Chapter 51

Silence fell for a few seconds.

Mi Bin and He Linfang’s faces were filled with disbelief. They bent down to glance at Mi Zhao before asking, “What are you doing?”

It was just a four-person table—sitting was fine, but once someone crawled under the table, the space felt cramped. Though Mi Zhao wasn’t the tallest, he was still a grown man over 1.8 meters tall. Curled up among the table legs, chair legs, and human legs, he looked both awkward and ridiculous.

He pulled his cap lower over his head and raised a hand to cover his face, frantically giving Mi Bin and He Linfang meaningful looks.

He Linfang asked, “What’s wrong?”

Mi Zhao’s expression was so bitter it seemed like he could wring water from it. “I ran into someone I know.”

“Who? Is it really that scary?” He Linfang was both amused and puzzled, even making a move to look out the window.

Mi Zhao panicked. There was no way he could let his parents and Li Sipei run into each other. He shot up from under the table and positioned himself between them and the window, blocking their line of sight.

“Don’t look! It’s just a classmate. If you look, he’ll notice me!”

He Linfang was curious, but seeing how her son was practically on the verge of tears, she relented and tugged at Mi Bin’s sleeve just as he was about to peek out.

“Fine, fine, we won’t look,” she said kindly. “But we’re sitting right by the window. People outside can see us at a glance. Should we change seats?”

“Yes!” Mi Zhao jumped at the opportunity and quickly called the waiter over to request a different table.

At his urging, his parents soon moved to a spot near the wall. To ensure more cover, he deliberately picked a location surrounded by potted plants and decorative stands.

With that, their original window-side table was now empty.

Outside, Li Sipei stood still, staring at the now-vacant spot.

The shareholders walking with him didn’t dare move forward. They followed his gaze, looking around for a long time but seeing nothing unusual.

” President Li, are you planning to sit there later?” Mr. Wang asked cautiously.

Li Sipei withdrew his gaze and replied, “Sure. The view is good there.”

“It is,” the other shareholders chimed in. “Such a big glass window, and so clean too. Whether you’re inside looking out or outside looking in, you can see everything clearly.”

Li Sipei’s expression remained unchanged, but his thoughts drifted.

Yes.

With such a large window, even someone scrambling under the table in a panic was perfectly visible.

—

Back at the new table, Mi Zhao sat down, his heart still racing. He patted his chest, trying to calm himself.

Luckily, he had reacted quickly—otherwise, Li Sipei would have seen them.

He Linfang had been observing him closely. Seeing her son’s complicated expression, his face alternating between pale and flushed, she frowned slightly. “Son, tell me honestly. Was that really your classmate?”

How could it be a classmate?

Even if he had been born ten years earlier, he and Li Sipei wouldn’t have been classmates.

But a lie, once told, had to be covered with more lies. He wiped his face and forced a smile. “Yeah, a classmate.”

He Linfang narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She and her son were alike in this—when they doubted or were displeased, they tended to squint, their expressions giving away their thoughts.

“Really?” In the past, she might have believed him. But after everything that had happened, she couldn’t help but overthink it. “Are you sure it wasn’t that boyfriend of yours?”

Mi Zhao: ”…”

They say no one knows a child better than their mother—he was starting to believe it.

“No, I already told you it was a classmate.” Mi Zhao forced himself to stay calm. Fortunately, at that moment, the waiter arrived with their food. His face reddened as he urged, “Okay, let’s eat. My classmate’s aunt will be here soon.”

He Linfang didn’t buy his story, but Mi Zhao was right about one thing—the exhibition organizer would be arriving soon, and they couldn’t afford any distractions right now.

After thinking it over, she decided to let it go for now. But after a while, she still couldn’t hold back and muttered, “Your boyfriend is way too timid. You might as well break up sooner rather than later.”

She and Mi Bin had both assumed that Mi Zhao had already broken up with his partner, but judging by his reaction, it seemed like things weren’t completely over yet—just a messy, lingering entanglement.

Mi Zhao stared at the table full of food, suddenly losing his appetite.

His mind kept replaying the image of Li Sipei standing outside the window.

Why had Li Sipei come here?

It seemed like he was there for business. Maybe he was dining with those people?

There were many office buildings near the Plaza, which meant plenty of high-end restaurants as well. The Michelin-starred restaurant upstairs from this very place was quite famous.

Maybe that was where Li Sipei was headed?

Mi Zhao propped his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

Wherever Li Sipei was going, it definitely wouldn’t be this place. He couldn’t even imagine a group of well-dressed businessmen sitting around a table, wrapping roast duck in thin pancakes.

Honestly, there had been no need for him to hide. His parents didn’t know Li Sipei, and Li Sipei wouldn’t have come over to announce their relationship.

After all, they didn’t really have a relationship anymore.

By reacting so dramatically, he’d only made himself look guilty.

After just a few bites, Mi Zhao set his chopsticks down and stood up. “You two keep eating. I’m going to the restroom.”

After finishing up, he washed his hands and called Yu Xingteng’s aunt to confirm her arrival time.

She had just wrapped up her matters, and her voice was slightly breathless as she hurried toward the parking lot.

Mi Zhao quickly assured her, “No rush. Come whenever you can.”

As he hung up, he suddenly heard the sound of a cane tapping lightly against the floor.

He looked up—and in the mirror, he locked eyes with Li Sipei standing behind him.

Mi Zhao: ”…”

His whole body went rigid, as if all the blood in his veins had stopped flowing.

He had no idea when Li Sipei had entered, but there were only two sinks in the restroom. Unknowingly, while making his call, he had positioned himself right between them.

Unfortunately, he didn’t realize this until Li Sipei, leaning on his cane, walked up to him and said indifferently, “Excuse me.”

Mi Zhao snapped out of his daze and hurriedly stepped aside.

Li Sipei didn’t spare him a glance. He washed his hands expressionlessly, pulled out a paper towel, and dried them.

Mi Zhao clutched his phone tightly, feeling the heat slowly rise to his face. Rationally, he knew that he and Li Sipei were now strangers, and there was no need to greet each other even if they met again. But emotionally, he couldn’t bring himself to move.

The unpleasant parting that night replayed in his mind like a slow-motion film, deeply imprinted in his memory.

He watched as Li Sipei threw the paper towel into the trash, then leaned on his cane, ready to leave.

“Um…” His voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

The restroom was exceptionally quiet, and although Li Sipei had almost reached the door, he still caught the sound. He paused mid-step before slowly turning his head.

The familiar eye contact made Mi Zhao’s chest ache even more. He often wondered—how had things come to this? Not long ago, they had been fine.

Oh, right. He was the one who distanced himself first.

He had thought that retreating to square one, pretending nothing had happened, would return his life to normal. But he had underestimated the habits he had developed over the past few months.

“I left in a hurry that day and forgot to say something,” Mi Zhao said, stuffing his phone into his pocket. It felt as if there was an invisible string pulling at his heart, tightening with every second.

Li Sipei fully turned around, his expression indifferent. “Go ahead.”

Mi Zhao dug his nails into his palm, his voice growing smaller. “I’m sorry.”

Li Sipei only looked at him in silence.

These words had been bottled up inside Mi Zhao for a long time. When rehearsing in his mind, they had flowed smoothly, but now they came out in a stammer. “I—I wasted your feelings. If I had known I was mistaken back then, I…”

The words got stuck again.

“What?” Li Sipei suddenly asked. “You wouldn’t have started with me? You would have run as far away as possible?”

Mi Zhao stared at him blankly, unable to respond.

After a long pause, he shook his head.

He didn’t know.

Maybe he would have hesitated, but after struggling with it, he would have still made the same choice. Only now, he and Li Sipei had ended up on a completely different path.

Li Sipei gave him a deep look, then turned and walked away.

“I—I still would have chosen to be with you.” Mi Zhao’s voice rang out.

Li Sipei abruptly turned back, eyes wide in shock.

Mi Zhao’s chest heaved violently, like a balloon suddenly filled with air—only to deflate just as quickly. He lowered his gaze, not daring to look in Li Sipei’s direction, and murmured, “From the beginning, as lovers.”

The sound of footsteps and the steady tapping of the cane on the floor grew louder. Before Mi Zhao could react, Li Sipei had already closed the distance between them, grabbing his wrist.

Li Sipei’s face was inches away, his breath warm against Mi Zhao’s skin. Those light brown eyes, reflecting the light, seemed to burn with a hidden fire.

He hadn’t controlled his strength. Mi Zhao’s wrist hurt from the grip, his eyes widening in shock. He was so stunned that he forgot to resist.

“Then why didn’t you come find me?” Li Sipei stared him down. “You have my WeChat. You have my number. You know where I live. Why didn’t you come? You say you feel sorry, yet you waited for me to come to you.”

Mi Zhao opened his mouth hesitantly. “I…”

But the rest of the words wouldn’t come out.

“If I hadn’t come to find you, were you really planning to end things just like that?”

“…”

“Mi Zhao.” Li Sipei’s nose was practically touching his, his voice filled with restrained frustration and anger. “Answer me.”

Mi Zhao could only see Li Sipei’s face, so close to his. Thinking about all the turmoil he had endured these past few weeks, his eyes reddened. He didn’t know if it was the rush of emotions or the confined space clouding his mind, but suddenly, he reached up and grabbed Li Sipei’s collar.

Li Sipei was caught off guard.

Taking advantage of the moment, Mi Zhao tilted his head up and kissed him.

Rather than a gentle kiss, it was more like a desperate bite. He skipped all the prelude, prying open Li Sipei’s lips with his tongue, sweeping through the familiar space, plundering and claiming.

Li Sipei finally realized what was happening. He grabbed Mi Zhao by the collar, trying to push him away.

But Mi Zhao refused to let go. Like a piece of sticky candy, he clung to Li Sipei stubbornly, even using both his arms and legs. Seizing the moment, he broke free from Li Sipei’s grip, wrapped his arms around his neck, and deepened the kiss.

The air between them grew thinner and thinner.

Li Sipei couldn’t pull him off and had no choice but to push back with his tongue.

In response, Mi Zhao bit down.

Li Sipei’s eyes widened instantly.

Fearing he had bitten too hard, Mi Zhao quickly licked the spot apologetically. Saliva slipped from the corner of his lips. He wiped it away with his thumb, his eyes red at the corners as he looked at Li Sipei.

“I’m sorry.” His lips were swollen from the intensity of the kiss, his voice hoarse. “I wanted to find you, but I didn’t dare. My mind has been a mess.”

Li Sipei’s gaze lingered on his lips. He pressed a finger against them before using his palm to push Mi Zhao’s face away. “Stop talking like that.”

Mi Zhao tilted his head and, shamelessly, leaned against Li Sipei’s shoulder. “Weren’t you supposed to be here for a meal? Did you actually come here just to find me?”

Li Sipei only responded, “Move.”

“Answer me first.”

Mi Zhao’s face was burning, but he still refused to let go. Instead, he pressed even closer.

Then—

Thud!

Supporting himself with just one cane, Li Sipei lost balance and fell backward, dragging Mi Zhao down with him.

The two of them crashed to the ground.

Thanks to having Li Sipei as a cushion—and Li Sipei shielding his head—Mi Zhao was completely unharmed. But Li Sipei, on the other hand, took the full brunt of the fall, his expression turning blank from the pain.

Mi Zhao’s face turned pale with fear. He scrambled up, hands and feet flailing. “Li Sipei!”

Twenty minutes later, an ambulance arrived, sirens blaring, rushing Li Sipei to the hospital.