The fact that the two had broken up was only discovered by those around them after some time.

It wasn't Pei Ran who spread the news; Pei Ran had never liked discussing his romantic problems with others. And it certainly wasn't Luo Qingshan. In his eyes, this was just a bump in the road of their relationship, not an insurmountable one.

This day, Pei Ran ran into Lin Kang on a small path at school.

"Luo Qingshan hasn't been bringing you to gatherings lately. That's a clear sign something's wrong, we all noticed it a while ago," Lin Kang said. "Last night, someone made a comment, just as a joke, but Luo Qingshan immediately got pissed off. If we hadn't held him back, they probably would have started fighting."

Pei Ran didn't know what expression to make and replied stiffly, "Is that so..."

Lin Kang looked at him curiously, "But why did you two break up?"

Pei Ran threw out the excuse he had prepared long ago, "We weren't compatible."

"You were together for three years, and now you're saying you're not compatible?" Lin Kang laughed. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask. By the way, how are you getting home this afternoon? Want to take the bus together?"

Starting tomorrow, the school would have a seven-day break. Lin Kang and Pei Ran lived close to each other, so they could get off at the same stop if they took the bus.

"My family is picking me up," Pei Ran said. "Want me to give you a ride? It's on the way."

Lin Kang couldn't ask for more. The bus ride was too bumpy, and he felt like throwing up every time. "What time are we leaving? I'll definitely be out on time... I'll just skip class to get out. I think my class ends ten minutes after yours."

"Just the normal time when school lets out. It's fine, take your time, I'll wait for you."

Lin Kang said his thanks. Feeling his phone buzz in his pocket, he subconsciously took it out to look. The discussion group was arguing, and they kept @'ing him.

"This bunch of crazies. They're not going home for the holiday, and they're still planning a get-together," Lin Kang mumbled. "So idle all day. Su Nian even suggested going on a trip. It's only seven days, what the hell can you even do... Are you going?"

Pei Ran looked at him, puzzled, "Go where?"

"On a trip. Didn't you see them talking about it in the group chat?"

Pei Ran said, "I'm not in the group chat."

Lin Kang froze for a moment, then subconsciously opened the group member list to confirm.

Pei Ran was indeed not in the group chat.

This small group was created by Su Nian last week. Su Nian always liked to organize this kind of thing. There were over thirty people in the group, and at the time, Lin Kang didn't know the two had broken up, so he had subconsciously included Pei Ran in the headcount.

He and Pei Ran were in many groups together. Pei Ran rarely spoke, usually only popping up when he was @'ed, so Lin Kang hadn't found it strange not seeing him these past few days.

"I thought you were in it... well, Su Nian said they're planning to go to Dali," Lin Kang said awkwardly.

'This Su Nian is so inconsiderate. Pei Ran has been hanging out with everyone for so long, how could he be left out of a group like this?'

Given the current situation, it wasn't appropriate for Lin Kang to invite him into the group, especially since Luo Qingshan was usually quite active in it.

"It's fine." Pei Ran smiled.

Lin Kang quickly tried to find a new topic to move on. Before he could think of what to say, they ran into another acquaintance.

Yan Zhun was wearing a simple black T-shirt, holding a basketball against his hip with his wrist. His fingers hung lazily in the air as he walked and chatted with the person next to him.

Lin Kang quickly called out to him, "Yan Zhun!"

Yan Zhun glanced over coolly. His chest was rising and falling slightly, and sweat was trickling down his chin.

Lin Kang was just trying to break the awkwardness. He let out a couple of laughs and asked a pointless question, "Just finished playing basketball?"

Yan Zhun didn't respond, turning back to continue talking to the person beside him. This made Lin Kang feel even more fucking awkward.

He gave a dry laugh and was about to curse at Yan Zhun when he saw Yan Zhun nod to his friend, then turn around and walk toward them.

"You," Yan Zhun paused, "what are you guys doing here?"

"Just got out of class," Lin Kang said. "You think I came here for a stroll?"

Yan Zhun looked at Pei Ran. Lin Kang was taken aback for a second, then followed his gaze.

Pei Ran's tone was normal. "I came to help a teacher move some art supplies."

Lin Kang breathed a sigh of relief. At least that awful topic was over. "Yan Zhun, did you see the discussion group? They're planning a trip to Dali, are you going?"

Yan Zhun: "Haven't opened the group. Not going."

Lin Kang nodded; he had already guessed as much. "Why are you standing so far away?"

Yan Zhun: "Just finished playing ball. I stink."

Lin Kang laughed, "So particular?"

Pei Ran wasn't really listening to their conversation. He lowered his eyes and happened to see Yan Zhun's hand.

Yan Zhun's fingers were long and slender, his nails neatly trimmed. There were smudges of dirt on his skin from playing ball. He recalled how, when Yan Zhun held a mouse, the protruding knuckles on the back of his hand were very beautiful.

"Are you coming tonight?"

Pei Ran stared without blinking, thinking to himself that Yan Zhun could even be a hand model.

Then he saw Yan Zhun bend his index finger and tap lightly on the basketball twice.

"Are you coming tonight?" Yan Zhun said. "Pei Ran."

Hearing his name, Pei Ran looked up in a daze. It took him a while to realize what Yan Zhun meant.

Yan Zhun was asking him if he could start "work" tonight.

Remembering that Yan Zhun had said he felt uncomfortable being in debt, Pei Ran didn't hesitate much. "Okay."

Yan Zhun nodded, the strands of hair on his forehead, matted together with sweat, jiggled slightly. "I'll wait for you then."

After Yan Zhun left with his friend, Lin Kang stared at his back for a few seconds, then turned to look at the person beside him.

?

"Are you coming tonight?"

Isn't that what he often says to his girlfriend?

Lin Kang mentally slapped himself. 'What on earth am I thinking in broad daylight...'

"I couldn't tell," Lin Kang reined in his wild thoughts, "that you and Yan Zhun are so close."

Pei Ran said, "We're not particularly close."

"Not close? He'd ask you to wait for him at night?" Lin Kang chuckled. "But what are you two up to?"

"Playing games."

"..." Lin Kang was speechless. "Alright then. But being able to play games with him must be pretty awesome. I know something, but don't tell anyone, okay? He was invited by the TZG Team for a lot of money back in high school. That team has been dominating the domestic championships for the past few years and even won the national championship last year, but he didn't go."

"So you see, Luo Qingshan lived with him for so long and only managed to play a game with him once with great difficulty, haha."

Pei Ran was a bit surprised. "Is he that good?"

'Then... did I pay him too little?'

He had looked into it later. Twenty yuan an hour—even rookie mid-to-high-rank game companions charged more than that.

Pei Ran suddenly felt like he had taken advantage of him.

"Just kidding, just kidding. He is very good, but it's not that exaggerated." Lin Kang patted his shoulder and laughed, "It could also be that he just finds Luo Qingshan noisy and doesn't like playing with him."

In the afternoon, Lin Kang ended up leaving class early after all, standing with Pei Ran at the school gate to wait for their ride.

A two-toned Maybach pulled to a stop in front of them, and Lin Kang's eyes widened.

He turned his head and gestured with his fingers, muttering under his breath, "Holy shit, holy shit, this car is insane, it's gotta be at least this much!"

The driver's door opened, and a middle-aged man in a white shirt and black trousers got out. "Little Ran, am I late? Where's your luggage? I'll put it in the trunk for you."

Pei Ran said, "No need, it's only a few days off, I didn't bring much luggage."

Lin Kang: "..."

Lin Kang's expression was complicated, no longer awkward. "No wonder my dad beat me up when I said I wanted to study art. I didn't have this kind of backing."

Hearing this, Pei Ran laughed, "It's not that exaggerated."

Just as Lin Kang was about to get in the car, his clothes were suddenly yanked hard, nearly causing him to fall to the ground.