“…Yeah, that’s the dummy,” He Siheng wasn’t in the mood to argue with Tan Jing today. After all, even someone with a brain wouldn’t run off without grabbing a coat. “Who would’ve thought? He looks like such a wimp, but he still ran away from home.”
Tan Jing smiled. “Rebellious phase. I get it.”
He Siheng caught the hint of a story in his tone and set aside the matter of his wimpy cousin for the moment. His interest piqued, he eagerly probed into Tan Jing’s middle-school escapades. “You went through a rebellious phase too?”
Tan Jing admitted it openly. “I faked being sick to skip school and watch a basketball game. Does that count?”
He Siheng truly hadn’t expected that from him and looked surprised. “Who knew you were such a basketball fan?”
Tan Jing gazed at him mildly, amusement shimmering in his eyes. “I’m a fan of the guy who plays basketball.”
“Which player?”
“My future boyfriend.”
“…?”
He Siheng had no idea how the conversation had looped back around to him. “Did you come watch me play basketball in middle school?”
He realized it right away and spat, “Pah! Who’s your future boyfriend!”
The one who’d been spat at looked innocent. “I didn’t name any names. You claimed it yourself.”
He Siheng: “…”
There was nothing to say to this guy. He Siheng turned to leave, only to hear Tan Jing ask from behind him, “Do you know where your cousin is hiding?”
He Siheng paused and turned back. “Internet café, arcade. A middle schooler who didn’t even grab a coat—what else could he be doing besides those two spots?”
“With so many internet cafés and arcades out there, if you check them one by one, do you think you’ll find him first, or will he freeze to death first?”
“…”
The words were rough, but the logic was sound. He Siheng was left speechless for once.
He had originally planned to just text Shu Yichen on his phone to ask where he was, but the calls went unanswered, and the messages were ignored. The kid was dead set on this runaway stunt this time.
Tan Jing bent down to pick up the dog leash. “Wait for me a few minutes. I’ll take Great Handsome home and come find him with you.”
He Siheng hesitated a bit.
“I have a way to make him show himself.”
Tan Jing didn’t waste words. He dropped that line, grabbed the leash, and led the reluctant little golden retriever puppy home.
Half an hour later, He Siheng and Tan Jing sat at an open-air barbecue stall.
Night had fully fallen, but the barbecue joints on this street were still packed. Delivery riders zipped by on electric scooters now and then.
Pork belly with the perfect fat-to-meat ratio sizzled on the oiled wire grill, gradually turning golden brown. The seeping fat hissed, and the shop owner evenly sprinkled his special sauce over it. The rich aroma of meat and seasonings mingled with the cold winter air.
He Siheng swallowed hard. He snapped a couple of photos of the grilling meat from a good angle, attached the location, and sent it to Shu Yichen.
Then, half-doubting, he asked Tan Jing, “You’re sure he’ll really come?”
Tan Jing calmly flipped the meat. “Wanna bet?”
“…No bet.” He Siheng refused decisively. Betting with Tan Jing was always a trap. He wasn’t going to stupidly jump into another one.
Tan Jing’s trick actually worked. Less than half an hour later, Shu Yichen came flying over. He looked around after getting off whatever ride he took, locked onto He Siheng’s figure, and bolted over, shivering like a leaf.
He immediately stuck his hands over the fire that had been burning for a few seconds, then grabbed He Siheng’s plate like a starving ghost reincarnated and shoved barbecue into his mouth.
He Siheng was utterly disgusted and kicked the chair with the bags. “Put on the coat first.”
Shu Yichen hurriedly pulled on the coat. His cheeks bulged with barbecue as he mumbled incoherently in gratitude: “Wuwuwuwuwu (Bro, you’re still the best to me)…”
He Siheng didn’t catch a word and disgustedly scooted his chair farther away to escape the spray of meat bits. “Swallow that stuff before you talk.”
Shu Yichen gulped down the barbecue with effort and finally spoke clearly. “Then I’ll eat first.”
He Siheng: “…”
Shu Yichen’s mouth was busy with barbecue, but his eyes flicked toward Tan Jing across the table.
He had noticed the handsome guy at the table the moment he arrived. Flawless features, pitch-black pupils, an innate air of aloofness. In the smoky, lively barbecue stall, he sat there like he didn’t belong.
As far as Shu Yichen remembered, his cousin’s circle of shady friends didn’t include anyone like this.
“Bro, who’s this handsome guy?” Shu Yichen asked.
He Siheng took a new plate from Tan Jing and said speechlessly, “Tan Jing from across the hall. What’s your memory like?”
“…!”
Upon hearing Tan Jing’s name, Shu Yichen’s eyes went wide.
The last time he saw Tan Jing was years ago, and Tan Jing hadn’t looked like this back then—just a skinny monkey. But more shocking than Tan Jing’s transformation was how his cousin ended up sitting here eating barbecue with him. Weren’t they sworn enemies who never crossed paths?
“H-How is he here?” Shu Yichen instantly turned into a prickly hedgehog full of wariness, glaring at Tan Jing.
The latter raised a brow and met his gaze without flinching.
In just a few seconds, Shu Yichen shrank back involuntarily. His genes quivered in instinctual fear.
Damn, this guy was an S-Rank Alpha!
Shu Yichen sheepishly looked away and weakly asked He Siheng, “Bro, you guys didn’t become friends, right…”
He Siheng picked up on his hostility toward Tan Jing and, without realizing it, spoke up for him. “Without him luring you out, you’d be a popsicle by now.”
“Not exactly friends,” Tan Jing suddenly spoke up, having been silent until then.
Hearing the denial, He Siheng froze.
The scene from four years ago replayed—he had heard Tan Jing deny their friendship with his own ears once more.
Last time it was a misunderstanding. What about this time? After rejecting the confession, they couldn’t even be friends?
An inexplicable displeasure welled up in He Siheng’s heart.
He held back a stifled frustration and glanced at Tan Jing, only to find the other already looking at him.
Their gazes collided suddenly in the noisy air. The young man’s bright black eyes were like a crystal-clear spring, bottomless at a glance.
Those beautiful eyes curved slightly, the look in them like a hook. He Siheng felt his heart tugged gently toward him.
Seeing the amusement in Tan Jing’s eyes, He Siheng had a vague sense of foreboding.
The next second, Tan Jing spoke leisurely, “Not friends—because I only want to date him.”
He Siheng: “…”
