The work schedule clearly stated that Shen Duoyi would be working full days at the restaurant on Saturday and Sunday.

The restaurant he worked at was in the State Guest Hotel. As a long-established five-star hotel in the city, although it wasn't as popular as the new generation of hotels, its standards were still very high. Shen Duoyi arrived early, changed into his work uniform, and began serving customers in his assigned area.

Since exposing his whereabouts at the bar, Qi Shi'an had already grasped his movements, so he wasn't surprised at all when he saw Qi Shi'an enter the restaurant.

But what did surprise him a little was seeing Lu Ketong, who had also come to dine.

He had a childhood friend named Fei Yuan. Fei Yuan's father was both a comrade-in-arms and colleague of his father's, and he and his grandfather lived in the Fei family's courtyard. Lu Ketong was in a passionate young romance with Fei Yuan, where even a little quarrel seemed like a scene out of a melodramatic TV drama.

"Order here."

Qi Shi'an started to make trouble, so Shen Duoyi had no choice but to take the menu over. He introduced the dishes in a businesslike manner, keeping his eyes lowered without looking at Qi Shi'an. But out of the corner of his eye, he could see Lu Ketong at the next table, almost sticking his head over.

"I'll have the white apricot smoked ham, cauliflower cheese tart, chicken fried rice, stuffed green peppers, low-temperature steak, madeleine cakes, and forest ice cream." Qi Shi'an rattled off a string of dishes. After finishing, he still wanted to see if there was anything else he needed to add, but Shen Duoyi took the menu away.

Shen Duoyi said, "That's plenty." Sometimes when he brought his own meals, he would just nibble on a couple of buns. Luckily this was a Western restaurant, otherwise this guy would probably order a full banquet. Qi Shi'an took the opportunity before Shen Duoyi could leave and asked, "Do you have time after work?"

Shen Duoyi replied, "No."

"Really? Just a little bit of time would be fine, let's chat." Qi Shi'an's tone was especially gentle.

Shen Duoyi remained unmoved. "Not even a little bit."

He found it quite ridiculous. This person seemed to have undergone a personality change, putting on a refined and gentlemanly act. Was he trying the soft approach since the hard one didn't work? Shen Duoyi didn't dwell on it and just continued to focus on his work.

What he didn't expect was that after work, he was cornered again in the lobby on the first floor of the State Guest Hotel. Qi Shi'an had a smile on his face, but stubbornly blocked the way, saying, "I was waiting for you."

Shen Duoyi hadn't yet figured out how to respond when he spotted Lu Ketong standing not far away. He immediately walked up to Lu Ketong, preparing to leave together with him.

When he was little, his mother had taught him to walk home from school with classmates for safety.

Who would have thought Qi Shi'an would intercept them both in one go. "Is this your friend?"

Shen Duoyi swallowed and then boldly took Lu Ketong's hand. "What do you think?" He wasn't sure if it was his sweat or Lu Ketong's sweat, but their palms were damp where they touched. He turned his head and smiled at Lu Ketong. "Let's go."

The two of them walked out of the State Guest Hotel building, and Qi Shi'an didn't follow.

And so, Lu Ketong unwittingly played the role of Shen Duoyi's boyfriend for a moment.

It was just a small past incident like this, but Shen Duoyi only remembered it after getting home, because he really hadn't given it much thought. After all, it was just a minor episode.

When they parted ways on Central Street, Qi Shi'an sped off in his car, leaving only a trail of white exhaust, making people who didn't know better think he was fuming mad.

Qi Shi'an wasn't quite fuming mad, but suddenly recalling it left him a bit dumbstruck. Actually, seeing Shen Duoyi's dazed and confused look, it was clear the so-called "boyfriend" wasn't real at all, or had long become a thing of the past.

But he wanted to hear how Shen Duoyi would explain it.

Would he coax him with a few words?

He admitted the key point was wanting to be coaxed with a few words.

Shen Duoyi was lying back on the bay window, and had already picked up his phone. It was too late at one in the morning, so he decided to send a message: "Been busy lately? Come over to my place to hang out on your day off tomorrow."

Who would have thought the other person hadn't gone to sleep yet and immediately replied: "Then you have to make me tomato stir-fried noodles!"

Shen Duoyi was already chatting with his former "little boyfriend" about tomorrow's menu, while Qi Shi'an was still tossing and turning, waiting for an explanatory phone call. Finally unable to bear it any longer, he took the initiative to call.

Shen Duoyi's profile and the lit-up phone screen were reflected in the glass window. His fingertip pressed the answer button and he put the phone to his ear. It was dead silent on the other end, not a sound. After a moment's thought, he knew the other person was waiting for him to speak first.

He lay back completely, looking at the night view outside, his whole body relaxed, and his voice also sounded soft and weak: "Mr. Qi, still not asleep so late?"

Qi Shi'an still didn't make a sound.

Shen Duoyi spoke again: "But you can sleep in a bit tomorrow since it's the weekend."

Qi Shi'an seemed to have died.

Shen Duoyi still had patience: "Who hasn't had a boyfriend in the 21st century?"

Qi Shi'an's breathing grew heavier, probably finally fuming mad.

Shen Duoyi stabbed the knife in and then bandaged the wound, gently saying, "But I haven't. That time was just pretend, I haven't."

Time ticked by, and Qi Shi'an said in a deep voice, "You will, and he'll be very handsome too."

Shen Duoyi immediately hung up the phone. He was still a bit too tender, his face not thick enough to compare. Very handsome... what use was being very handsome, it would be more practical if he didn't make him lose over a hundred thousand in a few days.

One closed his eyes in satisfaction, the other covered himself with a thin blanket in embarrassed anger.

Since starting his new job, Shen Duoyi had been very busy and hadn't been in such frequent contact with his other friends. But there was a magnetic field between good friends. Even if they hadn't seen each other for a long time, when they did meet, they could immediately start bantering.

Early on the weekend, the usually quiet apartment became lively thanks to Lu Ketong's sole efforts, and the not-so-spacious kitchen was filled with the clanging of pots and pans. Shen Duoyi, wearing that annoying apron, was peeling tomatoes while listening to Lu Ketong hold forth.

"Your neighborhood is so upscale, with such a big lake as soon as you enter. But then I thought, the shared area must be big too, so I felt balanced."

"Fei Yuan is on a business trip, otherwise the two of us would have come together. But I pondered it last night, and it seems you didn't invite him at all. I guess you just simply wanted to see me."

"Wait a minute, there's not just stir-fried noodles, right? Where's Grandpa?"

With the same mouth, Lu Ketong could spout two thousand words just by opening and closing his lips, while Shen Duoyi finished peeling the tomatoes during this time and said, "You only saw that big lake, but didn't you see Grandpa fishing by the lake?"

Lu Ketong cut half a piece of raw food: "There was a circle of old men fishing by the lake. If a dozen handsome guys passed by in front of you, could you immediately find out which one is me?"

"Yes, the one with his mouth open is you." Shen Duoyi looked up while cutting scallions, laughing as he cut, "Why did you go to bed so late last night?"

"I was busy, working overtime." Lu Ketong worked at the Landscape Bureau and often worked late. He took out his phone to show Shen Duoyi the pictures, "A new project, synchronized with the urban water system. What do you think of my design?"

Shen Duoyi praised, "It looks good. When will it be completed?"

Lu Ketong was a little deflated: "It's still early. I still need to do on-site surveys frequently, work overtime on the design after the survey, and the design may be changed randomly after completion. By the way, how's your new job? Can you make money if I ask you to speculate in stocks?"

Shen Duoyi shook his head repeatedly: "Forget it, forget it. I just lost more than 100,000 yuan."

"What?!" Lu Ketong was stunned, "Isn't the risk too high? I originally saved some money and was hesitating whether to try investing or not. Forget it."

The two chatted and made a meal together. Shen Duoyi was the main chef, and Lu Ketong was the assistant. Just as the meal was served, there was a sound at the door. Grandpa Shen came back on time for the meal. Lu Ketong ran over to pick up the small bucket and said regretfully, "Grandpa, if you had come back earlier, we could have steamed a fish to eat."

Grandpa Shen said, "We'll steam it in the evening. You can eat two meals before leaving."

The three of them sat around the dining table to eat. Grandpa Shen rambled on about the new family news he had just exchanged, whose child was getting married next month, and who was having a second child.

Shen Duoyi remained silent, quietly slurping noodles, but lightly kicked Lu Ketong under the table. Lu Ketong was startled and understood, asking sincerely, "Grandpa, do you feel like you have nothing to say when they talk about these things?"

Grandpa Shen spoke his mind: "There's no way. Duoyi won't get married, and there's no sign of a first child. I can only listen to others showing off."

Lu Ketong was unhappy: "Most people will get married, but will most people have an annual salary of one million? If the policy allows it, you can have a second child if you want, but can you earn an annual salary of one million if you want?"

Shen Duoyi secretly winked at Lu Ketong, looking quite beautiful.

Grandpa Shen didn't buy it: "Don't talk without experiencing it yourself."

The implication was that you have a partner, so shut up.

When they used to live in the same courtyard, Fei Yuan was almost beaten half to death for being with Lu Ketong, so Grandpa Shen knew. When this was said, Lu Ketong immediately wilted, holding his bowl and drinking soup with his head down. Shen Duoyi wilted even more and finally realized that the older ginger was spicier. He simply gave up resisting for good.

After the meal, Grandpa Shen went back to his room for a nap, and the two younger ones also went back to the bedroom to rest. It was easy to feel sleepy after eating. Shen Duoyi leaned against the head of the bed and looked at the stock market, preaching: "This one is too sluggish, and the suppression of the downward pressure line has not been broken through. This one is also average. For the future market, go short on the highs and muddle through. This one is not worth mentioning, fully demonstrating the drawbacks of the SME board."

Lu Ketong lay beside him: "Don't say it. I didn't understand a word. Let's talk about something else."

Shen Duoyi yawned: "What should we talk about?"

"Let's talk about love! Let me tell you about my fist-fighting the mistress!" Lu Ketong's eyes lit up, "The social atmosphere is too bad! Whether gay or straight, idiots keep popping up by his side from time to time, forcing me to stake out and beat them up. Sigh, work is so tiring, and I still have to commit crimes for love."

Shen Duoyi put the quilt on Lu Ketong: "You've worked hard. It seems being single has its own advantages."

Lu Ketong fluttered up: "What's so good about it? Can you experience the thrill of crime? Can you feel the excitement of your partner rushing in after hiding for half a day to open the door? Can you get a couple's bound points card at the movie theater?"

Shen Duoyi was shocked: "How can you two be so cocky! You even got a points card!"

"New movies are 25% off and come with free popcorn." Lu Ketong's whole body was showing off, with a hint of well-intentioned advice, "Grandpa is already so anxious. You shouldn't be indifferent, okay?"

Shen Duoyi didn't respond. Seeing that the topic was about to end, Lu Ketong tried hard to save it and guided the question: "Have you met someone you like again? It can't be that you haven't had anyone for so long, right?"

Shen Duoyi's eyelids twitched: "What do you mean by meeting someone again... I used to..."

Lu Ketong said, "You used to like Fei Yuan, did you forget? Although it's been a long time, I suddenly remembered."

"..." Shen Duoyi suddenly sat up. He was a little flustered and confused, but before he could organize his words, he was interrupted. Lu Ketong rolled onto the pillow, "Didn't you hide a photo of him, the one at the beach."

Shen Duoyi said anxiously, "I gave it back to you a long time ago!"

"I know... You said that holding that photo made you feel like you couldn't be good friends with me, which means that compared to Fei Yuan, you actually care more about me." Lu Ketong's mind was as crooked as his body, "But were you angry just now?"

Shen Duoyi sat on the edge of the bed like an old monk in meditation, unable to sort out his thoughts. He wasn't angry, he was just unusually anxious, anxious to clarify his blurry feelings for his friend when he was young.

On the day of the big explosion, he was originally at home doing homework, but Fei Yuan insisted on taking him out to play on the street, so he also escaped a disaster. Later, he and his grandfather moved into Fei Yuan's family's courtyard to live. Fei Yuan's parents were like his own parents, and Fei Yuan's care was the only source of his sense of security at that time.

In his youth, he had once regarded this one-sided feeling as his own vague first love, and had never said a word to Fei Yuan from beginning to end. Later, Fei Yuan and Lu Ketong got together, and he gradually thought a lot.

Rather than liking, it was more like dependence when the clouds were cleared away.

At that time, he had also said, was it liking? He didn't know.

Many years later, he and Lu Ketong had long since become good friends, and he and Fei Yuan were also as normal as they could be as good buddies. This matter, which only the two of them had discussed, had long been put aside.

But at this moment, when it was brought up, Shen Duoyi couldn't get over it.

Qi Shi'an explained his relationship with You Si to him. They were also childhood friends. So he must also be honest with each other.

Matters involving emotions are all difficult to distinguish between big and small. Small ones can be laughed off, while big ones can detonate bombs. Shen Duoyi's previous job often required him to measure hidden dangers, so he wanted to eliminate the hidden dangers early.

Behind him, Lu Ketong's sleep talking could already be heard. Shen Duoyi tucked him in properly, then got up and went to the living room. He silently organized his thoughts, preparing to take the initiative to tell Qi Shi'an about all this.

Unexpectedly, his phone vibrated as Qi Shi'an called first.

He answered with a hint of nervousness, "Hello?"

To his surprise, Qi Shi'an asked tentatively, "It's me. Can you help tutor my younger brother?"