“Who’s this?”
“Seven,” Qi Song replied succinctly.
“…So it’s you.” Cen Chi’s words carried subtle weight, layered with meaning. “I’m Cen Chi, Ah-Zhan’s…” He glanced at Chi Zhan before finishing the last two words, “…friend.”
The word “friend” was technically accurate—but the way he said “Ah-Zhan” had already revealed plenty. Their relationship clearly wasn’t that simple.
At the very least, they were the kind of “friends” who were a bit more than just that.
Qi Song’s expression didn’t change. He simply gave a faint nod.
The three of them fell silent, a stark contrast to the lively chatter around them. Chi Zhan felt the atmosphere grow a touch awkward—but thankfully, a server arrived with drinks and snacks, easing the tension slightly.
Racking his brain, Chi Zhan finally found a topic.
“That photo from last time—how did it end up hanging in the restaurant?”
“I originally just sent them the digital version. Later, they said they were putting together a display. It’s meaningful, right? But if you don’t like it, I can have them take it down.”
“I already took the photo down.”
Cen Chi blinked.
“Did you lose it?”
“No, it’s still at my place.”
To be honest, Chi Zhan would’ve liked to throw it out, but that kind of photo—ambiguous and suggestive—would’ve looked even weirder if someone else happened to see it.
Ripping it up didn’t feel quite right either. He had meant to let Cen Chi decide, but things got busy, and he simply forgot.
“I’ll just swing by your place next time and grab it. I also left some clothes and an umbrella there.”
Chi Zhan hadn’t realized Cen Chi had left that much stuff at his place. He’d meant to send it back since they lived in the same city, but once those things were left there, they just sort of… slipped his mind.
Qi Song still hadn’t said a word. Ever since Cen Chi walked in, he’d become even more withdrawn, quietly sipping his coffee with his gaze lowered.
The atmosphere grew strange again.
“……”
The doorbell chimed once more. Chi Zhan turned instinctively—and sure enough, it was Chu Xingxiao.
He wore a black hoodie and jeans, looking every bit the part of a student. He casually shook out his jacket, glanced around the room, and spotted Chi Zhan. But before he could even smile, his eyes landed on the two men seated on either side of Chi Zhan—Cen Chi, and…
His cousin?
The moment Chi Zhan saw Chu Xingxiao, something clicked in his mind. He glanced toward Qi Song again.
When viewed separately, they were fine. But now, sitting together… their teardrop moles looked oddly symmetrical—one on the left, the other on the right. And up close, the resemblance between them was…
Striking.
***
There was no more room next to Chi Zhan. Chu Xingxiao and Qi Song exchanged a look, then Chu Xingxiao glanced at the man seated on Chi Zhan’s other side—the one who always smiled warmly but carried a suspiciously flirtatious vibe: the doctor.
They already had quite a crowd at the table. With another person joining, the server added a chair. Chu Xingxiao took the seat directly across from Chi Zhan.
Qi Song gave Chu Xingxiao a subtle nod—a silent greeting. But Chi Zhan didn’t notice. He was busy chatting with Chu Xingxiao. Cen Chi, however, caught the detail—and raised an eyebrow slightly.
So these two knew each other? Things were starting to get interesting.
“What do you want to drink?”
Chu Xingxiao flipped through the menu.
“A mocha. Hmm… and a small slice of chocolate cake.”
“That’s a lot of calories,” Chi Zhan said skeptically. “Can you eat that?”
According to X’s profile, chocolate was listed as his favorite food—but it was also notoriously high-calorie. And Chi Zhan had never actually seen Chu Xingxiao eat it before.
Chu Xingxiao’s eyes flickered with hesitation, clearly torn between ordering it or being responsible.
“I’ll just work out more when I get home. Run an extra ten kilometers a day. Is that acceptable?”
He looked at Chi Zhan with big, pleading eyes, like he was waiting for permission. Chi Zhan couldn’t help but laugh.
“Sure. Your agent will make sure you follow through.”
Chu Xingxiao’s hair had clearly been styled—dyed a warm brown and tousled into soft waves at the fringe. The effect was both cool and adorable.
It looked like he was going for a signature look. He hadn’t even bothered covering up the teardrop mole. After that brief exchange, the four of them fell silent again.
…Why was the vibe so weird?
Chu Xingxiao was starting to get nervous.
He hadn’t expected Qi Song to show up today. According to the original plan, their meeting wasn’t supposed to happen until next week. What now?
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Qi Song—but the man’s face gave nothing away. The feeling of losing control made Chu Xingxiao uneasy.
They were technically relatives, yes—but their relationship barely scraped past the level of acquaintances. That was why Chu Xingxiao had felt no guilt trying to snatch someone away. But if Qi Song turned out to matter more to Chi Zhan…
He’d be the one getting eliminated.
Qi Song remained silent, always the listener—exactly how he was known to outsiders. But his quiet didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking. On the contrary, every word he spoke during a match was calm, precise, and cut straight to the heart of things.
He was the core of WT. No matter how dire the situation, as long as Seven was calling the shots, they rarely lost. And even if they did, they’d have no regrets—they’d already given everything.
“Chu Xingxiao! Is that you?” someone finally recognized him between conversations.
He’d been keeping a low profile, but once people noticed, the room buzzed with excitement.
To everyone here, the newly formed entertainment division was still wrapped in mystery and glamor. Seeing a celebrity they’d only ever watched on TV, in the same company—it felt surreal.
A second later, Chu Xingxiao was swarmed, coworkers bombarding him one after another with enthusiasm.
“I love your music! Can I get your autograph?”
“I’ve never heard anything so good! I’ve had your songs on repeat for weeks! You’re insanely talented—please keep releasing more!”
