Xie Jianyuan clicked his tongue, but instead of taking the drink Jiang Xiuyan offered him, he checked his phone, preparing to call a car to pick them up.
"But what did you mean when you said on the phone just now that you'd become neighbors with someone named Xu Chun?"
Xie Jianyuan frowned slightly and looked up. "Why do you ask?" he countered in a low voice. Why was Jiang Xiuyan so interested in Xu Chun?
Jiang Xiuyan took a sip of his drink to cover it up. "No reason. Just asking."
He paused, then continued, "You seem to have been busy with work lately, but you still need to take care of yourself. I remember you have stomach trouble, so make sure you eat on time."
Xie Jianyuan smiled, his tone much lighter. "Are you an old mother hen? You worry too much."
The two chatted for a while longer. Xie Jianyuan and Jiang Xiuyan had been classmates, so they had plenty to talk about. With Jiang Xiuyan making an effort to steer the conversation, there was never an awkward silence.
By then, a different group had taken the stage: an underground rock band. The lead singer knew how to get the crowd going, and the patrons were already fired up, standing and clapping along to the beat.
"Xu Jin! Xu Jin!"
Apparently, Xu Jin was a regular performer at the bar. Many of the regulars knew Xu Jin or had heard of Xu Jin's reputation.
Hearing the shouts, Jiang Xiuyan turned to Xie Jianyuan with a smile and teased, "Isn't Xu Jin more popular than you celebrities?"
Xie Jianyuan curled his lips, unconcerned.
The song ended, and the moment the final drumbeat cut off, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause.
Seeing that the performance was over, Xie Jianyuan stood up and said to Jiang Xiuyan, "I'm going to the restroom."
After asking a waiter, Xie Jianyuan followed the directions down a corridor. Just as he was about to turn, he heard an argument coming from around the corner and involuntarily slowed his steps.
"Brother, let go of me. I don't want to go back."
The speaker sounded like a young man, his voice full of impatience.
"Xiao Jin, come home. Mom and Dad are both really worried about you."
At the familiar voice, Xie Jianyuan froze for a moment. He took a few steps forward and looked toward its source. When he saw that it was indeed that person, he couldn't help curling his lips, then leaned against the wall.
He hadn't expected to run into Xu Chun here. It looked like Xu Chun was dealing with a private matter, too.
A younger brother? They don't look or act alike at all.
An intrigued expression appeared on Xie Jianyuan's face. In an excellent mood, he took out a cigarette, tilted his head to hold it between his lips, lit it, and narrowed his eyes as he took a drag.
It seemed he was determined to hear the whole thing.
"Brother, none of you understand me at all."
Xu Jin shook off Xu Chun's hand a little roughly and turned away. "You should go back. Leave me alone."
Xu Chun looked helplessly at the younger brother standing before him, five years his junior.
He had been adopted by his adoptive parents when he was two. They treated Xu Chun extremely well, and three years later, they had a boy of their own and named him Xu Jin. Even after having a biological child, they never neglected Xu Chun. On the contrary, worried that Xu Chun might feel insecure, they treated him even better than before.
Xu Chun was also very fond of his younger brother, and the two had been close as children. But after Xu Jin started high school, he entered a belated rebellious phase. He began fighting and skipping classes, spent all day hanging around with shady people, and had even stopped coming home. Xu Chun's adoptive parents had worried themselves sick over him.
This time, they had called Xu Chun out of the blue because they truly had no other choice, asking him to persuade Xu Jin to come home. Now, Xu Jin would only listen to Xu Chun, at least a little.
"Listen to your brother." Xu Chun patted him on the shoulder and said gently, "You haven't been home in months. I know you like singing, but you can't spend all your time here."
Xu Jin ignored what he said and turned away. "Brother, you should go. It would be bad if someone recognized you in a place like this. It's not worth it for a disappointing little brother like me."
Xu Chun's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"
Xu Jin turned his head to look at him. "Mom and Dad already have you as a son they can be proud of. Just like Dad said, I'm good for nothing. This band is all I have now."
Xu Chun stood there in a daze. By the time he came back to his senses, Xu Jin was already far away.
He shook his head, somewhat dejected. A lonely expression appeared on his usually gentle, composed face, a rare sight.
Hearing Xu Chun's younger brother leave, Xie Jianyuan's lips curved slightly. He stubbed out his cigarette with one hand, then slipped both hands into his pockets and walked out as if nothing had happened.
"Senior, what are you doing here?" Xie Jianyuan raised his brows in apparent surprise, as though he hadn't expected Xu Chun to be here and had simply run into him by chance.
At the sound of his voice, Xu Chun stiffened, disbelief spreading across his face.
Xie Jianyuan?!
How did I run into him? I came to the bar to find someone, but what is he doing here? I've never heard anyone in the industry say he likes going to bars.
Most importantly, had he heard the conversation just now? Xu Chun didn't think the two of them were close enough for Xie Jianyuan to know about such private family matters.
But he quickly composed himself and turned to look at the newcomer, a gentle, perfect smile on his face.
"What a coincidence. I didn't expect to see you here."
Xie Jianyuan's gaze darkened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Senior, what are you standing here for? Did something happen?"
Xu Chun breathed a sigh of relief. Apparently, Xie Jianyuan hadn't heard anything. "It's nothing."
Still smiling, Xie Jianyuan continued, "Senior, would you like to join us?"
Xu Chun politely declined. "I'll pass. You all go ahead and have fun."
Xie Jianyuan murmured an acknowledgment and looked at him thoughtfully. Smiling, he said, half-joking and half-serious, "Then what did you come here for, Senior, if not to have fun? Did you come to the bar for some other reason?"
Xu Chun was at a loss for words, put in a somewhat difficult position. Seeing Xie Jianyuan's puzzled frown, he sighed helplessly.