Chapter 9

The guest list for the banquet was arranged by Father Zhu, and all the attendees were prominent figures from various fields. Father Zhu would never allow a poor boy to appear at a Zhu family gathering.

Perhaps because he had been staring for too long, Xi Wan paused his pen and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“What’s wrong?”

Zhu Shiyan pretended to be casual as he pushed the gift toward him, reminding, “Today is my birthday.”

Xi Wan nodded. “Yes, I know.”

Though he couldn’t invite him to the birthday banquet himself, and he had already said he wouldn’t give him an expensive gift, Xi Wan’s indifferent reaction left Zhu Shiyan feeling inexplicably unsettled.

Even little Qiao Li had come early in the morning to shower him with praise and brought homemade cookies, yet the male lead remained completely indifferent.

Did he not consider him a friend at all?

Had it always been one-sided on his part?

He looked at Xi Wan with a face full of grievance. After a moment of eye contact, Xi Wan softly said, “Happy birthday.”

He sincerely hoped that his young master would be healthy, safe, and happy every day.

“That’s more like it,” Zhu Shiyan said, then hesitated, “So, about my birthday banquet... um...”

Seeming to guess what he wanted to say, Xi Wan shook his head. “I know, it’s okay.”

He had long known that the Zhu family would hold a birthday banquet for Zhu Shiyan and was fully aware he couldn’t attend. His heart was calm, free of resentment or jealousy. Instead, the other’s guilt over not inviting him stirred his emotions.

“But,” he asked seriously, “after the banquet, can I have half an hour of your time?”

“Of course.” Zhu Shiyan smiled slightly. “Nine o’clock tonight, wait for me here.”

“No, the classroom will be locked at nine.”

Zhu Shiyan thought for a moment, then wrote a string of numbers on a piece of paper and handed it to him. “This is the door code to the apartment you’ve been to before. Wait for me there.”

Xi Wan clenched his fingers slightly and took the note.

“Alright.”

The Zhu family had four children in total. Zhu Shiyan had an older sister and older brother—one ten years older, the other six years older—both fiercely competing for power within the company. The banquet was ostensibly to celebrate Zhu Shiyan’s birthday but was, in reality, a stage for their political games. Few truly cared about him.

After the formalities were over, Zhu Shiyan retreated to a corner, waiting for the right moment to slip away unnoticed and find Xi Wan.

Chu Junyuan extracted himself from the crowd and sat beside him, sighing, “Sister Yun is really impressive. Compared to her, Brother Cheng is far behind, and that illegitimate son is even worse. The Zhu family’s drama is truly lively.”

Zhu Shiyan: “...Did you forget I’m also a Zhu?”

“Oh, sorry,” Chu Junyuan apologized half-heartedly, then clicked his tongue, eyes gleaming with anticipation. “That illegitimate son is coming after you.”

Just then, a man holding a wine glass approached Zhu Shiyan with a friendly smile: “Xiao Yan, can we talk alone?”

Chu Junyuan stood up, sensing his mother was looking for him. “My mom seems to be calling me. I’ll go first.”

As he left, Zhu Chang sat down beside Zhu Shiyan, speaking gently, “Xiao Yan, how’s your study going? Any difficulties? If so, you can tell your brother; I can help.”

Zhu Shiyan looked at him, speechless, and shifted slightly away.

Zhu Chang seemed oblivious and continued to fuss over him.

Zhu Shiyan listened absentmindedly, not understanding his purpose. They barely saw each other all year, yet Zhu Chang acted as if they were close, desperately trying to cozy up to him.

But as he listened, Zhu Shiyan caught the underlying meaning.

Within two years of Zhu’s mother’s death, Father Zhu blatantly brought his illegitimate son into the family. Ironically, this son was six years older than Zhu Shiyan, the same age as Zhu Cheng.

Zhu Tingyun and Zhu Cheng were furious but lacked power, forced to watch the illegitimate son gain status. Though often at odds, they agreed on one thing: to block his entry into the company by any means.

So now, Zhu Chang was seeking allies.

Zhu Shiyan found it amusing. Aside from being uninterested in the Zhu family’s power struggles, the birthday banquet alone showed how little Father Zhu cared about his youngest son.

What use was Zhu Chang to him?

Even if he were the elder illegitimate son, why would Zhu Shiyan side with him?

Zhu Chang kept spinning promises, but Zhu Shiyan cut him off and feigned innocence: “Brother Chang, I remember you and Brother Cheng graduate this year. So whose graduation ceremony will Dad attend?”

Zhu Chang’s expression froze, barely keeping a straight face.

He hadn’t expected this seemingly soft kid to be so sharp.

He took a deep breath, gave a perfunctory reply, then tried to persuade him to pick a side again. Zhu Shiyan remained unmoved, letting the words slide in one ear and out the other, responding only superficially.

Seeing he couldn’t persuade him, Zhu Chang sneered, “Xiao Yan, you’re still young and don’t understand human complexity. Don’t blame me if you end up with nothing.”

Zhu Shiyan ignored the threat with a slight smile. “Brother Chang, if there’s nothing else, I have to go.”

He had arranged to meet Xi Wan at nine, and Zhu Chang’s interruption had delayed him. Time was almost up.

Amidst the bustling crowd of clinking glasses, no one paid attention to him. He texted Chu Junyuan, preparing to slip away quietly.

As he bent to leave, a pair of slender, fair legs blocked his path. Zhu Tingyun leaned against the doorframe, a cigarette in her left hand, glancing at him coolly. “Where are you going?”

Zhu Shiyan pressed against the wall, shifting anxiously. “I just want some fresh air.”

Zhu Tingyun blew out smoke. “Be honest.”

Most people’s first impression of Zhu Tingyun was a stunning movie star—delicate features, flowing dark curls, a perfectly shaped figure—far from the ruthless businesswoman she was reputed to be. Yet, under the male chauvinist Father Zhu, she still managed to overshadow the others, proving her exceptional cunning.

Zhu Shiyan straightened and replied honestly, “I’m meeting a classmate.”

Zhu Tingyun hummed, disinterested, and looked back at her phone.

Zhu Shiyan glanced at her and tentatively stepped outside.

“Sis, you’re not stopping me?”

Zhu Tingyun raised an eyelid. “You said you’re meeting a classmate. Why would I stop you?”

Zhu Shiyan nearly thought he wouldn’t get out today. Hearing her words, he bolted, “Thanks, sis!”

After a few steps, Zhu Tingyun’s cold voice came from behind him, “Xiao Yan, remember, you’re my brother. No matter what, I will never harm you.”

Zhu Shiyan paused briefly, nodded slowly, then disappeared.

Zhu Tingyun glanced at someone nearby, her expression chilling.

Despite hurrying, Zhu Shiyan was late. When he pushed open the door, he almost thought no one was there.

The main light was off, only a soft glow from a table lamp beside the sofa. Xi Wan turned his head at the noise, eyes fixed on him.

“Sorry.”

Zhu Shiyan sat down beside him. “Have you been waiting long?”

“No.” Xi Wan’s voice was hoarse as he spoke, then paused. “I just got here too.”

Zhu Shiyan glanced at the clock; it was exactly ten o’clock.

“Just got here?” What a lie.

He explained, “Got caught up with some things, didn’t mean to be late.”

“Mm.” Xi Wan shook his head slightly. “It’s okay.”

His presence was already a pleasant surprise.

Xi Wan had actually arrived at seven. When he stood at the door entering the code, his mind was blank.

When Zhu Shiyan gave him the door code, he accepted it without much thought. Only when he heard the lock clicking did it feel real.

He really... gave him the door code.

Xi Wan was always cautious even entering his own home; forgetting his key meant waiting outside all night. Yet Zhu Shiyan casually handed over the code.

From talking to him, helping him fight, bringing him home, sitting with him, calling him to play, to giving him the apartment code—he seemed to be gradually woven into this person’s life, like he was truly... becoming a friend.

And friends celebrate birthdays together.

As nine o’clock approached, his fingers trembled nervously, but the door remained shut. His heart sank, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of disappointment.

He knew he didn’t deserve to appear at the birthday banquet, so he only wanted a little time with him to celebrate, to fool himself into thinking he was just like his other friends.

The longer he waited, the less hope he had. So when Zhu Shiyan finally appeared at the door, he stared blankly, unable to react immediately.

Zhu Shiyan had run all the way from the car and collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. “I came in a hurry and didn’t bring you anything. Have you eaten dinner?”

“Yes, I have.”

Xi Wan hesitated, then got up, took a small cake from the fridge, and pushed it towards him. “I prepared this. Want some?”

“Sure, I didn’t eat much tonight anyway.”

Zhu Shiyan sat up, surprised by the cake’s exquisite packaging. As he unwrapped it, he chided him, “This cake must’ve been expensive. I told you not to—”

He swallowed the rest of the sentence, struggling to swallow the cake, and said delicately, “This cake tastes quite unique.”

Which bakery made this? It was a miracle they hadn’t gone out of business.