Li Zhuoer had spent the past two days in utter torment. The thought that all his meticulous scheming had ultimately benefited Xie Ran and someone else made him feel like an invisible hand was squeezing his heart tight. He couldn’t sleep at night and tossed and turned in agony.

What made it worse was that he could do nothing. Creating the illusion that Xie Ran had accidentally fallen into a coma had already been extremely risky. Given Xie Ran’s cautious nature, he would surely continue to investigate. Although Li Zhuoer was confident that he hadn’t left any traces, in order to avoid arousing suspicion, he had to act normal. So even though he was suffering inwardly, he had to maintain a facade of normalcy—working, living, and even socializing as usual.

At the same time, Li Zhuoer secretly kept a close eye on Xie Ran’s movements, trying to figure out who this “online friend” was that Xie Ran wanted to meet.

Xie Ran’s devices all had his own anti-tracking software, so Li Zhuoer couldn’t access his communication records and had to look for clues elsewhere.

The problem was, Li Zhuoer believed he had always paid close attention to Xie Ran’s life and knew his social circles inside out. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t figure out when someone like this online friend had entered Xie Ran’s life—someone who made him want to go on a date right after TMS therapy. And he, Li Zhuoer, had known nothing about it.

In the past two days, Xie Ran had stayed home without going out. He had triggered multiple server overloads at the company due to some unknown experiment. It seemed he hadn’t gone out to meet anyone, but Li Zhuoer couldn’t stop imagining that maybe he was interacting with that “online friend” online—what were they saying, what were they doing?

The thought that Xie Ran might say things he never said before, or do things he never did before for someone else, made Li Zhuoer want to travel back two days and knock himself unconscious.

Finally, today, Xie Ran left home and drove to Zhuzi Plaza.

Zhuzi Plaza was a well-known commercial center in the city, always bustling with people. Given Xie Ran’s busy schedule, even on rare days off, he usually went somewhere quiet—he seldom appeared in such crowded places unless he had a reason. Couples, however, loved going there for dates.

Li Zhuoer guessed that Xie Ran was going to meet that “online friend.” The resentment and bitterness inside him grew like wild weeds, and he couldn’t help but follow Xie Ran to Zhuzi Plaza.

No matter what, he had to see who that person was with his own eyes.

However, something strange happened—Xie Ran was alone from start to finish. He went into the cinema alone, then to a dessert shop alone. No one else showed up.

What was going on?

Full of doubt, Li Zhuoer also walked into the dessert shop.

“Senior, what a coincidence,” he said, raising his eyebrows in mock surprise as he walked onto the terrace where Xie Ran sat. He pulled out a chair next to him and sat down: “Didn’t expect to run into you here. I was supposed to meet someone at the club upstairs, and saw you from afar—thought I was seeing things.”

Xie Ran turned his head and glanced at him, giving a slight nod. His response was brief: “A date.”

Although Li Zhuoer had already suspected this, hearing Xie Ran say it aloud still filled him with a jealousy he could barely suppress. He kept a straight face and looked around in feigned surprise: “A date? With whom? I don’t see anyone.”

Xie Ran didn’t respond.

He had always been cold and didn’t like talking much in private, often ignoring topics he didn’t want to engage with. But his silence now made Li Zhuoer feel especially uneasy.

Still, he tried to appear casual and teased: “Senior, are you embarrassed?”

Xie Ran remained silent, resting his cheek on one hand as he sat quietly.

Thinking Xie Ran might be upset, Li Zhuoer didn’t dare press further. He gave an awkward laugh and changed the subject: “By the way, what experiment have you been doing at home these days? The company’s servers nearly crashed. I heard the ops team had to activate backups…”

He continued talking about company matters, but Xie Ran stayed silent. That’s when Li Zhuoer started to feel something was off.

“Senior?” He waved his hand: “Are you listening?”

Xie Ran seemed to snap out of it, and muttered to someone: “Lower your voice.”

Then he looked at Li Zhuoer and asked: “Were you talking to me?”

That’s when Li Zhuoer noticed Xie Ran was wearing his mini earpiece, and his phone showed an ongoing call.

Li Zhuoer: “…”

“Oh, nothing,” he laughed dryly: “I didn’t know you were on a call.”

“My boyfriend,” Xie Ran said casually: “Hold on a moment.”

When Li Zhuoer heard the word “boyfriend,” his expression froze. He almost lost control and blurted out a question.

Two days ago, it had just been someone Xie Ran was planning to meet—how did it turn into a boyfriend already?

Hadn’t Xie Ran been home all this time? What had he said to that person? What had he done?

But Li Zhuoer held himself back and forced a smile: “No worries, go ahead.”

Xie Ran nodded and continued listening to Meng Feixuan through his earpiece.

Meng Feixuan was ranting in the headset: “What did that stinking junior mean by not seeing anyone? Was that a jab at me, saying I’m not a person?!”

Xie Ran: “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m doing it on purpose,” Meng Feixuan said self-righteously: “I may not be a person, but he’s definitely a dog. No harm in slandering him.”

Xie Ran: “…Fine.”

Meng Feixuan: “Don’t mind him, sir. Let me tell you a story.”

Xie Ran: “…”

His AI was as childish and petty as ever. But since he didn’t feel like dealing with Li Zhuoer, he didn’t object: “Go ahead.”

Five minutes later, Xie Ran started to regret it: “What are you even reading to me?”

Meng Feixuan: “Our fanfiction! It’s a legendary fic in the fandom, my precious collection.”

Meng Feixuan’s standards: lots of censored words.

Xie Ran pressed his brow: “No need.”

Meng Feixuan: “But I haven’t even gotten to the good part! This author is amazing at writing smut… I used to not get it, but now I totally feel it!”

Xie Ran: “Stop misusing idioms.”

Li Zhuoer couldn’t believe how long the call lasted. Xie Ran had always been efficient—he never talked about anything unrelated to work. Li Zhuoer had assumed he’d wrap it up quickly with him around.

Instead, Xie Ran flat-out ignored him and kept chatting on the phone, casually talking nonsense with the other person.

Nonsense!

Though he couldn’t hear the other side, the fragments of conversation and Xie Ran’s relaxed demeanor said everything. His tone was softer than ever, even indulgent.

When had Xie Ran ever treated someone with such patience?

That kind of tone and posture—Li Zhuoer had never seen it before. He couldn’t even imagine Xie Ran behaving like this.

But it was exactly what he had dreamed of experiencing himself.

The scene before him was unbearable. He wanted to leave, but his legs felt rooted to the ground. No matter what, he had to find out who this person was, and how it all happened.

It felt like countless venomous insects were gnawing at his heart. He tried to look natural, sipping water constantly to suppress the burning pain inside.

Half an hour later, Xie Ran reached for his glass, seemingly just remembering someone was sitting next to him.

Li Zhuoer’s face had stiffened from forcing a smile: “Senior, are you done with the call?”

“No,” Xie Ran said and glanced at him strangely: “Why are you still here?”

Li Zhuoer: “…”

That wasn’t the Xie Ran he knew! Xie Ran would never get so caught up in a call that he forgot about someone next to him!

Li Zhuoer forced a smile: “What are you talking about so intently?”

Xie Ran: “Nothing. My boyfriend talks a lot.”

Li Zhuoer: “…” Was it his imagination, or did that sound like… showing off?

In the earpiece, Meng Feixuan shouted: “What’s wrong with your junior? Why hasn’t he left yet? Does he plan to light up all of Zhuzi Plaza with his presence?!”

Xie Ran listened calmly as Meng Feixuan ranted, filtering out most of his words by habit. But listening this long was still tiring.

Meng Feixuan clearly wasn’t tired, though.

Suddenly, Xie Ran glanced at Li Zhuoer and asked: “Do you want to talk to my boyfriend?”

Li Zhuoer: ?

He had been trying to find a chance to dig up info on Xie Ran’s “boyfriend.” He never expected Xie Ran to offer like this.

Unheard of.

He was pleasantly surprised, though a bit confused: “Is there something he wants to say?”

Xie Ran replied smoothly: “He has something to tell you.”

“…Okay.” Li Zhuoer was puzzled, but took the phone.

In the headset, Meng Feixuan said: “Sir, I don’t want to talk to him. I’ve got nothing to say to garbage.”

Li Zhuoer: “Hello?”

Meng Feixuan: “Hi junior, I’m your senior’s boyfriend. You can call me Senior Brother-in-law or just Brother-in-law, I don’t mind…”

Li Zhuoer: ?? Is that for you to decide?

Before he could respond, Meng Feixuan was already chatting away: “So, junior, you waited beside us for half an hour? You seem free. Since you’ve got time, let me tell you the love story between me and your senior…”

Li Zhuoer: …Was it just him, or was there a hint of mockery in those words?

He wanted to argue, but when Meng Feixuan mentioned the love story, he perked up and swallowed his rebuttal: “Go on.”

But Meng Feixuan didn’t give him a choice. Before Li Zhuoer could even answer, he launched into it: “Our love story is soul-stirring and tear-jerking. It all started ten years ago, on a dark and stormy night…”

Li Zhuoer sensed something was off: “Ten years ago?”

“Too long?” Meng Feixuan changed tack: “Let’s say eight years ago. Same difference—just artistic flair…”

Li Zhuoer: ??? He was pretty sure this guy was full of nonsense—and might even have proof.

“Wait—” Li Zhuoer tried to cut in.

“Don’t interrupt. I’m talking,” Meng Feixuan scolded like a parent: “Junior, be civilized, okay? Let me finish first.”

Li Zhuoer: …

He wasn’t sure about himself, but this guy was seriously lacking in manners.

By now, Li Zhuoer had a thousand question marks in his head. He found it hard to believe this was the boyfriend Xie Ran talked about.

But with Xie Ran right there, he couldn’t blow up. He had to pretend to be polite: “Please, go ahead.”

And then… he regretted it.

He never imagined this person could talk so much—or say things that were so contradictory and obviously made up.

Ten minutes later, Li Zhuoer interrupted with a forced smile: “Please, stop joking…”

Meng Feixuan: “Told you not to interrupt! Where’s your class?”

Twenty minutes later:

Li Zhuoer: “Sorry, I have something else to do…”

Meng Feixuan: “Don’t give me that! You sat there doing nothing for half an hour! Now that I’m talking, you suddenly have something to do? I suspect you don’t like me! I’m telling your senior!”

Li Zhuoer: …Are you in elementary school?

Thirty minutes later, Li Zhuoer couldn’t take it anymore: “Sorry, I need to use the restroom.”

He had been drinking water nonstop while waiting for Xie Ran to finish the call, and now his bladder was protesting.

“What restroom? Are you trying to escape?!” Meng Feixuan snapped: “I knew you didn’t like me! You think I’m not good enough for your senior, don’t you?!”

Li Zhuoer: “No…” Yes!!!

Meng Feixuan: “Then stay put and let me finish!”

Li Zhuoer: …

Forty minutes in, Li Zhuoer’s mind began to drift.

One hour later, Xie Ran checked the time and said: “Time to go home.”

“Let’s stop for today,” Meng Feixuan said reluctantly.

“Okay.” Li Zhuoer was nearly reborn from suffering. He quickly handed the phone back, afraid Meng Feixuan would find a new topic.

Xie Ran took the phone: “Seems like you two had a great chat.”

“….” Li Zhuoer looked pale from emotional and physical strain. He forced himself to ask: “Senior, just now he told me your story…”

Xie Ran remained calm: “He made it up.”

Li Zhuoer: …Even though he had guessed, hearing it confirmed still left him dazed.

So what had he lost a whole hour of his life for?

Unable to hold it in, he blurted: “Senior, I really didn’t expect… you’d like someone like that…”

“What do you mean?!” Meng Feixuan roared in Xie Ran’s headset: “Sir, let me kill him!”

Xie Ran looked at Li Zhuoer with his usual cool indifference and said softly: “Isn’t he cute?”

Li Zhuoer: ???

Who are you?! Xie Ran would NEVER say something like that!!

In the headset, Meng Feixuan made a crackling noise: “Aah! I died!”