Chapter 48

He believed that over the past six months, his "Second Young Master Tang" persona had collapsed on an earth-shattering scale.

Yet Ye Heng had not suspected him at all. What kind of handsome, blind little angel was this? tvt

After splashing water on his face, Tang Mingxi's phone vibrated on the sink. The caller ID showed Ye Heng.

Perhaps because he had just seen He Lingzhi, Tang Mingxi inexplicably felt guilty, as though he had been caught cheating in bed. :)

"Hello." Tang Mingxi answered the call.

Ye Heng got straight to the point. "Where are you?"

"..."

"At an art exhibition."

Ye Heng's voice was even, with nothing unusual detectable in his tone. "When will it end? I'll come pick you up."

"Probably not for a while... There's an auction tonight too."

"Send me the address."

"Why should I send it to you? Are you coming over?" Tang Mingxi asked in surprise.

"Mm." Ye Heng spoke unhurriedly. "If I don't, the green hat on my head will only become more vibrant."

"..."

Tang Mingxi had guessed that Ye Heng was calling about this.

But he had not expected the gossip network among Ningcheng's rich second-generation heirs to be so efficient. Less than half an hour had passed, and news had already traveled from the art exhibition to Ye Heng's ears.

Not willing to lose the upper hand, Tang Mingxi immediately struck first, his tone haughty. "What do you mean? You don't trust me?"

On the other end of the call, Ye Heng seemed to let out a soft breath. As though he had endured it for a long time, he said, "It's not that I don't trust you. I don't trust other men's willpower."

Tang Mingxi froze, the tips of his ears turning slightly red. ...

Damn it. That bastard was actually pretty good with words.

The Rivals Meet!

Tang Mingxi sent Ye Heng the location, then left the restroom.

He Lingzhi was still waiting for him where he had been before. By now, Tang Mingxi was fully prepared.

He immediately set the complete collection of evasive phrases compiled by the Douban Evasion Studies Group as his lock screen.

He Lingzhi was a very good conversationalist, and his voice was deep and gentle.

After they met, he kept deliberately or casually bringing up the friendship he and Tang Mingxi had shared in high school. Tang Mingxi met every move with a counter, answering each question in an orderly manner.

He Lingzhi spoke of the hardships of studying abroad.

Tang Mingxi said, "Huh? That's really... something."

He Lingzhi brought up memories the two of them had shared.

Tang Mingxi said, "Mm-hmm."

Without making it obvious, He Lingzhi mentioned the position he had secured in China, faintly showing off.

Tang Mingxi said, "You're still the impressive one. I could never."

And so, in less than ten minutes, Tang Mingxi successfully killed the conversation.

He Lingzhi sensed that Tang Mingxi did not seem to want to talk to him. He had said many things about himself, but Tang Mingxi had not mentioned a single thing about his own life.

He sighed, knowing he could not rush things.

Tang Mingxi's attitude clearly showed that he still harbored resentment toward him.

"Xixi, I have something to handle at the company this afternoon. Shall we add each other on WeChat and talk later?"

He Lingzhi took out his phone and had Tang Mingxi scan his QR code.

Seeing that this torturous awkward conversation was finally about to end, Tang Mingxi hurriedly cooperated and scanned it.

Before leaving, He Lingzhi lightly gave him a loose hug and said in a low voice, "After all these years, there has not been a single day when I forgot you."

Tang Mingxi paused slightly, overwhelmed with embarrassment by the sudden cheesy line.

He Lingzhi released the arm around his shoulders. Just as Tang Mingxi was about to say something, his gaze suddenly fell on the entrance not far away.

Ye Heng stood there, his lean figure straight, his gaze fixed on Tang Mingxi.

Tang Mingxi: ...

Did he use Flash or something? How was he here so fast?

For no reason, Tang Mingxi felt guilty. He pushed He Lingzhi away. "Brother Lingzhi, I don't understand what you mean. I've mostly forgotten what happened when we were kids."

He Lingzhi said, "That's all right. I can slowly help you remember. When you're free another day, let's go out for coffee."

Before Tang Mingxi could refuse, He Lingzhi had already turned slightly. At that moment, he too noticed Ye Heng standing at the entrance.

At first glance, He Lingzhi merely felt, rather subtly, that the young man before him

seemed somewhat hostile toward him.

At the next glance, the young man at the entrance had already strode past him and stopped before Tang Mingxi.

He Lingzhi's steps paused. From his angle, he could only see Tang Mingxi tilting his head up as he spoke to the young man.

Compared with the distance and perfunctoriness Tang Mingxi had shown while speaking to him earlier, Tang Mingxi now wore an entirely different expression—radiant, captivating, and full of life.

The young man seemed to notice He Lingzhi's gaze as well.

He casually brushed a hand over the shoulder Tang Mingxi had just been held by, as if dusting off something dirty.

His gaze was young and fierce, like a growing wild wolf fiercely guarding its territory and food.

Inside the black Maybach, Tang Mingxi sat by the window with his chin propped on one hand, while his other hand typed rapidly on his phone.

[1]

Wang Min replied instantly: [Your Highness the Princess, your soldier reporting for duty.jpg]

Tang Mingxi let out a cold, mocking laugh.

[Why didn't you tell me Ye Heng was standing at the entrance just now?:)]

Wang Min: [Would you believe me if I said I didn't see him? (innocent)]

Tang Mingxi: [Did you donate your eyes to society?:)]

Wuwu, it seemed Her Highness the Princess was truly angry.

Wang Min: [I admit I was wrong.]

Wang Min: [I'm just an ordinary, pitiful girl who wanted to watch a domineering CEO love-rival showdown TT]

Heh. Very good.

Tang Mingxi replied expressionlessly: [You have completely lost me.:)]

After dragging Wang Min out on WeChat and fiercely berating her, Tang Mingxi's mood improved slightly.

On second thought, he had not done anything to wrong Ye Heng, so why should he feel guilty?

Besides, he had not taken the initiative to hug He Lingzhi. He Lingzhi had hugged him.

Tang Mingxi had even found the perfume on him far too strong!

Thinking that, Tang Mingxi immediately became righteous and broke the deathly silence in the car. "Where are we going?"

Without turning his head, Ye Heng replied blandly, "Back to the eastern outskirts of Ningcheng. Grandma wants us to go have dinner."

Tang Mingxi was surprised. "You're not going back to work at the company this afternoon?"

"No." Ye Heng folded his hands together. "If I don't go home, my wife will run off with the wild man next door."

Here it came. That bastard—I thought he had forgotten about it. So he had been waiting for me here. :)

Although Tang Mingxi and Ye Heng were a nominally married plastic couple, he was still quite dedicated to his role as a "wife." He had absolutely no intention of making the male lead wear a green hat, okay?

"There's nothing between He Lingzhi and me. Don't overthink it."

"Mm."

That killed the conversation.

Tang Mingxi felt that he had explained himself clearly enough, but why did that bastard of a male lead still look unhappy?

His temper flared too, and his voice rose a little. "He and I aren't suitable!"

Ye Heng looked at him.

There was an indescribable pride between Tang Mingxi's brows. He spoke with perfect justification. "He's suited to someone better. Not someone like me—the best!"

That confidence-filled declaration was completely in Tang Mingxi's style.

The inexplicable irritation in Ye Heng's heart suddenly vanished completely, and he could not help feeling a little amused.

"What Grandma meant by asking us home for dinner tonight was that she wants us to consider getting married." Ye Heng changed the subject.

Tang Mingxi froze. "Getting married so soon?"