"Lele, come out and have some fun! My brother let me out!"
Bai Le found a moment to type back: "No time, no time. The old man sent some poker-faced guy to keep an eye on me. He practically follows me to the bathroom."
Wu Hua said, "That's awful. Want me to teach him a lesson, make him smarten up and stop sticking his nose where it doesn't belong?"
"It's fine. Oh, right, that online talent show is having its finals in a few days. Don't forget to vote for my company's trainees when the time comes."
Everyone in the group naturally chimed in, pledging to support their buddy.
Mu Bai had sent three trainees to compete on the show. Their images didn't overlap much, and each had a distinctive look and style.
Bai Le sent another message: "Actually, the one I have my eye on is Fang Rong. Have you guys seen him? He's talented and polite. Every time he sees me, he calls me President Bai. Out of the three of them, he was the only one who sent me a WeChat message to thank me."
Although he had turned down the rest of his fair-weather friends, he still had to do Wu Hua the courtesy. Tomorrow happened to be the weekend, and Ye Xiaosi had let him off for the time being, so he could take a break.
The two agreed to meet at the Hain Residence on Wutong Road. They climbed the spiral staircase to the café on the second floor.
Compared with the first floor, the second floor had noticeably fewer people. There were only a few scattered around, and it was very quiet.
Bai Le and Wu Hua walked in one after the other, intending to find a place to sit. Before they found one, Wu Hua noticed Bai Le suddenly stop beside him.
"What's wrong?"
Bai Le stared without speaking, his gaze fixed on a seat by the window. Xi Yan sat quietly in his wheelchair, his eyes lowered to the newspaper he was reading. That tall man was still standing behind him.
The rosy evening light fell across his profile, lending warmth to his already pale skin and gilding the contours of his striking features.
Should I go say hello?
As he was wrestling with the question, Xi Yan seemed to notice his gaze and suddenly turned to look in his direction.
Well, no need to agonize over it now.
Bai Le had no choice but to walk over, with a puzzled Wu Hua following behind him.
"Fourth Master, I didn't expect to run into you here."
Bai Le laughed and politely extended his hand.
Xi Yan looked up at him slightly. For some reason, he recalled the way Bai Le had smiled at him in Japan, and even the way he had looked when he was drunk. Both had been much easier on the eyes than he was now.
Seeing that Xi Yan only stared at him without taking his hand, Bai Le froze awkwardly. Still, he lowered his hand as naturally as he could. No longer inclined to keep fawning over someone who gave him the cold shoulder, he turned to leave.
"Wait."
Hearing Xi Yan call him back, Bai Le turned around suspiciously.
He saw Xi Yan slowly set down the newspaper and lift his chin, motioning for him to sit.
Bai Le and Wu Hua exchanged looks, neither able to figure out what he was up to. But after hesitating for a while, they both sat down.
"It's so hot." Afraid the atmosphere would turn awkward, Wu Hua hurriedly made conversation. The heat indoors was on full blast, and he was dressed warmly, so he was already sweating.
He took off his coat and turned to see Bai Le staring at him. "Do you want to take yours off too?"
Bai Le hurriedly shook his head and waved a hand in disdain.
When the server came, he ordered an Americano and a slice of sour cream lemon cake.
Wu Hua kindly warned him, "This cake is a little more sour than the other desserts. Are you sure you can handle it?"
Bai Le curled his lip dismissively. "What's the big deal?"
Xi Yan lowered his head and sipped his coffee, his half-lowered lashes casting faint shadows.
"Fourth Master, did you ask us to sit down because you wanted something?" In the end, Wu Hua couldn't help asking. Bai Le looked at Xi Yan curiously as well.
Xi Yan idly toyed with the handle of his cup. "Can't we sit together if there's nothing I want?"
Wu Hua grinned with a roguish air. "Hehe, sure, of course we can."
Xi Yan's eyes shifted to Bai Le. "I've received the money you transferred earlier."
Bai Le was taken aback. It took him quite a while to remember the car accident. He thought the topic came out of nowhere, as though Xi Yan were searching for something to say.
So he joked with a chuckle, "Why didn't you give me a discount? You could've given me a friends' rate. We know each other pretty well by now, after all."
Xi Yan smiled noncommittally, without mentioning that he had already transferred the full amount back to Bai Le's card.
The coffee and dessert arrived. Bai Le took a sip of coffee and found it a little bitter, so he hurriedly tried a bite of cake. Before the bitterness had faded, a sour taste spread through his mouth, making his face pucker up.
"By the way, what exactly were you busy with the other day? You were nowhere to be seen," Wu Hua said.
Just mentioning it made him angry. He slammed his left hand on the table and said indistinctly through a mouthful of cake, "Someone arranged for a person from my company to end up on the trending searches. Damn it. Who the hell is screwing with me behind my back? If I find out, I'll make him pay."
Across from him, Xi Yan suddenly paused while spreading out his newspaper. He shifted his gaze from the paper to Bai Le's face, his expression very strange.
"What's wrong?"
Noticing Xi Yan staring at him, Bai Le spoke suspiciously.
Xi Yan calmly looked away and raised his coffee for a sip. His tone was complicated and a little unnatural. "Nothing."
Watching from the side, Wu Hua found it a little funny and pinched Bai Le's cheek, which was puffed out with food. "Swallow what's in your mouth before you talk."
Bai Le's mouth was pinched into a comical shape. He could only glare at Wu Hua and mumble, "Let go of me."
Wu Hua burst out laughing and raised both hands to show he hadn't done anything.
Xi Yan watched the scene, his eyes dark. No one could guess what he was thinking.
The weather was getting colder and colder. Although the heat was on indoors, Bai Le still pulled his coat tighter around himself, considering how to bring up leaving.
"It's snowing."
Hearing Wu Hua speak, Bai Le looked out the window and saw small snowflakes drifting down. They melted as soon as they touched the ground, though.