Qian Xiaoke had, of course, met Shen Huiming before—he just couldn’t put the name to the face.
Not only had he met him, he had even danced with him!
Back at Zhou Mo’s birthday party, a tipsy and cheerful Qian Xiaoke had started dancing with Shen Huiming. Midway through, he noticed his dance partner’s eyes were glued to someone else. The sweet and kind-hearted Qian Xiaoke naturally wanted to help out, so when the song switched and partners swapped, he took the initiative to swap places with that person.
That’s when his new dance partner became Jiang Tongyan.
At the time, Qian Xiaoke didn’t know these people’s names. Later, after drinking more and getting dizzier, all those mix-ups happened.
But he had never known about Jiang Tongyan’s ‘curse’ with Shen Huiming. When he had called out the wrong name during their first time, causing trouble, he thought it made sense—anyone would go soft hearing their partner call someone else’s name in bed.
Jiang Tongyan, naturally, had no intention of telling Qian Xiaoke about his ‘grudge’ with Shen Huiming. Spill that just to let this kid mock him? No way.
Still, lately, Jiang Tongyan, swept up in ‘love’, had almost forgotten Shen Huiming. He even had this feeling that once he fixed his embarrassing issue, he could confidently sweep Qian Xiaoke off his feet.
That is, until Qian Xiaoke suddenly said, ‘I know who Shen Huiming is now.’ Standing by the roadside, Jiang Tongyan felt like he’d been smashed into the underworld with a hammer, chills giving him goosebumps.
Clearly, to Jiang Tongyan, that sentence from Qian Xiaoke was scarier than a ghost story.
A love rival at the door—Jiang Tongyan had no patience to dawdle with WeChat texts. He called via WeChat voice—too scared to call directly, lest Qian Xiaoke reject it.
But Qian Xiaoke rejected the WeChat voice call too.
Qian Xiaoke texted: What’s up? I’m at work!
It was past 8 p.m. for Jiang Tongyan, with a twelve-hour time difference from Qian Xiaoke.
Jiang Tongyan sent a voice message: “Don’t give me that! You start at 8:30—you’ve still got twenty minutes!”
Qian Xiaoke said: Special circumstances today. Chairman Cheng has a big morning meeting at the company. As one of the most important employees, I’m in place by 8!
Yeah, the company receptionist—pretty crucial.
Jiang Tongyan rolled his eyes.
It seemed like Shen Huiming was there for the meeting, probably about a collaboration project.
Jiang Tongyan felt like he had chomped ten lemons and was sour from head to toe.
He told Qian Xiaoke: “Behave yourself. That Shen Huiming has a boyfriend—don’t go crushing on him!”
Qian Xiaoke felt so wronged. How could Jiang Tongyan make him sound like some lovestruck fool?
Okay, he admitted he kinda was—who didn’t like hot guys? If Jiang Tongyan weren’t good-looking, he wouldn’t have bothered with him either!
Qian Xiaoke pouted and didn’t reply.
After waiting ages for a response and getting none, an anxious Jiang Tongyan spammed ten pig-head emojis.
Qian Xiaoke muted his phone, shoved it in the front desk drawer, and got busy with work.
He was working—who had time to flirt with some guy across the globe?
Qian Xiaoke was diligently on duty here, while Jiang Tongyan was restless over there.
Now, Jiang Tongyan finally got what ‘a kite with a snapped string’ meant. Right now, Qian Xiaoke was that kite, and who knew whose arms that free spirit was flying toward?
Jiang Tongyan was gloomy.
By the time Qian Xiaoke finished and checked his phone, the gloomy Jiang Tongyan was sitting by his window, nearly grinding his teeth to dust.
He felt so wronged.
He felt the heavens ought to pour down a heavy rain just for him.
Just as Jiang Tongyan was indulging in his melancholy, he suddenly heard his phone vibrate. He looked down—ah, Qian Xiaoke!
He was no longer melancholy and sprang back to life instantly.
Jiang Tongyan felt pathetic—he couldn’t let Qian Xiaoke know he was like this.
He had to be a CEO, the kind who walked with swagger.
Qian Xiaoke replied: What do you take me for?
What do I take you for?
A scammer!
Jiang Tongyan grumbled inwardly: You’re a little con who scams bodies and hearts!
Jiang Tongyan asked Qian Xiaoke: What’re you up to now?
Qian Xiaoke: Nothing for me to do—going to the bathroom.
Bathroom?
Perfect.
Jiang Tongyan called via voice.
Qian Xiaoke didn’t want to pick up, but since he was free, fine, he’d take it.
He put on earbuds and answered Jiang Tongyan’s WeChat voice call.
Qian Xiaoke said, “I’m working—don’t disturb me!”
“What did you do today?” Jiang Tongyan asked, feeling sourness ooze out. Good thing phones couldn’t transmit smells, or he would be busted.
“Busy—so busy,” Qian Xiaoke said. “Haven’t stopped since I got here. I’m so hardworking—I’m awesome.”
Jiang Tongyan couldn’t hold back a laugh.
“Why’re you laughing at me?”
“Not laughing at you—it’s a compliment,” Jiang Tongyan said. “So, uh, you saw Shen Huiming?”
He couldn’t let it go!
“Yeah, so hot,” Qian Xiaoke said. “Tall and handsome.”
“He’s one centimeter shorter than me.”
Qian Xiaoke was stunned for a moment, then laughed like a goose.
“…What’s so funny?”
“Your tone’s so sour—jealous much?”
Jiang Tongyan rolled his eyes sky-high, “Jealous of him? I’m better than him in every way—what’s there to be jealous of? Qian Xiaoke, are you blind?”
Qian Xiaoke honked like a goose, laughing so hard he nearly forgot to pee.
“What’re you laughing at? Hold it in!”
“You control the sky, the earth, and now my laughter too?” Qian Xiaoke said. “I’m happy—can’t I laugh?”
“Now you’re talking back?”
“It’s not talking back—it’s facts,” Qian Xiaoke said, full of logic. “You can’t control me.”
Jiang Tongyan was mad and flustered—he realised Qian Xiaoke was right; he couldn’t control him.
“Qian Xiaoke, you’re such a disappointment.”
“How?” Qian Xiaoke said. “Jiang Tongyan, cover your ears.”
“What’re you up to now?”
Qian Xiaoke dragged out an ‘mm’, then said shyly, “I’m gonna pee—you listening makes me embarrassed.”
Now Jiang Tongyan laughed, mimicking Qian Xiaoke’s goose honk, sounding like a dumb one himself.
“Cover them quick!” Qian Xiaoke snapped, half-angry, half-coy—it sounded adorable to Jiang Tongyan.
Jiang Tongyan couldn’t fathom how he’d fallen for this guy.
What was going on?
Had Qian Xiaoke hit him with some western region sorcery, hexed him or something?
Jiang Tongyan still couldn’t figure out why he liked Qian Xiaoke, but he’d stumbled into it anyway.
He liked him, but too shy to say it.
He was too prideful.
As the saying goes, pride means suffering—too embarrassed to let him know, so he just sulked alone.
“Qian Xiaoke, I’m seriously doubting your IQ,” Jiang Tongyan said. “If you don’t want me to hear, just cover the mic.”
Qian Xiaoke slapped his thigh, “Oh, right!”
Then he hung up the voice call.
Jiang Tongyan, fuming, flopped onto the floor, staring at his chandelier, questioning life.
Truth be told, Qian Xiaoke didn’t completely brush Jiang Tongyan off. After hanging up, he sent a cute emoji to play sweet.
Jiang Tongyan got it—he was too soft. No matter what Qian Xiaoke did, one little coy act, and he would forgive him instantly.
He was too nice, Jiang Tongyan thought. I’m this great, and Qian Xiaoke doesn’t appreciate it—truly blind.
It was the last workday before the National Day holiday. After cheering Jiang Tongyan up, Qian Xiaoke returned to his post, working hard.
Cheng Sen finished up and came out to see the guests off. Once they were gone, he smiled and asked Qian Xiaoke, “Any plans for the holiday?”
“Going home!” Qian Xiaoke hadn’t been back in ages. He used to rush home every break, but the past couple of years, his parents got a wild itch, retired early, sold their city place, and bought a little courtyard in the countryside.
His folks were living it up—raising chickens, ducks, geese, tending flowers and plants, too busy to miss Qian Xiaoke out on his own.
Qian Xiaoke had sulked, testing how long it’d take them to remember their son. Turns out, they never did.
In the end, he caved first—time to go home.
“Oh… I thought you’d go to New York.”
“Huh?” Qian Xiaoke tilted his head at Cheng Sen. “New York? Chairman Cheng sending me on a business trip?”
That line felt oddly familiar, like he’d asked it before.
Cheng Sen laughed, waving it off, “Nothing, forget I said it.”
Come quitting time, Qian Xiaoke clocked out and bolted—he had bought an evening ticket to head home tonight.
Back at his place, Qian Xiaoke tidied up, grabbed his suitcase, and was about to leave. At the door, he glanced at the clothes hanging on the balcony, stared for a moment, then snapped a photo with his phone.
It was that outfit Jiang Tongyan had left behind—they had eaten stinky tofu at home. Jiang Tongyan complained of the smell and ditched it there.
Qian Xiaoke, ever diligent, washed it for him.
The new place’s washing machine was great. After disinfection, the first batch of clothes he washed was Jiang Tongyan’s clothes.
Qian Xiaoke proudly sent the pic to Jiang Tongyan, fishing for praise.
Jiang Tongyan saw it the next morning when he woke up. He wanted to complain—those clothes weren’t machine-washable!
But he held back and dutifully praised Qian Xiaoke: You’re one diligent little bastard!
Qian Xiaoke got the ‘praise’ after arriving home, squatting in his courtyard, picking tonight’s meal.
Fat chicken or fat duck?
That was the question.
Qian Xiaoke snapped pics of his courtyard’s chickens, ducks, and geese, sending them to Jiang Tongyan: Pick one—I’m gonna kill it for meat!
Jiang Tongyan: …None of that meat looks tastier than you. Stew yourself!
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