"Hmm?" Xin Chun raised his head in confusion.
The next moment, Owen curled his finger and touched Xin Chun's lips through the bandage. "This is what's missing."
His gaze was focused, deep, and captivating.
Xin Chun's heart skipped a beat at the flirtatious gesture, but his expression remained unchanged. He smiled and said, "So it was a missing courtesy. I'll remember next time. Though of course, it'd be best if there isn't a next time."
He remembered. He was just saying it on purpose.
Teasing people was fun. Teasing Owen was even more enjoyable.
Ke Hang had been right. Zhao Gang did call him. Not only that, he also mentioned in the group chat that he had run into Xin Chun by chance in the airport's underground parking garage.
Now, everyone who needed to know knew that Xin Chun had come to B City on a business trip.
Ke Hang privately messaged Xin Chun to curse Zhao Gang out: [Fuck, that bastard deliberately brought you up in the group chat. He wants you to come to the class reunion.]
Xin Chun: [So I agreed, but I said I'm busy and don't know when I'll be able to make it.]
He would decide the timing himself.
Ke Hang: [Hahaha, alright, alright, boss. Your underling will report the situation at any time.]
At the class reunion dinner, Xin Chun did not show up, but Shao Kang, the senior they had mentioned before, came. He was close with some people in the class, and they had been taught by the same advisor, so it was only natural that he had been invited.
However, Shao Kang's friends knew that was not his only reason for attending the reunion.
One friend said, "Even if Xin Chun came to B City on a business trip, he should be done with work by late at night, right? I think he just doesn't want to attend the class reunion. Ever since graduation, he's never said anything in the group chat either."
"You turned down work to come here, but he's avoiding everyone."
Shao Kang was handsome, came from a decent family, and worked for a major company. At such a young age, he had already become a department manager. He was outstanding in every way, and his personality was beyond reproach—gentle and witty.
In others' eyes, calling him a winner in life would not have been an exaggeration.
If his sexual orientation had been conventional, the girls in their class would have chased after him long ago. But Shao Kang happened to like men, and he had never hidden his orientation in college.
And it was no secret that he had openly pursued Xin Chun.
"He might be working overtime at night too. Maybe he really can't spare the time." Shao Kang smiled.
Xin Chun still had not come by the time they finished eating. Shao Kang suggested that they all go have some fun at a bar, offering to treat them. Naturally, no one refused. They cheered and praised Shao Kang for his generosity.
Ke Hang lowered his head and sent Xin Chun a message.
At that moment, Shao Kang walked over to Zhao Gang. "Xin Chun probably isn't busy with work at this hour. Sorry for the trouble, but could you call him again and invite him to the bar?"
"After all, classmates from the same class haven't seen each other in a long time. Everyone should get together."
Zhao Gang said, "Sure, I'll call him."
Xin Chun received Ke Hang's message, and Zhao Gang's call came right afterward. It seemed he had no choice but to go, so he agreed.
After hanging up, Zhao Gang told Shao Kang. Shao Kang smiled and said, "Could you give me Xin Chun's phone number?"
Xin Chun arrived at the bar with Owen, and Ke Hang brought them inside.
The classmates knew Xin Chun's boss would be coming, but they had not expected him to be mixed-race—a man from Y Country, tall, handsome, gentlemanly, and aristocratic. Simply standing there, he became the center of the crowd's attention.
Especially with the way he was dressed—his cufflinks, tie... none of them came cheap.
The female classmates could not help whispering among themselves.
"Oh my God, he's so handsome. His eyes are actually green, and he's the company boss too. I wonder what company it is and what kind of business it does."
"His Hua Country language is so good too. I thought Xin Chun's boss would be some middle-aged man with a beer belly. He looks pretty young. Do you think he has a girlfriend?"
"I used to think Xin Chun and Shao Kang were actually a good match, but compared with this... Shao Kang falls a little short. Xin Chun and his boss are more suited to each other."
A handsome mixed-race boss and a pretty, innocent subordinate—wasn't that practically a novel?
Shao Kang had not expected Xin Chun's boss to look like this either.
Perhaps it was instinct, but Shao Kang felt a sense of crisis.
He greeted Xin Chun. "Long time no see. After graduating from college, you left B City and even changed your phone number. I heard you went back to your hometown. How have you been?"
Xin Chun said, "Pretty well."
Shao Kang brought up several more topics, but Xin Chun's responses remained indifferent.
Unable to stand it any longer, Shao Kang's friend asked, "Xin Chun, do you have a girlfriend?"
Xin Chun shook his head. "Busy. No time."
"No girlfriend, then what about a boyfriend?"
Ke Hang said, "What are you doing, taking a census? My buddy already said he's busy and has no time for dating. He doesn't even have a girlfriend, so where would a boyfriend come from?"
Shao Kang also tugged his friend by the arm. He gave Xin Chun an apologetic smile and said, "I haven't been able to contact you since graduation, Xin Chun. But I really want you to know that my desire to pursue you has never changed."
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding classmates began to jeer.
Someone even shouted, "Senior Shao is really brave! It's hard to find such an amazing man. Xin Chun, why not just accept him? Hahaha."
Owen did not show any extra expression as he looked at that person. "I don't think Xin Chun wishes to be joked about like that."
The person's smile immediately vanished, and his expression stiffened. Awkwardly, he said, "I was just saying it casually. I didn't mean anything by it. Xin Chun, don't take it to heart."
Xin Chun's boss had quite the imposing presence.
Shao Kang glanced at Owen, then said, "Everyone, let's stop this topic here. Do me a favor—I don't want to put Xin Chun in a difficult position."
"Come on, today is about having fun. Let's drink."
"Alright, alright, let's drink. Senior Shao is so generous."
Everyone became cheerful again.
Xin Chun had not gotten a word in from beginning to end. He wanted to make things completely clear with Shao Kang, but Shao Kang was pulled away by his friend again.
"What is it?" Shao Kang asked.
His friend said, "Don't say I'm not helping you. The owner of this bar is my friend, and you've been here a few times. You know this bar has a regular game. I'll go talk to my friend in a bit..."
Before you continue