OSM Chapter 10: You’re really not married?

 Saying three and a half years old might be a bit of an exaggeration.

But casually getting into a stranger’s car is something to be cautious about, even at 30.

Fortunately, Gao Kui wasn’t a bad person. He chuckled and said, “What’s wrong with grabbing a meal, whether we know each other or not? Am I going to kidnap him?”

No one responded to that.

Li Yuze turned to look out the window.

Sitting beside him, He Zhiqiu felt like his mind had gone blank.

He never expected to run into Li Yuze here.

Even less did he expect Gao Kui and Li Yuze to know each other—and to seem like pretty close friends at that.

It was Gao Kui’s decision to let He Zhiqiu get in the car.

He knew that Li Yuze had just finished filming his new movie and had returned to A City the day before. Seizing the opportunity, Gao Kui called him before the wrap party to invite him for a meal. Just as he was leaving, he happened to see He Zhiqiu, thought it was a nice coincidence, and stopped the car to invite him along.

He wasn’t ignorant of the history between Li Yuze and He Zhiqiu.

On the contrary, he was close to Li Yuze.

Closer than anyone else, he understood what the person in the car represented to Li Yuze at this moment.

Someone he couldn’t mention, didn’t dare to see.

Someone he could only quietly think about but couldn’t keep thinking about forever.

The first time Gao Kui met Li Yuze, he saw He Zhiqiu’s photo in his wallet. Later, he saw another photo—a snapshot of two teenagers, about sixteen or seventeen, standing shoulder to shoulder. One had a slight smile on his lips; the other had eyes that curved in amusement.

That photo had been on Li Yuze’s bedside for years.

Back then, Li Yuze wasn’t as aloof as he was now. At most, he was quiet and didn’t like joining group activities.

He rented an apartment off-campus, always running straight back after class. Nobody knew what he was busy with all day.

After Gao Kui got to know him better, he learned that Li Yuze was looking for someone.

The person in the photo.

Someone named He Zhiqiu, who had disappeared from Li Yuze’s world after some family troubles in his third year of high school.

Li Yuze had searched for years and finally got a lead after finishing his first film.

Gao Kui vividly remembered how Li Yuze dropped everything, booked the earliest flight that day, and left without a moment’s delay.

He had been so happy.

Radiating excitement, glowing with vitality.

But less than two days later, he came back.

Gao Kui never met the He Zhiqiu in the photo, and he never heard Li Yuze mention that name again—at least not while sober.

Sigh.

Lost in thought, Gao Kui let out a long sigh while turning the steering wheel. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he observed the two of them.

He Zhiqiu kept his head lowered, while Li Yuze leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed.

The atmosphere was indescribably awkward, and Gao Kui wanted to ease it but didn’t know how to start.

So, he asked He Zhiqiu what he wanted to eat.

After zoning out for a while, He Zhiqiu finally replied, “Anything is fine.”

There weren’t many good restaurants near the film studio. Since it was his treat, Gao Kui picked a place he’d been to before.

The owner, accustomed to hosting big names, hurried to the door when he heard Gao Kui was here. After exchanging a few words, his eyes landed on the taller Li Yuze and lit up. “Is that… Li Yuze?” he asked excitedly.

Gao Kui confirmed and told him to keep his voice down.

Li Yuze rarely appeared in public, and attracting a crowd would be a hassle.

The owner nodded in understanding, stole a few more glances at the star, and led them to a private room with excellent privacy, handing over the menu.

Gao Kui didn’t take it, pushing it directly toward He Zhiqiu instead. “Order whatever you’d like.”

Without much resistance, He Zhiqiu opened the menu, picked two mild dishes, and ordered a bowl of creamy, soft fish fillet congee.

“You like fish?” Gao Kui asked.

He Zhiqiu froze for a moment, then softly replied, “Yes.”

“Ha, what a coincidence. Li Yuze likes fish too—but he hates picking out the bones.”

It seemed Gao Kui had been holding back this complaint for ages, never having the chance to vent during their meals. Now, with He Zhiqiu present, he couldn’t help but continue:

“He also loves shrimp but can’t stand peeling the shells. Oh, and he likes crab too. Basically, the harder something is to eat, the more he loves it. Every meal with him has to include crab meat, shrimp, and fish fillet congee.”

“Huh?” Gao Kui blinked as realization hit him. “You ordered fish fillet congee just now too?” He glanced at the other dishes He Zhiqiu had chosen.

One was stir-fried shrimp.

The other was crab roe tofu.

…

In an instant, Gao Kui realized these dishes were tailored to someone else’s preferences.

Feeling slightly awkward, he chuckled and asked the owner to bring a pot of tea.

Li Yuze hadn’t said a single word from start to finish. It wasn’t until the dishes began arriving at the table that he ordered a bottle of red wine and drank alone.

He Zhiqiu glanced at him, his lips moving slightly as if to speak, but whatever words he had in mind were swallowed before they could escape.

The ring on Li Yuze’s finger kept glinting under the light, a constant reminder to He Zhiqiu that some things were no longer his to address.

Even the three dishes he had instinctively ordered felt painfully inappropriate in this setting.

The atmosphere in the private room was stifling. Despite Gao Kui’s efforts to lighten the mood, he couldn’t get Li Yuze to utter another word.

Failing to draw him out, Gao Kui turned to He Zhiqiu for casual conversation.

“So, you signed with Xu Sui’s company?”

“Yes,” He Zhiqiu replied.

“Xu Sui’s pretty capable,” Gao Kui said. “Stick with him, and you’ll learn a lot.”

He Zhiqiu nodded. “It’s just that my acting skills aren’t up to par yet. I hope I don’t end up dragging Xu-ge down.”

“Acting’s not that hard,” Gao Kui reassured him. “It’s about talent and hard work. If you’re not camera-shy, give it a few more years, and you’ll make a name for yourself. If you’re unsure about anything, you could always ask Li—uh, never mind. Ask me instead. I’ve got a bit more experience and can teach you a thing or two.”

“Thank you, Senior,” He Zhiqiu said quickly. “Actually, I went to your set today specifically to watch and learn how you act.”

Gao Kui laughed heartily. “Where are you living now? Not in the company dorm, right?”

“When I first came back to City A, I rented an apartment,” He Zhiqiu explained. “But when the lease is up this month, I’ll move into the company dorm.”

“Is that convenient for you?” Gao Kui asked.

“Very,” He Zhiqiu replied. “The dorm is close to the company, so I can stay back for extra practice after acting classes.”

Gao Kui seemed to sense something was off. “Did you come to City A alone?”

“Yes,” He Zhiqiu said.

“And your wife? Didn’t she come with you?”

“My wife?” He Zhiqiu blinked, baffled. “I don’t have a wife.”

Gao Kui froze for a moment, then shot a quick glance at Li Yuze.

Li Yuze had already set down his wine glass.

“You’re not married?” Gao Kui asked, his tone urgent.

He Zhiqiu shook his head. “No.”

“But, but didn’t Li Yuze see—!” Gao Kui’s words were cut off by a sharp cry.

Li Yuze had stomped on his foot, hard, and was now looking directly at He Zhiqiu.

He Zhiqiu, startled, met his gaze just as Li Yuze asked in a low, heavy voice, “You’re really not married?”