Chapter 44
Once the number of people for dinner was settled, the next step was choosing a location.
Everyone had come for He Yuan, so everyone let him decide.
He Yuan felt the weight of the pressure.
He didn’t know why, but the current atmosphere was clearly a “shura field” of conflict.
He scratched his head awkwardly, fidgeting with his fingers for a moment before looking at Wen Su. “What would Your Excellency like to eat?”
Age-wise, Wen Su was the oldest; by seniority, Wen Su was the highest; in terms of rank, Wen Su was still the greatest.
Although Chu Xi was the son of the Chief Executive, that was a nepotistic connection; strictly speaking, it didn’t count. So, he should ask Wen Su first.
Wen Su, however, was thinking: He Yuan really does care about me most. He was very satisfied.
He named a place. He Yuan asked the other two for their opinions. The best friend said it was fine, but Chu Xi disagreed.
He was determined to trip Wen Su up, otherwise he wouldn’t feel right!
“That place tastes terrible. It has absolutely no class.”
He Yuan felt even more awkward, saying weakly, “Then where do you suggest we go, Xiao Xi?”
Chu Xi also named a place.
He Yuan looked back at Wen Su tentatively, terrified that he would be displeased.
Unexpectedly, Wen Su nodded and said, “That works.”
When facing He Yuan, his tone was incredibly gentle.
He Yuan felt a genuine sense of relief and happiness. “Great! We’ll go there then! Xiao Xi, you lead the way!”
In his heart, he silently tore off the “Vindictive” label he had just given Wen Su and replaced it with a “Broad-minded and Gracious” one.
Only then did Chu Xi realize what happened.
His eyes met Wen Su’s, and the man indeed looked both smug and disdainful.
It was as if he were saying: You’re so stupid. You tried to cause trouble for He Yuan, but thanks to you, didn’t I just make a better impression on him?
Fox Spirit! He really was a thousand-year-old Fox Spirit!
Chu Xi clenched his fists in fury.
The place Chu Xi chose was a Western restaurant. Normally, it required a reservation, but as the most prestigious member here, Young Master Chu could sit in the best spot immediately.
Located on the top floor of a prime district, the glass walls offered a bird’s-eye view of the city’s bustling, glittering night lights, while the area was surrounded by greenery, creating a fresh and elegant atmosphere.
“Wow!” He Yuan trotted around to take it all in.
He had eaten with Chu Xi many times, but they usually chose places students frequented because He Yuan insisted on splitting the bill. Chu Xi knew his financial situation and wouldn’t suggest expensive places.
But today, since Chu Xi offered to treat him, they came straight here.
He Yuan looked at him with great emotion. “Xiao Xi, this place is amazing!”
“Right?” Being praised made Chu Xi finally feel a bit better.
He didn’t forget to give Wen Su a “See? In the end, I’m the one who wins” look.
Wen Su acted as if he hadn’t seen it.
He sat down first.
At first, the others didn’t think much of it. But when He Yuan finished admiring the view and prepared to sit with Chu Xi and his best friend, they realized what it meant to be a top-tier General and a master of tactics.
It was time to assign seats.
Wen Su had already sat down; they couldn’t exactly make him move.
So, who would sit next to him?
Chu Xi had a “needles against wheat” antagonistic relationship with him, so that wasn’t appropriate. He Yuan’s best friend was meeting Wen Su for the first time; without an invitation, it wasn’t right for him to just sit there either.
That left only He Yuan.
Fox Spirit! He was definitely a thousand-year-old Fox Spirit!
Chu Xi was fuming again. He decided he would risk the nausea today to take this Fox Spirit down a peg. Just as he was rolling up his sleeves to head toward the seat next to Wen Su, he saw He Yuan step forward quickly and sit down firmly.
He was half a beat too late.
He Yuan was acting as the peacemaker now; he had to eliminate any possibility of awkwardness or conflict!
He gestured for Chu Xi and his friend to sit opposite them. He flipped through the menu and thought that everything was so expensive, yet the portions were so small. He couldn’t let Xiao Xi spend too much, so he chose the most basic set meal and didn’t order any alcohol.
“I’m not very hungry,” he said with a smile. “Besides, it’s getting a bit late. Everyone has work or class tomorrow, so it’s better not to eat too much, or we won’t be able to sleep! It’s also best not to drink, as it will affect our state tomorrow.”
“Sure, whatever you say. I have no objections.” Chu Xi’s background meant he didn’t—and didn’t need to—read the room.
Wen Su also didn’t need to, but he made a special exception for He Yuan. He gave He Yuan a silent glance but said nothing.
After that, he remained silent throughout the meal, merely listening to He Yuan chat with the other two.
Chu Xi talked a lot and was very proactive. He Yuan, however, didn’t ignore his other friend because of it. He would always bring up topics everyone could participate in, and from time to time, he would turn to check on him.
He encouraged him to eat or asked him simple questions that only required a few words to answer.
Because he understood his friend’s personality and knew he didn’t even have a concept of “being left out,” He Yuan didn’t have to “struggle to maintain the conversation” when facing him.
Sigh.
This was supposed to be a meal where He Yuan felt relaxed and happy.
Wen Su felt a bit of heartache.
Suddenly, Chu Xi looked at him. He stared for a long time, unmoving, using a gaze he had never directed at him before. It was so strange that even He Yuan and his best friend noticed, their faces filled with tension and confusion.
Wen Su remained unmoved, silently forking a piece of fruit from his salad and eating it.
He was completely uncooperative with the “tsundere” behavior.
Chu Xi was forced to speak up himself. “Hey, where did your clothes come from?”
He was too curious. If he didn’t ask, he definitely wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. He even endured Wen Su for this.
Facing such an impolite question that lacked even a proper address, Wen Su’s usual approach was to ignore it. But today, considering he didn’t want He Yuan to be sad, he made an exception.
He said calmly, “Custom-made by a designer.”
“Which designer?”
“I forgot. Song Pei arranged it.”
“Was it Lu Yu?”
Wen Su frowned. “I’m not sure. Probably. Song Pei seemed to call him Mr. Lu. I don’t know which ‘Lu’ it was.”
Chu Xi clapped his hands. “Then it definitely was.”
He Yuan’s head turned left and right, completely lost. “Xiao Xi, why are you asking that? Do you know that designer?”
Chu Xi shook his head, pulled out his phone, and swiped for a moment before turning it toward He Yuan. “Look. Aren’t these two outfits the same?”
He Yuan looked closely.
On the phone was a performance photo of the top-tier star Jian Mingguang. The stage was beautiful, the atmosphere profound. He stood before a microphone singing, his eyes closed and his head slightly tilted as he sang with deep emotion. Silver and blue lights converged on him, highlighting his slender figure and…
A minimalist, perfectly tailored outfit filled with luster and a sense of drape.
It was the exact same set Wen Su was wearing.
He Yuan’s eyes and mouth turned into “O” shapes as he looked at Wen Su in awe.
Wen Su gave a faint glance at the screen under the boy’s fingertips.
He had finally noticed.
It was thanks to Chu Xi, after all.
“Lu Yu’s latest haute couture. In the entertainment industry, only Jian Mingguang has been allowed to wear it. How do you have it too?” Chu Xi asked in disbelief.
“Aren’t clothes made for people to wear? Why can’t I have it? And as far as I know, celebrities wear couture just for display. It’s different from my daily wear.”
When He Yuan was his life assistant, he placed great importance on his outfits. Wen Su wanted to continue that, but he really didn’t understand fashion. He told Song Pei that if he ever made another appointment with a designer, he should bring him along.
He had no idea how to pick a style, but suddenly the designer said this latest couture had been worn by the top star Jian Mingguang and received rave reviews.
The three words “Top Star Jian Mingguang” immediately struck a nerve in Wen Su. His mind was filled with the image of He Yuan praising how “handsome” the star was.
He was very angry and felt he had to surpass this person.
For his interview with He Yuan today, he put it on, opening his peacock feathers with full confidence.
“Hmph.” Chu Xi gave a disdainful laugh. “Clashing outfits isn’t scary; whoever is uglier is the one who’s embarrassed.”
He would take any chance to belittle Wen Su! Not to mention Wen Su dared to wear the same outfit as his idol! And he had even subtly insulted his idol! Shameless!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He asked He Yuan, “Xiao Yuan, don’t you agree? It’s stupid to wear the same clothes as Jian Mingguang, right? Normal people would try to hide their flaws, but he’s just rushing to expose his own shortcomings.”
He Yuan could only scratch his head and laugh awkwardly.
Chu Xi wouldn’t let him go. “Xiao Yuan, say it. Jian Mingguang is much handsomer than him, right?”
He Yuan thought: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing? Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration. “Ah! I… I need to go to the restroom!”
He bolted.
With him gone, the people remaining at the table had no reason to hide anymore.
Chu Xi was the first to attack. “Wen Su, just say it. What’s with this ‘student part-time assistant’ thing? You just wanted to trap Xiao Yuan, didn’t you? You saw that Xiao Yuan is kind and easy to trick, so you’re acting all high and mighty. Don’t get too cocky! Xiao Yuan doesn’t like you at all—not even a little bit! If he knew your true purpose, he’d definitely resign immediately!”
He looked as though he was ready to expose him in the next second.
However, Wen Su wasn’t threatened at all. Instead, he let out a cold laugh.
“Who Xiao Yuan likes isn’t for Young Master Chu to decide. However, the probability of him liking me is certainly much higher than him liking you two.”
Chu Xi and He Yuan’s best friend exchanged glances, both looking shocked.
Wen Su said calmly, “The two of you are his ‘best friends’ whom he values deeply, yet you’ve developed other intentions for him. That’s one thing—after all, Xiao Yuan is very cute—but it’s wrong to band together to deceive him, isn’t it?”
Chu Xi panicked. “We… we didn’t…”
“You saw that the other person was a rival, and you both see me as a thorn in your side. That’s why you tried everything to stop him before his interview and were extremely unhappy after he succeeded. The two of you don’t get along, yet you came together to wait for Xiao Yuan today. You’ve formed a temporary alliance, haven’t you? You both feel I am the biggest obstacle, and that unless I am removed, your turn will never come. But one person’s strength is insufficient, so you think an alliance might give you a chance…”
“You… your imagination is too wild! Do you think this is a TV drama?!” Chu Xi was still being stubborn.
“The wild ones are you two,” Wen Su said with certainty.
“Then aren’t you the same, deceiving Xiao Yuan?!”
“I have officially confessed to him. This position wasn’t just forced out of thin air; I told him the reason I chose him. I am open and aboveboard. What about you two?”
Wen Su took a sip of water with composed ease.
“You don’t confess because you’re afraid of failing and losing the friendship. You can only resort to small tricks in private. Young Master Chu, you’ve regressed.”
“Wen Su, you…”
Fox Spirit, Fox Spirit, Fox Spirit, Fox Spirit!
The core General of the Star Source Alliance was actually using strategy and tactics on dating! He had to go back and file a complaint against him in front of his dad!
Just then, He Yuan returned.
The three immediately shut up, acting as if nothing had happened.
They ate for a while longer, and the peril-filled dinner finally reached its conclusion.
Wen Su said, “I’ll take the bill.”
Chu Xi gave a proud snort. “No need. I always put it on my tab here, and I already said I was treating.”
“But…” He Yuan weakly raised his hand. “Although you said you were treating when we came, I’ve been thinking. Since this is to celebrate me getting the job, it’s better if I treat.”
“But you…” Chu Xi wanted to say he couldn’t afford it. The words reached his lips before his emotional intelligence finally kicked in, and he swallowed them just in time.
He Yuan gave an embarrassed smile. “It is a bit expensive here, but I have savings!”
“And after you pay? What about your daily life?” Chu Xi asked.
“I found a new part-time job! I have a salary!”
“It takes time to get paid,” Chu Xi reminded him.
“How about this? I’ll pay the bill for you first,” Wen Su said. “You can pay me back from your salary later. If you want to pay in installments, you can.”
That sounded great!
He Yuan immediately nodded, saying happily, “Thank you, Your Excellency!”
Chu Xi’s face instantly darkened.
He Yuan wanted to ease the atmosphere, so he said, “Actually, it wouldn’t be a big deal even if I paid directly. I’d just have to save a bit in my daily life. If I really ran out of money, I’d just borrow a little from Xiao Xi and He Yao to get by. You two wouldn’t say no, right? Hahaha.”
Wen Su immediately caught the key point. “What did you just call him?”
He pointed his chin at He Yuan’s best friend.
He Yuan nodded. “Yeah! Oh, Your Excellency, you don’t know his name yet, do you? There’s quite a story there. We both grew up in the assistance home… He was a bit more pitiful; he didn’t even know what his name was. Usually, children in that situation take the director’s surname, and the director gives them a name. When they grow up and want to change it, they can do so at any time. Because we have such a good relationship, to reflect that, he changed his name to He Yao when he was fifteen—to make a pair with my ‘He Yuan’!”
With a crack, the glass in Wen Su’s hand shattered.
Everyone jumped in fright.
He Yuan, who was immersed in his story, even gave a little hop in his seat. He turned his head and widened his eyes. “Ex-Excellency… is your hand okay?”
Wen Su: “…”
He had lost his composure.
There was no helping it; the shock was simply too great.
Tonight, he had been competing with Chu Xi, almost ignoring the other person because that person didn’t even seem like an Alpha to him.
He had just started to feel a bit of regret for having been jealous of this “childhood friend” in the past, only to be met with an unexpected heavy blow.
Every time He Yuan introduced himself, he emphasized “Yuan” as in “far away,” and he did so with great importance and happiness.
Chu Xi had also changed the “Xi” in his name to “Morning Sunlight” because of He Yuan.
No. He absolutely could not fall behind.
He… would change his name too.
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