Chapter 37: A Five-Person Gathering
Xi Leng wasn’t in the habit of watching TV much—except for Animal World, a must-have after getting drunk.
However, he wasn’t the only one living in the apartment now; there was also the boisterous Rong Xingyi. On Saturday afternoon, the two pondered dinner while waiting for the first episode of “Unlimited Escape Room” to air.
Rong Xingyi vehemently protested Xi Leng’s cooking, but he was too lazy to cook himself. Although he could order takeout, a 15-year-old with no income had limited funds.
The two were at a stalemate across the long table.
“It’s the first episode today, your first time on TV, and Min Zhi-gege too… shouldn’t we celebrate?”
That was true.
A refrigerator full of alcohol could be used for celebration, but unfortunately, the underage child couldn’t drink.
After thinking for a moment, Xi Leng compromised, taking out his phone and saying: “I’ll transfer you some money, you go buy something, we can eat while watching the show.”
Rong Xingyi, receiving the five-hundred-yuan transfer, his face beaming with joy, excitedly ran towards the door.
Xi Leng reminded him from behind not to go too far. One walking, one running, he normally wouldn’t be able to catch up, but Rong Xingyi, upon opening the door, seemed to have seen something and froze.
Xi Leng, curious, walked over, suspecting it might be their uninvited neighbor.
However, the person at the door, his fox-like eyes crinkling into crescents behind his gold-rimmed glasses, widened as he looked at the person who opened the door, the unfamiliar teenager clearly reflected in his pupils.
So Qiao Yusen’s eyes could also widen this much, Xi Leng was slightly surprised.
Qiao Yusen blinked, letting out an “Eh?” He leaned closer without any sense of personal space, staring intently until Rong Xingyi stumbled back into the apartment, then said: “You look a bit like…”
Qiao Yusen paused, Xi Leng’s face appearing behind the teenager. His earlier puzzlement found its answer, his eyes lighting up as if discovering a new world: “You two look so alike.”
“Are you…?” Rong Xingyi scratched his head, his eyes suddenly lighting up as well, his attention instantly shifting, calling out to the old acquaintance he hadn’t seen in years, “Jiayan-gege!?”
Luo Jiayan then emerged from behind Qiao Yusen, his expression hesitant and slightly awkward.
Seeing Rong Xingyi, whom he hadn’t seen in four years, he reverted back to his usual cheerful demeanor, genuinely happy: “Xiao Yi! It’s you? Long time no see… you’ve grown so much!”
The thin gold chain swayed slightly as Qiao Yusen turned to Luo Jiayan and asked: “You know him?”
“Mm-hmm, he’s…”
At this moment, Xi Leng walked over, standing shoulder to shoulder with Rong Xingyi, his expression still calm and indifferent.
Luo Jiayan suddenly closed his mouth, as if forgetting how to speak, his hands fidgeting nervously.
“This is my younger brother, Rong Xingyi. Same father, different mothers, my mother and I have the same surname.” Xi Leng introduced the two. “Xiao Yi, this is Qiao Yusen, he was our stylist for the poster shoot, and he’s also Min Zhi’s friend.”
“Ah, hello…” Rong Xingyi smiled, a dimple appearing on one cheek, his peach blossom eyes sparkling, appearing well-behaved and polite. “Yusen-gege.”
“Ah, hello.” Qiao Yusen froze for a moment, then looked back and forth between the brothers. “Your didi is very lively, but you two still look quite alike.”
They rarely appeared in front of outsiders together. These words instantly brought Rong Xingyi closer to him, and he couldn’t help but ask: “Do you really think… my ge and I look alike?”
They had met less than five times in four years. When they last saw each other four years ago, Xi Leng was a 17-year-old, as slender and upright as a young bamboo, while he was still a small child.
Did he really resemble his brother now?
Rong Xingyi felt a strong sense of curiosity and anticipation, receiving Qiao Yusen’s affirmative answer again, still unable to believe it, he said: “Min Zhi-gege said my ge and I don’t look alike.”
Qiao Yusen wasn’t surprised that the teenager had met Min Zhi in person.
“He probably had a preconceived notion. A biased and impure mind will naturally see everything as dirty.” Qiao Yusen smiled, subtly mocking his friend, then, facing the teenager, showcased his professional skills as a stylist, commenting logically, “You don’t look alike at first glance, but the distribution of your features, your overall outline… you look like a smaller version of Xi Leng.”
Rong Xingyi pouted, gesturing above his head: “I’m 178 cm tall.”
He wasn’t short, but his small face and demeanor clearly marked him as a child.
Qiao Yusen smiled without saying a word, casually throwing out a compliment that made the teenager beam: “Then you’ll definitely grow even taller, just like your ge.”
Rong Xingyi couldn’t stop smiling.
Xi Leng: “…”
Luo Jiayan waited for a long time, unsure how to speak, only able to wait for Qiao Yusen to notice his pleading gaze.
Qiao Yusen chatted enthusiastically with Rong Xingyi for a few more sentences, then finally said to Xi Leng: “Isn’t it the premiere of ‘Unlimited Escape Room’ tonight? I thought you just moved, so I came over to check, and also to watch the show with you. Coincidentally, Jiayan also wanted to come, so I brought him along.”
This apartment was thanks to Qiao Yusen’s introduction, so Xi Leng naturally didn’t mind his uninvited visit. As for Luo Jiayan, Xi Leng hadn’t expected him to visit his old apartment, discover that he had moved without saying goodbye, wanting to ask but not daring to, hence today’s visit.
Xi Leng sighed inwardly, smiling slightly and saying to the two at the door: “Come in.”
Luo Jiayan finally relaxed, bringing in the many bags he had prepared, saying enthusiastically to the brothers: “What are you having for dinner? We bought some groceries, we can have hot pot if you haven’t prepared anything…”
“Sure, that’s great!” Rong Xingyi readily agreed. Not having to eat his brother’s cooking and being able to keep the five hundred yuan for takeout, every strand of hair on his head was practically vibrating with joy.
The four gathered around the island counter, preparing the ingredients for dinner together.
“Hey.” Qiao Yusen, after glancing at Rong Xingyi’s occasionally appearing dimple several times, finding the boy even more charming and memorable, couldn’t help but ask, “Xiao Yi, are you interested in becoming an idol? Singing and dancing on stage.”
Hearing this, Rong Xingyi seemed to have been cast under a spell, instantly freezing, only his eyes still moving, sparkling like stars.
After a while, he let out a vague “um,” changing the subject: “Min Zhi-gege also asked if I wanted to enter the entertainment industry.”
Qiao Yusen smiled meaningfully: “Is that so?”
Xi Leng, who was quietly working, suddenly looked up at Qiao Yusen and said helplessly: “…He’s only 15.”
“Hey, what are you thinking? 15 is the perfect age to be an idol.” Qiao Yusen’s smile was gentle. He held up two fingers, saying seriously, “I’m just stating facts, I saw his potential and offered a suggestion, nothing more.”
He paused slightly, then smiled again, subtly mocking, “I don’t know what Min Zhi’s thinking, I haven’t heard him express interest in mentoring newcomers, perhaps there’s something about you that interests him. Haha.”
Like being his gege, for example.
Objectively speaking, Qiao Yusen’s suggestion was much more specific than Min Zhi’s and quite reasonable.
Xi Leng couldn’t help but think of a boy group survival show that would start filming at the end of this year in his past life, where eight contestants with the highest popularity, chosen by public vote, would form a group and debut.
This group would become incredibly popular nationwide. Even the most forward-thinking producers couldn’t predict the future as accurately as Xi Leng.
Qiao Yusen, noticing Rong Xingyi’s absentmindedness as he mixed up several ingredients, suddenly said to him: “Let me tell you, this is insider information, I’m only telling you. A boy group survival show is in the works, global auditions start next month, the age limit is 14 to 20, no other requirements, just send a self-introduction and a talent showcase video to the program team to apply.”
Rong Xingyi lowered his head, not responding.
Xi Leng glanced at him briefly, saying nothing.
“Xiao Yi is a very good student.” Luo Jiayan broke the silence. “Even if he joins the show, he can definitely balance it with his studies. When we were young, he didn’t often go to weekend tutoring classes, but he always ranked in the top three. I suddenly remember… Xiao Yi, the last time I saw you seemed to be on a weekend, outside, it was very hot, you said you couldn’t go home yet, so we stayed in the mall to enjoy the air conditioning.”
Luo Jiayan’s expression softened as he reminisced. Rong Xingyi, however, stiffened, as if being grabbed by the scruff of his neck by an invisible hand.
Beside him, Xi Leng casually said: “Skipping tutoring classes since you were young?”
It was a question, but his tone was certain.
Rong Xingyi bristled like a startled kitten, jumping back: “I… n-no! And that wasn’t a tutoring class, it was an advanced math class.”
“…”
After blurting that out, he immediately regretted it, but unfortunately, spoken words were like spilled water, irreversible.
Fortunately, Xi Leng’s expression remained unchanged, seemingly unconcerned, as if he wasn’t the one who pinned Rong Xingyi to the ground and beat him up near the tutoring center last time.
“I don’t care if you skip class or not.” Xi Leng lowered his eyes slightly and said indifferently, “but you can’t hang out with those unsavory people.”
Who would believe that! Who was the one who confiscated his phone and locked him at home?
Rong Xingyi mentally strangled the little devil in his mind. Qiao Yusen, the instigator, was still smiling, suddenly thinking of something and saying: “Right…”
“Why don’t we invite Min Zhi over too? The more the merrier.”
Xi Leng finally looked up, his hazel eyes clear and sharp, like a mirror reflecting all secrets and lies, silently fixed on him.
Qiao Yusen maintained his smile, not revealing a hint of his true intentions: “I’ll give him a call, I heard he lives nearby.”
He dialed so quickly that Rong Xingyi had to swallow his “I can go get him” back.
Unexpectedly, Qiao Yusen, as Min Zhi’s friend, didn’t know he lived next door. The naive little fan didn’t think much of it, feeling a secret sense of pride, eagerly waiting for Qiao Yusen to finish his call.
“Okay. Good. Then come over.” Qiao Yusen spoke openly on the phone in front of everyone. “No rush, there might not be enough food, we didn’t prepare any for you. Get some barbecue takeout before you come, and some alcohol and drinks—Xiao Yi, what do you like to drink?”
“Mm-hmm, pineapple juice, Xiao Yi’s order. Hurry up and buy it.”
He even ordered the big star around as if the requests of someone’s didi were imperial edicts.
After more than half an hour, Min Zhi, who lived next door, arrived, looking travel-worn.
The others at home were just about to start eating. The apartment’s built-in multi-function pot was both grilling and cooking hot pot. With the barbecue Min Zhi brought, the table was filled with food, an unprecedentedly sumptuous feast.
“This feels even more like a dream…” Rong Xingyi muttered.
Taking the one-liter imported pineapple juice, 100% pure, the child, who had never experienced such luxury, examined the foreign packaging curiously.
Xi Leng rummaged through the largest plastic bag, saying to Min Zhi with a slightly helpless tone: “He doesn’t eat fresh pineapple, says it’s spicy… why so much… and pineapple beer too?”
Rong Xingyi glanced over.
Xi Leng quickly tied the plastic bag and shoved it under the table: “You can’t drink alcohol.”
“Tch.” Rong Xingyi scoffed. “I don’t want to drink it anyway.”
After dinner, it was still half an hour before eight o’clock.
They turned on the 85-inch TV, waiting for the premiere of “Unlimited Escape Room.” A group of bored people sat around the coffee table, and Qiao Yusen suddenly suggested: “Hey, let’s play a game.”
Everyone agreed, but Xi Leng said: “My didi doesn’t know how to play those drinking games.”
Rong Xingyi naturally wasn’t convinced: “Who says I don’t know how to play…”
Then he realized the full glass of pineapple juice with pulp in his hand looked a bit childish and quickly hid it behind his back.
“Let’s play something simple.” Qiao Yusen said with a smile. “Blackjack? Higher or Lower? Right, do you have any playing cards?”
“No cards.” Xi Leng said ruthlessly. “Xiao Yi isn’t good at math.”
The 15-year-old who kept getting targeted: “…?”
Luo Jiayan raised his hand weakly: “Um, I’m really not good at math…”
“You have to practice.” Qiao Yusen, the instigator, said. “Isn’t that right, Xiao Jiayan?”
“Let’s play Buzz, it’s simple.” Xi Leng suggested. “Taking turns counting, when we reach a multiple of seven or a number containing seven, we clap instead of saying it, those who make mistakes get penalized. Even middle schoolers can play.”
“Sure——”
Qiao Yusen readily agreed, then noticed Min Zhi’s meaningful look.
He slapped his forehead in realization, saying frustratedly: “Damn, why did I let you set the rules?”
Xi Leng looked at him, puzzled.
“That day at Jiayan’s birthday party, Min Zhi and I were also at the bar, we saw you.” Qiao Yusen, unable to keep his mouth shut, told Xi Leng everything they saw and heard that night. “The card game you played with Han Shao, that three-card sequence thing, black-black-red, red-black-black. Min Zhi said you won because of the probability advantage. He even lectured me, saying I should be the one setting the rules. And I just fell into the trap without even realizing it.”
“That wasn’t really setting the rules.” Xi Leng smiled. “I just suggested a game, we didn’t have to play it.”
“That’s true.” Qiao Yusen thought about it. The simpler the game, the harder it was to cheat. He might even be more experienced at Buzz than Xi Leng.
The rules of Buzz were simple. They took turns counting, and when a number containing 7 or a multiple of 7 appeared, they had to clap within three seconds. Taking too long, saying the wrong number, or clapping incorrectly all counted as a loss, and they would be penalized.
There were only five of them, some positions had a higher frequency of 7s, some lower. Qiao Yusen generously let the others choose their positions first, but soon after the game started, he disrupted the order.
Qiao Yusen smiled innocently, saying five numbers in a row: “100, 101, 102, 103, 104…”
The numbers were already beyond the multiplication table.
Rong Xingyi, who was next, froze for a moment, not noticing his brother’s subtle warning look, and blurted out: “105.”
Qiao Yusen smiled and pushed his glass towards him: “Drink your juice, didi.”
Rong Xingyi let out an annoyed “aiya.”
As the numbers grew larger, Luo Jiayan’s reaction slowed down. He made three mistakes in a row.
Qiao Yusen kindly changed the rules for him: “It’s fine, from now on, if you make a mistake, you don’t have to drink, just answer a question from someone else.”
“Then I’ll answer a question.” Luo Jiayan, with a clear conscience, put down his glass.
Min Zhi opened his mouth, but Qiao Yusen was faster, asking the question that had been on his mind: “Why do you call Xi Leng Ah Zhao?”
Xi Leng immediately answered before Luo Jiayan could: “My former name had the character Zhao in it.”
His former name was easy to guess, Rong Xingyi’s surname, plus the character Zhao.
And then? So what?
Most importantly, why was Luo Jiayan an exception?
“Okay, let’s continue.”
Qiao Yusen wasn’t very concerned and continued the game without batting an eye.
Qiao Yusen changed the rules to allow them to say any number of numbers at once. Xi Leng took advantage of this new rule, changing positions to become Rong Xingyi’s predecessor.
This way, he could control the numbers his didi had to say, preventing him from being penalized.
But his predecessor was now Min Zhi, so if either of them moved even slightly, they would touch.
Xi Leng sat stiffly, counting after Min Zhi: “403, 404.”
Rong Xingyi, however, froze again, suddenly clapping his hands together.
405 clearly wasn’t a multiple of 7.
Xi Leng said exasperatedly: “Are you stupid?”
“Then why did you say two numbers?” Rong Xingyi retorted. “I thought you were trying to trick me.”
Qiao Yusen burst out laughing: “Come on, didi, admit defeat.”
“I’ll take his place, my question.”
Although the 15-year-old only had to drink juice, Xi Leng still took the penalty for him.
Before Xi Leng could choose the penalty, Min Zhi asked: “Why did you change your name?”
Xi Leng froze.
He didn’t want to answer this question, his brows furrowing unconsciously, then relaxing as he forced it down. For his fan persona, he could only say to Min Zhi: “Let’s talk about this another time.”
Qiao Yusen’s slightly curved fox-like eyes held a glint of slyness, asking as if he simply wanted to continue the gossip: “Oh? Privately?”
Xi Leng nodded: “Mm-hmm.”
“Tsk, you can’t let us know?” Qiao Yusen chuckled. “Wait, that’s not right. Your didi definitely knows, Jiayan knows too. Doesn’t that mean I’m the only one who can’t know? I don’t accept this, drink.”
Just as Xi Leng reached for his glass.
Min Zhi snatched it without a word, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he downed it in one gulp.
He didn’t even glance at Qiao Yusen, his dark eyes fixed on Xi Leng, as if burning with a scorching flame, wanting to burn a hole in his face.
