This kind of late-night heartbreak scene isn’t limited to ordinary people; even wealthy, handsome men struggle to win over the ones they like.
For some reason, the mood of the onlookers seems to improve a bit.
Zhong Yi doesn’t remember how many cigarettes he has drawn, but suddenly lights appear in the distance as a car approaches and stops not far away.
He squints his eyes and sees a scowling Chi Xingyu getting out of the car, hands shoved into his pockets as he walks toward him.
“How much longer do you plan to stay out here?”
Chi Xingyu furrows his brow, looking at the countless cigarette butts, “…What are you doing?”
Is it really that serious?
Zhong Yi holds the cigarette and responds, “Are you here to watch a joke?”
“What joke are you talking about? I’m here to find you,” Chi Xingyu snatches the cigarette from Zhong Yi’s hand and extinguishes it in a nearby trash can. “Smoking this stuff does nothing but harm your health.”
Zhong Yi: “…”
He can’t believe he’s being lectured by a barely-adult kid.
Chi Xingyu clicks his tongue, “Just wait.”
He turns and goes into the convenience store where Zhong Yi had just bought something. After a while, he comes out with a bag, tossing it toward the front of the car, “Pick what you want.”
Zhong Yi glances at it, “Is this for me?”
The bag contains throat lozenges, water, and even an ice cream cone.
He honestly can’t believe that Chi Xingyu would come out just to check on him.
“What else?” Chi Xingyu replies, “If it weren’t for the production team’s instructions, I would have gone to bed ages ago. Who would still be out here with you in the middle of the night?”
Zhong Yi laughs, unwrapping the ice cream cone, “Then thank you.”
“Thanking me with just words is nothing,” Chi Xingyu extends his hand, “If you really want to thank me, give me that letter paper from Tong Sui you wrote just now.”
“Not a chance,” Zhong Yi bites down on his ice cream cone sharply, making a face from the cold, “It’s pretty good, do you want to try some?”
Chi Xingyu frowns in disdain.
He can’t believe he’s so foolish to come out in the middle of the night to find someone.
Chi Xingyu says, “Next time, don’t go for such grand gifts. Even though I’ve never been in a relationship, I understand this kind of approach will only scare people away.”
Who gives a diamond ring to someone they barely know?
If Tong Sui accepted it, people online would say he’s materialistic, and if he declines, it would seem insincere.
Zhong Yi argues, “Isn’t this a way of pursuing someone?”
Giving gifts to the one he likes, he believes he’s not in the wrong. Zhong Yi adds, “I have so many more things I want to give him.”
Chi Xingyu: “…”
He can’t help but want to pry open Zhong Yi’s mind and see: Is there really no other way besides money?
Chi Xingyu continues, “If we’re going by the logic that giving gifts determines someone’s love, then we wouldn’t need to record anymore; we’d just compete on who gives the most.”
Zhong Yi falls silent.
He indeed hasn’t thought that far because his family’s principle has always been to give the best to their loved ones.
The price is the standard for measuring value.
Chi Xingyu sighs, “Why am I even saying all this nonsense? Hurry up and eat, I want to go back to bed.”
Zhong Yi finishes his ice cream cone, makes sure to clean up all the trash before getting in the car.
The two return to the small house.
The staff have already gone to rest, leaving only the 24-hour shooting equipment.
Zhong Yi parks the car, “Didn’t you say the staff sent you to find me?”
Chi Xingyu: “…”
He didn’t expect this guy to react so quickly in this situation.
After all, Zhong Yi is an adult; the production team wouldn’t worry about him going out. It’s his personal freedom.
The two push the glass door open one after the other, and the temperature in the dark, empty villa hall is even colder than outside.
Suddenly, a rustling sound comes from the sofa, and a shadow pops out.
“What the hell!?”
Zhong Yi, startled, hides behind Chi Xingyu, clutching his shoulders in fear, “What was that?”
Chi Xingyu tears Zhong Yi away and presses the lamp nearby.
The hall lights up instantly.
Tong Sui is kneeling on the sofa, looking a bit dazed, apparently just woke up from a nap, and is still wrapped in a small blanket.
“What are you doing sleeping here?” Chi Xingyu asks, “Did Jiang Ciyuan kick you out?”
He immediately realizes that’s not possible.
Jiang Ciyuan chose Tong Sui himself; he would love for Tong Sui to sleep in the same bed, why would he want to kick him out?
Tong Sui replies, “No, I was waiting for him to come back.”
He walks toward Zhong Yi and returns the ring.
“I was afraid I’d miss your return time, so I waited here.”
Zhong Yi is stunned. What has he done? He actually made the person he likes wait on the sofa?
He feels so despicable.
He’s almost unworthy of being part of the Zhong family!
Seeing him in shock, Tong Sui puts the ring into his palm, saying, “I didn’t expect that letter paper would cause such a big misunderstanding. I’m sorry.”
He thought what he had written was sufficiently polite.
He never imagined Zhong Yi would react so strongly.
Zhong Yi hurriedly says, “No, no, no, you don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who was wrong; I was self-absorbed and ran out, making you wait for me.”
He bends down, performing a perfect ninety-degree bow.
As the heir of the Zhong family, Zhong Yi has lived this long, and never once has he bowed or even apologized.
He feels like a tall flower, never bowing to wind and rain, unless love itself breaks him down.
A gentle breeze brushes past Tong Sui’s nose; he sniffs the air and leans a bit closer, “What scent do you have?”
A faint smell of tobacco.
“Did you smoke?”
Zhong Yi instantly stiffens and steps back a few paces, saying, “This time is an exception! I don’t usually smoke, and I have no other bad habits; I’m very healthy! I can show you my health report.”