Isn’t money good?

Chapter 26.1

The restaurant Wen Chen chose was a private dining establishment with an elegant and tranquil atmosphere. It operated on a membership basis, so there was no need to worry about being blocked by fans.

After Yan Shiqiu arrived and gave Wen Chen’s name, the server led him to a private room.

The room faced a garden with artificial mountains and flowing water, plus a Suzhou-style corridor. The pond in the middle was filled with blooming lotus flowers. Even at night, the bright lighting made the scenery quite beautiful.

A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers throughout the garden.

He ordered a cup of tea and sipped it while admiring the view outside the window.

Ten minutes later, Wen Chen and Ji Yunnian were led in one after another. The two seemed to be chatting happily about something.

Hearing them, Yan Shiqiu turned around. Seeing them enter together, he asked, “Did you come together?”

“No, we ran into each other in the parking lot.” Wen Chen said.

Since Yan Shiqiu had informed them beforehand, neither was surprised to see the other.

“You two are quite in sync.” Yan Shiqiu said with a smile, propping up his face. “It’s fate, you should cherish it.”

“Just a coincidence.” Wen Chen waved his hand dismissively, then turned the conversation to him. “How are you doing? Have you been eating and resting properly?”

After speaking, Wen Chen stared at him as if trying to assess his physical condition.

“Very, very well. I’m eating well, sleeping well, and I even gained a pound.”

With that, Yan Shiqiu stood up and spun around in front of him before sitting back down, flashing a bright smile. “Are you reassured now?”

Wen Chen had been on a business trip abroad and only learned a few days ago that Yan Shiqiu had been broken up with by Ye Peiyuan.

Despite the time difference making it the middle of the night there, he immediately called, worried that Yan Shiqiu might do something foolish. Even though Yan Shiqiu said he was fine, Wen Chen still couldn’t rest easy.

So as soon as he returned from his trip, he arranged this dinner.

“Yes, I’m reassured.” Wen Chen reached out and gently patted his head, looking at him with soft eyes as he coaxed gently, “Our Shiqiu is so excellent, how could you worry about finding someone? There are plenty of people better than Ye Peiyuan. Your cousin will introduce you to someone better next time.”

He suddenly turned to look at Ji Yunnian and said with a smile, “Yunnian would be perfect.”

Ji Yunnian was unexpectedly called out. He glanced at Yan Shiqiu and spoke his first words of the evening: “Yan Shiqiu is too excellent, I’m not worthy.”

Yan Shiqiu immediately pushed back: “No, no, no, I’m the one who’s not worthy.”

“I’m not worthy.”

“I’m not worthy.”

Ji Yunnian nodded. “Alright, you’re not worthy.”

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

My heart!

“I actually think you two are quite compatible.” Wen Chen couldn’t help but laugh. “Like just now. If you were together, your daily life would definitely be full of joy.”

Ji Yunnian: “…”

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

No, that wasn’t joy.

“Brother, stop playing matchmaker. Right now I just want to focus on my career, make lots of money, then lie on top of it and sleep!” Yan Shiqiu quickly stopped this topic. Tonight he was supposed to be the matchmaker. He couldn’t let his job be stolen.

“I’m hungry. Let’s order.” He quickly pressed the bell to call the server.

After ordering, he also requested a bottle of red wine, giving himself an excuse for Ji Yunnian to drive Wen Chen home.

The food arrived quickly, six dishes in total, all exquisitely prepared.

Wen Chen liked fish but wasn’t good at removing bones.

Yan Shiqiu deliberately ordered fish, hoping Ji Yunnian would show his “boyfriend power” by helping remove the bones. However, Ji Yunnian wasn’t proactive at all. Like a wooden block, he didn’t notice Wen Chen’s difficulty.

?

He stared at Ji Yunnian.

Ji Yunnian probably noticed his gaze and looked up with an inquiring expression.

…Fine then.

I’ll do it myself!

“Ji Yunnian, help my brother remove the fish bones.”

“?” Ji Yunnian looked at him strangely, then shifted his gaze to Wen Chen. Seeing the messy fish meat on Wen Chen’s plate, he finally reached out.

“No need.” Wen Chen tried to stop him, but Yan Shiqiu pulled his hand back. “Let him help.”

Ji Yunnian also said, “It’s no trouble, just a small favor.”

“Thanks then.”

“Don’t mention it. You’ve always taken care of me too.” Ji Yunnian’s eyes showed a hint of warmth. “Do you remember when I was eighteen and had a high fever? My parents weren’t around, no one was home, and you specially came to my house and took care of me all night.”

“I remember. Your brother was scared to death by you, but he was on a business trip out of town and couldn’t rush back.”

“Fortunately you came.”

…

While eating, Yan Shiqiu observed the two men with his peripheral vision. He noticed that Ji Yunnian looked even more handsome under the lighting, and Wen Chen was looking at Ji Yunnian. As they chatted, their faces lit up with full smiles whenever they made eye contact.

He was satisfied and silently gave himself a mental thumbs up.

Not bad—successfully taking the first step.

Next, he needed to leave.

A world for two would help their feelings warm up!

Yan Shiqiu took out his phone and quickly sent Fu Baiqing a WeChat message asking him to call, then put down his chopsticks and waited.

Half a minute later, Fu Baiqing’s call came as planned.

He quickly answered.

“Something very important?”

“Oh, oh, wait for me, I’ll come over right away.”

After hanging up, Yan Shiqiu said apologetically, “Fu Baiqing says there’s something important he needs my help with. I have to go.”

“What is it? Do you need me to drive you?” Wen Chen offered.

“No need, no need. Zhou Yu is nearby, and you just drank alcohol so you can’t drive.” He looked at Ji Yunnian. “You drive my brother home later.”

Ji Yunnian looked at him.

Yan Shiqiu looked back, unblinking.

Ji Yunnian looked away first. “Got it. I’ll take Wen Chen home.”

Very good.

Yan Shiqiu was satisfied. He picked up his phone and said to Wen Chen, “I’ll go first then. Let’s have dinner together again next time.”

“Text me when you get home…”

Before Wen Chen could finish, Yan Shiqiu had already disappeared.

Wen Chen shook his head, still worried. “I don’t know what it is. I hope Shiqiu can handle it.”

Ji Yunnian looked down and methodically peeled shrimp, saying meaningfully, “Don’t worry, he can definitely handle it well.”

—

After leaving the private restaurant, Yan Shiqiu got into Zhou Yu’s car and went straight home.

On the way, Fu Baiqing called. “What’s the situation? Were you dragged to some annoying dinner? Otherwise why would you need my remote assistance? Let me tell you, boys need to know how to protect themselves too, especially handsome and good-looking boys like us. Don’t go out alone with people you don’t know well.”

“No, I just didn’t want to be a shining light bulb, and they needed their world for two.”

Yan Shiqiu leaned back in his seat, hugged a pillow, and spoke in a lazy tone with a hint of amusement, teasingly asking, “You seem to have a lot of experience?”

“I read it in novels.” Fu Baiqing said.

“BL novels?”

“Yeah.” Suddenly Fu Baiqing’s voice shot up several octaves. “Holy shit, a kindred spirit?!”

After a pause, he returned to normal tone. “Wait, you already like guys anyway.”

He quickly added, “I don’t mean anything by that. Whatever your orientation is, we’re still good friends.”

Yan Shiqiu laughed.

“Thanks for tonight. When I get home, I’ll get online and carry you in the game.”

“Really? Then I’ll wait for you.” His tone was very cheerful.

After getting home and taking a shower, Yan Shiqiu kept his promise and settled comfortably on the sofa in his loungewear, carrying Fu Baiqing in a battle royale game.

After playing with Fu Baiqing for over an hour, Yan Shiqiu finally stopped and said goodbye before logging off.

Although Fu Baiqing wanted to keep playing, Fang Yuhua had bought him a pile of acting books and movie DVDs to study, requiring daily reflection reports.

He hadn’t finished today’s homework yet.

So he reluctantly said goodnight to Yan Shiqiu.

After staring at the screen for too long, his eyes felt sore. Yan Shiqiu sat up straight and seriously did a set of eye exercises, then lay down to rest his eyes.

Just as he lay down, the doorbell suddenly rang.

He had to get up again.

Looking through the peephole, he saw it was Ji Yunnian. He opened the door and asked in surprise, “What are you doing here?”

Ji Yunnian looked down at him slightly and answered irrelevantly, “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“…Come in.”

Yan Shiqiu took out disposable slippers from the shoe cabinet for him to change into, then asked, “What would you like to drink? Tea, coffee, water?”

Ji Yunnian said, “Coffee.”

“Okay, but I only have instant coffee at home.”

Ji Yunnian sat in the single armchair. “I’m not picky.”

Yan Shiqiu made two cups of coffee, pushed one in front of Ji Yunnian, and brought out sugar cubes and milk. “Add whatever flavor you like.”

Ji Yunnian hummed in acknowledgment.

“Can you tell me now what brought you here specially?” Yan Shiqiu held his coffee and took a sip, then sat cross-legged on the sofa across from him, getting comfortable.

Ji Yunnian put a sugar cube in his coffee and stirred it slowly, his voice somewhat cold. “About tonight, I hope it won’t happen again.”

Yan Shiqiu froze. Had he been found out, or was this a bluff?

He played dumb. “What happened tonight? The dinner?”

Ji Yunnian smiled but not really. “Still pretending?”

Yan Shiqiu looked at him very innocently.

Ji Yunnian was direct. “Trying to set me up with Wen Chen.”

He really had been discovered.

Was he that obvious?

He thought he’d been subtle. Was it because he lacked dating experience?

“How did you figure it out?” He asked curiously.

“Too obvious.” Ji Yunnian said. “Wen Chen knows too.”

Yan Shiqiu fell silent.

After two seconds, he gave an awkward laugh, put his feet down, and sat properly. “Don’t misunderstand, I wasn’t doing it for fun. I genuinely wanted to create opportunities for you two. Don’t you have feelings for my brother?”

“I think you two are very compatible, like a natural pair.”

Ji Yunnian was speechless. “Where did you get the idea that I like Wen Chen?”

From a book.

You two are the dual protagonists.