Dinner Plans

Xie Yibai gave a couple of perfunctory grunts and dismissed his manager. Leaning back in his chair to relax his neck, he told his assistant, "Let's go home. I'm tired."

With a knot in his chest and an urgent need to vent, Xie Yibai opened WeChat and blocked Xing Zhanyun again. He had been an idiot to trust that moronic second-generation heir, only to make the trip for nothing and get humiliated.

Some great director he was. Was making movies such a big deal? What was he so smug about?

As Xie Yibai stewed over it, a little red dot lit up on his WeChat contacts tab. The car pulled out of the underground garage, and the midday sun streamed through the window, making his phone screen go dim. He accepted the friend request and was taken to a new chat window. The verification message contained two Chinese characters: Zou Yan.

: Hello

Zou Yan: Hello, I'm Zou Yan, the producer. We just met.

: Yes, I remember.

Zou Yan: That's just how Director Ke is. I hope you won't take it to heart. We all really admire you, but your appearance might not be quite right for the role.

Xie Yibai gave an awkward smile and typed: It's all right. I don't even know what kind of role it is, anyway.

Zou Yan: Are you free tonight? I have some other projects. How about we meet and talk?

Xie Yibai didn't reply immediately. He sent his manager a screenshot of Zou Yan's WeChat Moments and asked: Sister, do you know this person?

Sister Hu: Whoa, how did you get his WeChat?

: He was one of the people at my audition today. He's asking me to dinner.

Sister Hu: /thumbs up /thumbs up. Didn't I say you were a born actor? Even a famous producer like him is asking you out.

: He doesn't look more than a few years older than me. How is he so famous?

Sister Hu: His dad is Zou Ruoqing. Famous enough for you? /grin

So he was a second-generation heir. But that made sense. To be so young and already adept at handling resources and connections and supervising film projects, he must have inherited that capital from his father's generation. Xie Yibai adjusted his attitude and replied: I'm free. What time should we meet?

Zou Yan: I'll make the arrangements and send you the location later.

When the assistant heard he had new plans that evening, and was meeting a producer no less, he asked with concern, "Another audition?"

"No, just a chat." Xie Yibai considered it. "There's no harm in meeting him. Let's not go home yet. Let's go shopping."

The assistant said, "Now? It's the weekend. There'll be crowds everywhere."

"Yes, now," Xie Yibai said firmly. "I earn money so I can spend as much as I want whenever I feel like it."

The assistant stopped arguing, told the driver to change the destination on the navigation system, and accompanied him to the busiest shopping district.

That afternoon, popular posts about him sprang up across platforms. Several sets of unedited photos and videos taken by passersby from different angles grew ever more popular as the algorithms promoted them, and the more popular they became, the more they were promoted. Topics such as "Ran into Xie Yibai" and "Xie Yibai offline" stayed high on the trending lists.

As it happened, he had a drama airing at the time, and curious onlookers and fans who had rushed over from all directions surrounded the store, leaving not a gap.

Xie Yibai had a partnership with the brand, so this visit amounted to free publicity. How could the store manager not welcome him? He was also one of the brand's VICs, so naturally, he was given the privilege of having the store closed to other customers while he shopped.

After being surrounded by the noisy crowd, the peace and quiet felt especially precious, and the sales associates' attentive service eased his displeasure. Xie Yibai had nothing in particular he wanted to buy, but seeing them fuss over him, he pointed out several pieces of high jewelry and some home goods that were usually their worst sellers. Only merchandise that was both expensive and hard to sell could help the staff improve their sales figures.

He readily paid by card and sampled a little cake and champagne. Everyone was busy packing his purchases, and his assistant had gone to take a call, so he started playing a game by himself.

A warm hand reached past his collarbone and pinched one of his earlobes. Xie Yibai turned in surprise and found himself looking at an unexpected smiling face.

Xing Zhanyun wore his hair long, with half of it falling to his shoulders. The upper layer was styled with gel, his bangs were fashionably permed, and the rest was combed back and tied in a little knot. A row of piercings lined his ears, adorned with flashy silver studs and dangling earrings. He also had striking features: high-set brows, deep-set eyes, a straight nose bridge, and a sharply tapered jaw, with natural shadows and contours across his face.

He was dressed like a racer, in a pitch-black biker jacket, jeans, and calf-high boots, eye-catchingly handsome.

"How did you get in?" Xie Yibai frowned. "And why are you dressed like that?"

"Isn't that obvious? I walked in! Besides, what do you know? This is the latest trendy alt fashion." Xing Zhanyun went around the sofa and sat beside him. Glancing at his phone screen, he said, "Wow, you lost."

Xie Yibai locked his phone and put it on the coffee table. "Who told you I was here?"

Xing Zhanyun smiled teasingly. "Daddy phone told me. You're so popular, all I have to do is go online to see you."

Xie Yibai looked at him. "What do you want?"

Those bright eyes stared back at him playfully, with a hint of curiosity and calculation. "I just wanted to ask why you keep blocking me."

Chapter 3: Dinner Plans

Xie Yibai and Xing Zhanyun's connection began with a rental. At the time, Xie Yibai was a freshman who had just signed with a management company and could no longer conveniently live on campus. The company found him a good place off campus, in a lively neighborhood, with upscale decor, all the necessary amenities nearby, and reliable security. It was a bargain, too, and the landlord was Xing Zhanyun.

Xing Zhanyun had received the apartment as a coming-of-age gift on his eighteenth birthday, and it had stood empty since it was furnished. If he hadn't quarreled with his family, he wouldn't have moved into the new place. Wanting to earn a little extra income, the second-generation heir had posted the vacant second bedroom online for rent.

Xie Yibai wasn't renting the place for a long stay. He was usually either attending classes or rushing around for work, and he was away from home every few days. He earned good money and was low-maintenance, making him an ideal tenant, so the lease was signed without a hitch.

The lease was renewed until Xie Yibai graduated from college. Over three years of intermittent interaction, he and Xing Zhanyun formed a friendship, but also developed grudges. They had cooked together, raised a dog, walked hand in hand, and lain in the same bed, but they hadn't ended up together.

Later, Xie Yibai saved enough money to buy a home and moved out with the dog. He put Xing Zhanyun on his blacklist and never took him off it again, until yesterday.

There was nothing worth saying between them. Living together was enough to dispel anyone's illusions about another person.

Xie Yibai said, "Blocking you is better for both of us."

"How is it? I still care about you a lot! Don't you care about me too? You even asked if I'd come back to the country. I thought you really wanted to see me, so I dressed up especially for today." Xing Zhanyun took his hand and put on a pitiful look. "I just want to buy you dinner and talk. I've even booked a table. Don't turn me down, okay?"

"You're always making decisions on your own." Xie Yibai had no patience for banter and said indifferently, "I'm meeting someone else tonight. I'm not free."

"Who are you meeting?"

"What's it to you?"

"Why are you treating me so badly? Is it because you didn't pass the audition this morning? What's the big deal? If you fail, you can try again. Don't be unhappy." Xing Zhanyun rambled on, then turned and saw a sales associate bringing refreshments. He asked, "Where's your store manager? Tell Serena to come over, and tell her everything purchased here today is on me."

Xie Yibai held back an eye roll and said calmly, "No need. I've already paid. Next time you want to be a bootlicker, please move a little faster."

Xing Zhanyun seemed only more determined after the setback. "What else do you want, then? I'll buy it for you. I don't know why you hate me, but as long as it makes you happy, forget being a bootlicker, I'd even be your ox or horse."

"Zhanyun, I'm meeting a producer tonight. I can't stand him up." Xie Yibai put on his practiced, gentle smile and said softly, "I really don't have time to fool around with you."

He got up to leave, but Xing Zhanyun followed relentlessly, trying to touch his shoulder and take his hand. Xie Yibai impatiently shook him off, dodging and moving out of his way. Seeing that they knew each other, the staff cupped their hands around their mouths and whispered among themselves. Afraid word would get out and give people something to gossip about, Xie Yibai immediately straightened his back and stopped pulling away from him.

Xing Zhanyun stopped bothering him too and whispered over his shoulder, "Whoever you're meeting, I'll take you there."

Xie Yibai's assistant had been working for him since before he graduated and had heard a little about Xing Zhanyun. Without asking any questions, the assistant silently carried the bags behind them. There was more than he could carry, so they left an address and arranged for the rest to be delivered.

The store manager, Serena, breathed a quiet sigh of relief at the sight. She shouldn't have let anyone else in, but Xing Zhanyun's customer status was so high that she couldn't afford to offend him. Fortunately, the two really were old acquaintances, and nothing unpleasant had happened.

"Goodbye, both of you. We hope to see you again." Having secured their sales, the staff saw them off with beaming smiles.

With an alt-fashion little tail in tow, Xie Yibai took the internal passage to the underground parking garage.

At four in the afternoon, Zou Yan finished work and scrolled through WeChat Moments for a while as he smoked his second cigarette of the day. Sheng Ke passed behind him and said, "Come with me to President Ye's dinner tonight."

Zou Yan looked around for someone and said, "I've got plans. You should've told me earlier."

Holding a cup of hot water, Sheng Ke tilted his head back and drained it. He hefted the empty cup in his hand and said, "I asked you this morning, and you said you had nothing on tonight."

Zou Yan gave him an apologetic smile. "I made the plans on short notice. Sorry."

"Who are you meeting?"

"An actor."

"Someone I know?"

"Not really..."

He was reluctant to say more, and Sheng Ke didn't press him. Passing in front of him this time, he gave his shoulder a perfunctory pat and advised, "Too much indulgence isn't good for you."

"Fuck you!" Zou Yan tried to hit him, but his hand caught nothing but air. He looked at Sheng Ke's retreating back, feeling a little uneasy, and thought that, as expected of his childhood friend, Sheng Ke knew his thoughts and actions inside out.

Precisely because they were childhood friends, their family backgrounds and social networks overlapped a great deal, and their tastes and habits were very similar. They had even chosen the same place for their respective social engagements.

The Vastness Residence in the south of the city was a private dining restaurant. Its owner had a winery of his own and ran the restaurant merely as a pastime, so it was not open to the general public and only served customers with reservations. Each signature dish came with a particular specialty wine. The food and wine were decent in both taste and quality, and the setting appealed to refined and popular tastes alike. Most importantly, it offered good privacy, making it suitable for gatherings of people in the industry.