Xue Chen looks at his sister sitting opposite him, whose head is lowered as she fiddles with her phone. “You’re overthinking it.”

Under her fierce stare, Xue Chen looks away. “I would never complain about you,” he says.

Xue Chen smiles. Turning around, he tells her, “So you’re aware you’ve done a lot of stupid deeds. I say, you’re a girl but you don’t know how to take care of your image. Typical guys prefer the gentle and virtuous kind.”

Xue Chen nods. “Yes. And there’s one in front of you…”

“What are you two whispering about?” Xue Nan suddenly looks up, jokingly teasing the two persons looking very affectionate in front of her.

“We’re saying how Xue Nan jie has become more beautiful.” Xia Chen is not merely flattering her. Her impression of Xue Nan has always been that of a bookish nerd but now that she has started working, she seems to be more womanly and attractive.

Xue Nan smiles widely at the compliment. “Xia Chen really knows how to sweet talk. No wonder so many people like you.”

His words anger Xia Chen, who is unable to stop herself from defending Xue Nan. “What kind of person are you, forcing someone to go home!”

Xia Chen’s words has formed a chasm in Xue Chen’s mind. He wants to know what she means by those words. When he gets up, the chair is forcibly pushed behind him, creating a grating noise.

“I’ll go pay the bill!” Xue Chen has tried to suppress his emotions but ultimately fails.

“Don’t know. He was still fine earlier.” Ba.s.sist Zhou Le too finds it confusing.

Xia Zhen decides not to think about it. She adds with a smile, “It’s alright. We’ll accompany him to go singing later. He’ll feel much better.” They are all music lovers. Whether their moods are high or low, they all like to express it through music.

Emboldened with a sense of responsibility, Xia Zhen answers, “No problem!”

“Take this! Since you know you’re bad with cold weather, why didn’t you wear a scarf?” Xue Chen stuffs his scarf into Xia Chen’s hands, his expression still sour.

This two siblings really…

“Then why did you still give me your scarf? I’m just not used the drop in temperature from the heated restaurant. I’ll get used to the temperature in a moment.” Xia Zhen tiptoes to put the scarf around Xue Chen and says, “The reason I don’t wear scarfs is to show off my beautiful and graceful neck. I’m already wearing so many years. No matter what, I should show a slender part of my body.”

“Whose call?” Xue Chen asks. He has a strong sense of foreboding.

“Then don’t answer it.”

“Xia Zhen…”

Everyone else who has been laughing their heads off at Xia Zhen’s nonsense turns to look at her in surprise. She is now fawning over the person on the call.

The line is quiet for a moment before he says, “En. The reason I’m calling is to ask if you’ve had your dinner.” It is now 8 pm. Pei Cheng An has not eaten but he knows Xia Zhen most likely has. But as a boyfriend, he feels guilty for not being able to accompany her this afternoon. He wants to make it up to her, whatever little he can do.

“I haven’t ate. My mentor is now stable but he has to be hospitalised.”

“Thank you. You… are you free now?” He has spent his entire afternoon in the hospital settling his mentor in and is only done now. It is still early and there is probably still enough time to watch a movie. To occasionally break the rule and sleep after 10 pm is also acceptable.

“Okay. Tell me the address and I’ll come over now,” Pei Cheng An answered without seeming to even think about it.

Why didn’t he refuse? They’re not that close! Even though it is in her plans to take him singing with the rest of the gang and let him see the sight of her singing pa.s.sionately and crazily, but that is only when they two have gotten closer. And that time is not now. If she scares him off today, she wouldn’t be invested in the relations.h.i.+p enough to pretend that she’s heartbroken!

After hanging up the phone, she shows everyone a tearful face and says, “I have a friend who wants to come.”

“You don’t know him. Later when he’s here, I’ll introduce him.” Ai, earlier she has planned to tell them what happened earlier in the day, including her little scheme. Since things have now changed, everything is not needed.

Xia Zhen grins as she nods.

After she left, Xue Chen asks, “What other male friends you have that I don’t know of?”

She walks to the side of the road to get onto a taxi with Da Qu.

An unhappy Xue Chen makes a beeline for the karaoke machine as soon as they arrive and selects all the explosive and challenging songs. He sings the songs powerfully, while the rest follow his pace. They have been friends for many years and understand each other very well. If someone is unhappy, they will accompany him to go nuts. If someone wants to talk, they will listen. If someone needs comfort, he will only need to tell them his thoughts.

Pei Cheng An’s call arrive just as Xue Chen finishes his third song. It is too noisy inside, so she steps out to answer the call. Pei Cheng An is already here but he doesn’t know which room they are in. She tells him the number of their room and waits at the door for him.

In a short moment, Pei Cheng An appears in the hallway leading to their room. He smiles when he sees Xia Zhen. She also tugs at the corners of her lips. Honestly, she isn’t able to quite smile.

But she’s not afraid Pei Cheng An would have any second thoughts.

“Let me introduce you to my boyfriend Pei Cheng An.” Xia Zhen is throwing everything out the window. This is now a gamble.

Everyone is surprised but quickly introduces themselves, except for Xue Chen. He stares at Pei Cheng An before turning to Xia Zhen. He finally looks away and says, “I’m going out for awhile.”

Pei Cheng An smiles, not at all concerned.

[ill.u.s.tration by Heo Jisoon]