Zhuang Yihan didn't mind his little lover throwing a tantrum. After all, everyone has emotions and desires. But there should be a reason for a tantrum; otherwise, how was it different from being unreasonable? He carefully reviewed his time with Chen Shu recently and found that there was no conflict between them. On the contrary, it had been quite pleasant.

'Could it be that there was something he hadn't noticed?'

Just as Zhuang Yihan's expression was wavering, Chen Shu suddenly laughed on the other end of the line. His tone was deep and nonchalant, the final intonation as alluring as a hook. "Just teasing you. Where are we eating? Send me the time and address."

"..."

Zhuang Yihan's expression was unsightly as he slowly exhaled. "Six in the evening, No. 17, Binhe Avenue."

He hung up as soon as he finished speaking, tossed his phone onto the desk, and raised a hand to tug at his tie. Chen Shu's hot and cold attitude had clearly messed with his mood.

At six in the evening, the sky was already growing dark. The neon lights on both sides of the road lit up in succession, adorning the commercial street with prosperity and liveliness.

Zhuang Yihan parked his car on the roadside and raised his hand to check the time, realizing he was already about ten minutes late. He frowned slightly and was about to call Chen Shu to ask when he would arrive when the car window beside him was suddenly tapped twice.

"Sorry, the evening rush hour traffic was a bit heavy. I'm late."

Chen Shu stood outside the car door, bent over slightly. His upturned, fox-like eyes held a smile, showing no trace of the gloomy expression he wore at the coffee shop that afternoon. But while he had composed himself, Zhuang Yihan had yet to recover, a stifling, indescribable feeling still lingering in his heart.

"Let's go upstairs since you're here."

Zhuang Yihan glanced at him, then opened the car door and got out, walking straight into the restaurant. Chen Shu didn't mind and followed unhurriedly.

Fang Yiting had been the one to arrange this dinner. Ever since running into Zhuang Yihan at Xiangming Pavilion last time, he had suddenly realized that the other man was still holding a grudge over what had happened. Whether it was for their many years of friendship or for their business partnership, he felt he should do something, for both personal and professional reasons. In the end, he arranged this dinner, intending to apologize in private.

Fang Yiting sat at the table and slowly let out a breath. He thought to himself that Jiang Xi was clearly the one who had handled things improperly, yet he was the one stuck in the middle.

Back then, Jiang Xi had repeatedly warned their friends in the circle not to reveal his engagement to Zhuang Yihan, fearing that he would try to stop it. If he had rashly gone and tipped Zhuang Yihan off, wouldn't he have offended the Jiang Family? Besides, Jiang Xi wasn't a good match anyway. It was better that he got married; maybe Zhuang Yihan could finally give up.

Holding onto this "good for you, good for me, good for everyone" mentality, Fang Yiting hesitated several times before ultimately choosing to keep the news to himself. But he never expected to have offended Zhuang Yihan so deeply. Jiang Xi, on the other hand, had simply washed his hands of the matter, leaving him to be blamed by both sides.

Fang Yiting was mentally rehearsing what he would say when he saw Zhuang Yihan, but to his surprise, when the private room door was pushed open from the outside, it wasn't just Zhuang Yihan who walked in. He was followed by a handsome stranger.

"I thought it would be a bit too quiet with just the two of us, so I brought a friend along."

Zhuang Yihan acted as if he didn't see Fang Yiting's stunned expression, casually pulling out a chair and sitting down opposite him. Having navigated the business world for years, how could he not see Fang Yiting's intention for this dinner? There was no need for extra words. Simply by bringing Chen Shu along, he had blocked the words the other man had yet to say. After all, no matter what, Fang Yiting would not apologize in front of a third person.

"That's fine, the more the merrier."

Anyone who could make it in their circle was sharp. When Fang Yiting saw that Zhuang Yihan had brought over a handsome guy who looked like a young lover, he was stunned for a moment. But he quickly recovered and took the initiative to greet Chen Shu with a smile, speaking in a witty manner:

"I remember you. You're the handsome guy who was having dinner with Yihan at Xiangming Pavilion last time. He's too stingy, though, didn't even introduce you to me. My surname is Fang, Fang Yiting. You can just call me Yiting like everyone else."

Chen Shu smiled faintly and nodded. "You're too kind, Young Master Fang. You can just call me Chen Shu."

His experience of clawing his way up the business world in his past life had taught Chen Shu one thing: never mistake someone's pleasantries for genuine closeness. This was especially true in this circle of fame and fortune where class distinctions were clear. Fang Yiting might have said that, but if you were really clueless enough to call him "Yiting," it would mean you didn't know your place.

Fang Yiting gave Chen Shu a deep look, thinking to himself that Zhuang Yihan's taste in people was finally reliable for once. It was one thing for this man to be handsome, but what was rarer was that he knew his place and was tactful. If everyone were like Jiang Xi, not even God himself could stand it.

"What's all this 'Young Master Fang' business? I'm not that much older than you. If you don't want to use my name, you can call me 'brother.' Come, sit, sit. Let's hurry and order. You must all be hungry."

Fang Yiting came from a family of artists; both his parents' work was related to painting. Such a family had a reputation, but it was slightly lacking in wealth and status, leaving it in a somewhat awkward middle position. However, the fact that he could be on good terms with both Zhuang Yihan and Jiang Xi naturally meant he had his own skills and strengths. His personality was meticulous and thoughtful. When ordering food, he could accommodate everyone's tastes. From this small detail, one could see the bigger picture; it wasn't hard to imagine why others liked to hang out with him.

'Hmm, a pity he was screwed over by Jiang Xi.'

Chen Shu thought with amusement. He discreetly glanced at Zhuang Yihan beside him and noticed that the other man had worn a cold expression and remained silent ever since walking in, looking as if someone owed him a few hundred million. It was most likely because he hadn't answered the phone that afternoon. Poor Fang Yiting thought Zhuang Yihan was still angry with him. He was able to speak enthusiastically at first, but later became somewhat restless.

"Yihan, there's an art exhibition at the Baolong Art Center tomorrow. If you have time, you could go take a look with Chen Shu. Works by both Demidovich and Master Meng Shan are included. It's quite a rare opportunity."

After speaking, Fang Yiting pulled two VIP tickets from his pocket, placed them on the table, and gently pushed them in Zhuang Yihan's direction. This was a subtle gesture of apology. Unfortunately, Zhuang Yihan just kept his head down and ate calmly, saying in an emotionless tone, "I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon, so I probably can't go."

Zhuang Yihan wasn't very interested in art exhibitions, but not to the extent that he would slight Fang Yiting on the spot. To put it bluntly, it was because he was still holding a grudge over what happened last time. He considered his years of friendship with Fang Yiting to be that of close friends, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration. But the person he liked was about to get engaged, and the other man clearly knew but hid it from him along with everyone else. Only Zhuang Yihan could understand how painful that felt.

He hated this feeling of being deceived and betrayed by those close to him. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he detested it.

Fang Yiting wanted to try persuading him again, but when he met Zhuang Yihan's faintly mocking gaze, the words on the tip of his tongue died. The two pale green tickets lay forlornly on the corner of the table, becoming something no one wanted to touch.

For a moment, an awkward silence fell over the private room.

The previously talkative Fang Yiting suddenly became uneasy. He would lower his head to pick at his food, then use a napkin to wipe his hands, appearing busy but haphazard. An embarrassed flush crept onto his fair cheeks.

Chen Shu took in the scene, thinking that there really was no such thing as pleasing both sides in this world. When Jiang Xi and Zhuang Yihan began to oppose each other, the people who usually followed them had to pick a side. The one who suffered the most was someone like Fang Yiting, whose family background was neither high nor low. He didn't want to offend either of them, nor could he afford to. His struggle to survive in the middle surprisingly reminded Chen Shu of his former self, which was a rare and interesting thought.

The meal was tasteless. Zhuang Yihan had even lost the mood to buy a painting. He raised his wrist to look at the time, ready to end the dinner, when he suddenly felt a tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he saw Chen Shu looking at him. "I've never been to an art exhibition before."

The low voice sounded like two people whispering to each other, carrying an intangible sense of intimacy.

Zhuang Yihan gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "And?"

'What does Chen Shu wanting to see an art exhibition have to do with him?'

Chen Shu took his hand under the table, brazenly intertwining their fingers. Zhuang Yihan struggled secretly but couldn't overcome Chen Shu's strength. In the end, he had to reluctantly give in, lowering his voice to scold with a frown, "Let go!"

In the rich light and shadow, the upward tilt of Chen Shu's eyes made him look just like a fox. He lightly tapped Zhuang Yihan's leg under the table and took the initiative to invite him, "Come with me to the art exhibition tomorrow, okay?"

Zhuang Yihan narrowed his eyes. "Are you bargaining with me?"

Chen Shu retorted, "Can't I?"

Zhuang Yihan sneered, "Do you think you can?"

Chen Shu: "I think I can. Because a man can't say he can't."

Zhuang Yihan: "..."

Chen Shu asked again in a serious tone, "President Zhuang, are you capable?"

Zhuang Yihan: "..."

At this moment, Fang Yiting finally came to his senses and subconsciously looked at them. "What's this about being capable or not?"

Zhuang Yihan's face darkened slightly, and he said nothing.

Chen Shu laughed and said, "Oh, it's nothing. I was asking President Zhuang if he wanted to go to the art exhibition with me tomorrow afternoon. After all, having meetings every day is no fun."

Hearing this, Fang Yiting subconsciously looked at Zhuang Yihan, only to see the cold-faced man slowly exhale. For some unknown reason, he did something that completely contradicted what he'd just said, slowly reaching out to take the tickets. "...Tomorrow is just a regular meeting. It should be over by the morning."

The implication was that he had agreed to go to the art exhibition.

There were too many people in this circle who fawned on the powerful and trampled on the weak. Chen Shu's status was particularly awkward. If Zhuang Yihan had slighted him in public, it would have inadvertently made people think Chen Shu wasn't important to him. Even if he managed to make a name for himself in the circle in the future, he would inevitably be looked down upon and despised.

Zhuang Yihan did not want to see that happen.

Chen Shu was his man, so naturally, he couldn't be slighted by others.

Zhuang Yihan slowly let out a breath and, after calming down, said to Fang Yiting, "It's getting late, we'll be heading back. As it happens, Xue Miao's birthday is coming up, so I'll go pick out a painting for him as a gift tomorrow."

This sentence was an olive branch. Fang Yiting visibly relaxed upon hearing it, and the smile on his face became a little more genuine. "Then drive safely on your way back. Let's get together again when we have time. Chen Shu, if you two see a painting you like, just let me know, and I'll help you get in touch."

Fang Yiting wasn't a fool. He could naturally tell that Chen Shu had intentionally helped him out of his predicament just now. He couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart, but in any case, he felt a bit more goodwill toward him.

Chen Shu didn't notice Fang Yiting's expression. He picked up the two pale green VIP tickets from the corner of the table, glanced at them, and then casually stuffed them into the pocket of Zhuang Yihan's suit jacket. This earned him a warning glare from the other man. "Behave."

'We still haven't settled the score from this afternoon.'

Chen Shu smiled, not the least bit afraid of Zhuang Yihan's sullen face. He directly reached out and put an arm around Zhuang Yihan's shoulders, making the other man lean most of his weight on him. Then, he nonchalantly said to Fang Yiting, "He's drunk. We'll be heading back now. Let's get together again when we have time."

Zhuang Yihan didn't expect Chen Shu's action and froze on the spot, even forgetting to struggle. 'Drunk? Drunk on what? He only had half a small glass of red wine. What kind of lightweight would get so drunk they'd need someone to support them?!'

However, Chen Shu was half a head taller than him, and with the disparity in their strength, Zhuang Yihan was unable to break free. He was actually half-supported, half-dragged out of the private room, leaving Fang Yiting standing there in a daze.

After leaving the restaurant, the car was conveniently parked by the road. Chen Shu casually opened the back door and shoved Zhuang Yihan inside. He was about to walk around to the front to drive when his wrist was suddenly grabbed. Caught off guard, he was pulled inside, and the car door slammed shut with a bang, cutting off all prying eyes from the outside.

With two adult men crammed into the dim back seat, it was inevitably narrow and cramped. One had to be on top of the other for there to be even a little room to move.

Zhuang Yihan gripped Chen Shu's collar. His expression was hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to discern his emotions. One could only feel the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. It was silent all around. After an unknown amount of time, he finally spoke slowly:

"Chen Shu, the world doesn't need so many kind-hearted people. Don't let what happened today happen again. Got it?"

He was referring to how Chen Shu had helped Fang Yiting out of his predicament.

Chen Shu knew, but he didn't care. He had long since discovered that the rules and regulations Zhuang Yihan spoke of were not so inviolable. It all depended on whether the other person was willing to make an exception for you. And in this life, he was determined to be the one to break those principles.

Chen Shu's lips curved slightly in the darkness. He looked up at him, the distance between them suddenly so close that their breaths mingled. "I'd love for it to not happen again, but unfortunately, my memory isn't very good."

Zhuang Yihan stared at him expressionlessly, his gaze deep. "What do you mean?"

Chen Shu tilted his head slightly, close to Zhuang Yihan's ear. His right hand landed on the other's supple, slender waist, and with a light flick of his fingertips, slipped under the hem of his shirt. He unhurriedly kneaded and roamed over the other's delicate skin, raising a brow faintly. His tone was bewitching, "Simple. Why don't we do something memorable together?"

Zhuang Yihan didn't expect his move and let out a low grunt, flusteredly trying to press down on the restless hand on his back. But this gave Chen Shu an opening. In an instant, their positions were reversed, and the other man had him pinned between the narrow leather seats.

Zhuang Yihan didn't know why he was so flustered. He subconsciously pushed against Chen Shu's shoulders, only to flinch from the heat of the man's young, sturdy body. In a hoarse voice, he said with a frown, "I told you, we're not sleeping together."

Chen Shu's lips curved slightly. He gently brushed the stray hairs from the other's eyes with his fingertips and hummed with a smile, "I know."

'The other man has always been so chaste, after all.'

'But if Zhuang Yihan is so "chaste," why keep a young lover? How pretentious.'

As this thought crossed Chen Shu's mind, a playful and wicked idea suddenly surfaced. He really wanted to know if Zhuang Yihan was truly so "unwavering" in this life. But looking at the reddened corners of the man's eyes beneath him, he didn't think this rule was all that firm.

Chen Shu casually lowered his gaze and rubbed his nose against the high bridge of Zhuang Yihan's. The simple action was enough to make one's heart flutter. With a half-smile, he asked:

"What about kissing?"

Kissing?

Zhuang Yihan froze at his words. When he came to his senses, he subconsciously wanted to refuse, but before he could say anything, his lips were suddenly covered by warmth. His pupils contracted in shock, and the only thing in his vision was the other man's face, suddenly magnified.

With a buzz!

Zhuang Yihan felt like a string in his mind had suddenly snapped.