon, it was Xie Ge’s birthday. Feeling like the most important person in the household, he issued his decree:
“When I get home from class this afternoon, I want to see the birthday surprise Xu Miao prepared for me!”

By evening, the decorations were finally complete. Xu Miao flexed his wrist and patted his pockets, realizing he was missing something. He asked Xie Min, who was helping, to call Xie Ge.

But before Xie Min could dial, an incoming call appeared. He answered.

He went silent, phone pressed to his ear. Xu Miao noticed and called his name.

“Xu Miao-ge.” Xie Min’s face had gone deathly pale, his hands shaking so badly he could barely hold the phone, his breath quick and panicked.

Seeing him like that made Xu Miao’s chest tighten with unease.
“What is it?”

“My brother—he… he was in a car accident.” Xie Min stammered. “The police said some drunk driver was swerving all over the road. My brother was there—he must’ve been about to drive home. What do we do? What do we do about my brother?”

TLN: The free chapters are finished!! From chapter 33 are paid, so Please support the author by buying the chapters if you can.