Cheng Yue was no fool. Lin Shuyang's reaction had already told him that this unexpected visitor was someone significant.
He lowered his eyes and fiddled with the wineglass in his hand, pretending not to notice their silent exchanges.
Just as Lin Shuyang was at his wits' end, the person he had been waiting for finally returned at an unhurried pace.
"Drunk?"
Ji Huaijin had eyes only for the person sitting with his head bowed. He pressed the back of his hand to Cheng Yue's forehead and asked gently, "Are you dizzy?"
Apparently not expecting him to return so soon, Cheng Yue froze for a second and looked up at the man standing before him. He opened his mouth to say something, then pressed his lips together and merely shook his head in silence.
His silence drew a slight frown from Ji Huaijin. He was about to bend down for a closer look when a somewhat unfamiliar voice sounded behind him.
"Huaijin."
Ji Huaijin glanced sideways. When his gaze landed on the newcomer, his expression remained calm and indifferent, as though he was not surprised in the slightest.
Only Cheng Yue, who had been watching him all along, caught the brief curl of his fingers, lasting less than a second.
"Su Xingchen?!"
The exclamation came from Xi Ming, who had followed him back. Unlike Ji Huaijin's indifference, Xi Ming's astonishment mirrored Lin Shuyang's earlier reaction.
Su Xingchen curved his lips into a smile. "Xi Ming."
Though greeted with the same familiar warmth, Xi Ming showed none of his earlier excitement. Faced with this painfully tense situation, he could only mumble an awkward acknowledgment.
Su Xingchen did not mind. He gazed at the poised, gracious man with eager excitement and repeated himself.
"Huaijin, I'm back."
In the small space, almost everyone's eyes