"How could you let this happen?" Mo Fei cried.
Chen Yu stared at him. "What do you mean, how could I let it happen?" he said. "I wasn't even there."
"This is a disaster…" Mo Fei covered his face with both hands. "How could I have let this happen?" He wanted the ground to open beneath him and swallow him whole.
The memories had returned.
Every terrible piece.
The staircase. His hand gripping Zhang Yichen's trousers.
The fact that Zhang Yichen, of all people, had brought him home. Mo Fei wanted to die.
No.
That was too simple. He wanted to evaporate.
At that moment, the door swung open and Louis walked in. Mo Fei and Chen Yu turned at the same time.
The moment Mo Fei saw him, his expression darkened. "You!"
Louis sensed danger immediately and raised both hands in surrender. "I can explain."
"You better," Mo Fei said, glaring at him. Even if the heavens personally came down to plead, he would not forgive Louis for abandoning him. "You abandoned me!" Louis had told him to tread carefully, then vanished at pickup time like a deadbeat fairy godmother.
"I had an emergency," Louis said.
Chen Yu, who was calmly pouring hot water into another cup, added, "Your emergency made him beg Zhang Yichen to take him home."
Mo Fei turned to look at him.
Why? Why was Chen Yu in the mood to add seasoning to his suffering?
Louis blinked. "He what?" he asked slowly. "Run that by me again?"
Chen Yu walked over and handed him the cup.
"Coffee?"
Louis accepted it automatically, still waiting for an answer.
"Don't," Mo Fei warned.
Chen Yu smiled at him. His eyes were bright with shameless enjoyment. "It's not that bad, Feifei."
Hearing that, Mo Fei sank to the ground again in despair. Who had he offended? Not only had he gotten completely wasted from alcohol, he had held onto Zhang Yichen.
Yichen, of all people.
How was he supposed to face him now? That man was the one person Mo Fei always seemed to embarrass himself around. Who had he forgotten to pray to?
Which god was in charge of this fate?
Please stop.
Louis looked down at him. "I didn't know you were close to Yichen."
Mo Fei raised one hand weakly. "I am not."
Chen Yu bent down to face him. "Really? The way he carried you said otherwise."
Mo Fei's head snapped up. "You better shut your mouth, Chen Yu. And I mean you better zip it before I bite you." He clenched his teeth threateningly.
Chen Yu burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! You should have seen him, Louis. He looked so adorable sleeping in Yichen's arms."
Louis merely shook his head.
Mo Fei pressed both hands to his ears. "Please… stop."
"Come on, it's nothing." Chen Yu reached out a hand. "Get up and have breakfast."
Mo Fei stared at him for a second before reluctantly taking his hand and standing.
Chen Yu guided him back to the counter and placed a bowl in front of him. "Here. Have some porridge. You need strength to face your husband later."
Mo Fei slowly raised the spoon. "I will evict you from my life."
Chen Yu smirked. "Will Zhang Yichen take me in too?"
Mo Fei, "…"
Yes. Chen Yu was definitely enjoying this.
Better to ignore him. Mo Fei looked down at the food in front of him and took a bite.
The sweet, warm flavour filled his mouth, and for one blessed second, every disaster in his life disappeared. He would rather not dine with the enemy right now, but the food was too good. His mood made an immediate turnaround.
"So," Louis said, watching him carefully. "You did well last night?"
Mo Fei swallowed another mouthful. "Where were you? I called."
"Ah." Louis sighed. "I had to take care of something urgently, and I lost track of time. When I called later, Chen Yu answered your phone and said you got home safely."
"Some manager you are," Mo Fei scoffed.
"I apologize," Louis said. "I didn't mean for that to happen. But thankfully, Zhang Yichen helped."
"Fuck that," Mo Fei cursed.
Chen Yu laughed again. Mo Fei tightened his grip on the spoon.
Breakfast had never tasted so good and so humiliating.
______________________________
"What else do you want from me?" the man yelled, his voice shaking. "I've given you everything I have!"
"What else?" Yichen smirked coldly, holding the gun to the man's head. "Do you really not know, Mr. Jude?"
"Please," Mr. Jude pleaded, kneeling in front of him. "I've given you everything. I have no more."
Yichen frowned.
Then, with a sharp movement, he tossed the gun aside and grabbed Jude by the neck, hauling him up.
"You simple fool," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Do you intend to mock me?" His eyes darkened. "I came for your soul."
"And… cut!"
The director's voice rang through the set.
Immediately, the tense atmosphere broke.
Yichen released the man from his grasp. The actor playing Jude straightened and bowed politely to him.
"It's always nice working with you, Mr. Zhang."
Yichen's cold expression vanished, replaced by a faint, courteous smile. He bowed in return. "Thank you."
The director walked up to him, looking deeply satisfied. "Yichen, you never cease to amaze me."
Today was the last day of filming for an upcoming drama, and once again, Zhang Yichen had delivered his scene perfectly. Every line and shift in expression had been controlled with the kind of precision that reminded everyone why he stood where he did in the industry.
Yichen merely smiled.
After exchanging a few words, he excused himself and walked away from the set. As he passed, several attendants and crew members greeted him warmly.
"Mr. Zhang."
"Yichen, great work today."
"Congratulations on wrapping up."
He responded politely to each one, calm and distant as always.
"Yichen!"
The director called out again.
Yichen stopped and turned back.
"This is the last scene, and filming has officially wrapped," Director Tiller said with a smile. "Why don't you join us for a drink to celebrate?"
"Oh, I would like to," Yichen replied smoothly. "Unfortunately, I already have plans, Director Tiller."
"Oh." Director Tiller rubbed the back of his head, a little disappointed. "All right, then. We'll see you at the preview."
Yichen bowed once more. "Sure."
Then he turned and left. He did not have the energy to hang around and celebrate.
Shooting this drama had exhausted him over the past five months. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to go home, shower, and sleep it all off.
He left the filming building and walked toward where his Lamborghini was parked. Soon, the car sped along the highway. Not long after, his phone rang.
Yichen glanced at the screen.
Sima Li
He picked it up and answered.
"Yes?"
"Yichen, are you done?" Sima Li asked from the other end.
"Yes. What do you want?" His voice already sounded annoyed.
"Eh? Is that any way to talk to your one and only friend?"
"If you don't get to the point, I'll end this call."
"You…" Sima Li clicked his tongue. "You're unbearable."
"Goodbye."
"Wait, wait!" Sima Li said quickly. "Fine, then. Let's have a drink."
Yichen's brows drew together. "Yesterday wasn't enough for you?" Hadn't this idiot spent most of the Vogue party drinking with Mo Fei?
Speaking of Mo Fei…
The ache in Zhang Yichen's arm seemed to react the moment he remembered him.
His arm still hurt. He had shot the last scene of the drama today, and lifting that man had only made the strain worse.
"Ugh, you're no fun," Sima Li whined. "Just have one drink with me. I haven't seen you in ages."
Yichen sighed tiredly. "No."
"No?" Sima Li sounded baffled. "If you refuse, I'll bring the party to your place."
Yichen felt a headache forming. He was tired and his arm ached.
Damn Mo Fei. If it had not been for him, he would have had one less thing to worry about. Yet…
His car came to a stop at a red light. Yichen leaned back in his seat, phone still in hand... and yet, he had not minded when Mo Fei fell asleep in his arms.
He had known Mo Fei for a while, but that had been the first time they had ever been so close. The way Mo Fei had stubbornly refused his help after asking for it, mumbled nonsense under his breath and had slept so quietly against him while Yichen carried him up to his apartment.
And he had to be drunk. Yichen chuckled under his breath.
"Hey… hey… helloooo?" Sima Li's voice dragged him back to reality.
Yichen's expression cooled at once. "What?" he snapped.
"Have one drink with me, for heaven's sake!" Sima Li cried.
"No. I'm busy. Get lost."
With that, Yichen hung up and tossed the phone aside.
He looked up.
The light had turned green.
Yichen stepped on the accelerator, and the Lamborghini sped forward once again.