Chapter 24

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“What did Lin Dun tell you?”

As soon as the call connected, Sun Chen, who never wasted time on pleasantries, got straight to the point.

What was the point of talking about this now?

Liu Cheng, feeling lost and desolate, answered instinctively, “Lin Dun said you wanted to give me a chance, but I messed it up again… He’s right, I messed it up again, I can never seem to get it right.”

“And then? Did he tell you what I’m going to the UK with Chen Xi for?”

“He made it clear.” Liu Cheng, despite his usual recklessness, wasn’t completely beyond reasoning, “Don’t worry, Xiao Chen, since you’re getting married, I won’t do anything to ruin your marriage.”

Sun Chen went silent for a moment before confirming, “Did Lin Dun say I was going to marry Chen Xi?”

—Could that not be true?

Liu Cheng suddenly snapped out of his daze—

No, Lin Dun never said that Sun Chen was going to marry Chen Xi. What he said was “there’s a wedding waiting for Sun Chen” and “Sun Chen and Chen Xi are going to the wedding together”?

“Who’s getting married?” If Liu Cheng were a cat, all his fur would be standing on end right now.

“Chen Xi is the one getting married.”

“Then you…”

“I’m the best man.”

Liu Cheng wanted to express how happy he was, but in reality, he was too stunned to feel anything.

Sun Chen didn’t mind that Liu Cheng had no reaction for a while. He changed the topic, “Your new hairstyle doesn’t look as silly, but it seems this style has made you dumber.”

“Xiao Chen…” Liu Cheng didn’t know what to say. He just knew that he had too much to say.

The sound of an in-flight announcement came through the phone. The plane was about to take off, and the flight attendants were asking everyone to turn off their electronic devices.

“I have to turn off my phone now. Talk later.”

Sun Chen hung up, and it took Liu Cheng several minutes to lower the phone from his ear.

Sun Chen didn’t say he would come back, and maybe he wouldn’t, but that didn’t matter. What mattered most was that Sun Chen wasn’t going to be with someone else, and he even seemed to like Liu Cheng’s new hairstyle.

The first thought that flashed through Liu Cheng’s mind was to immediately fly to the UK. He didn’t bother calling his secretary and instead went straight to buy a ticket. The earliest available flight was the next day.

For a moment, his mind, burned by the sparks of joy, impulsively thought of staying at the airport until his flight. It took him a long time to calm down and remember something important.

—It wasn’t the meeting he had tomorrow that came to mind. It was that, although Sun Chen’s flight was to London, that didn’t necessarily mean London was his final destination.

Liu Cheng left the airport and drove straight to He Zaifeng and Lin Dun’s apartment.

When he arrived, the person who had so thoroughly tricked him was sitting comfortably, playing a game on a tablet, completely ignoring their guest. Liu Cheng swallowed his anger and humiliation, forcing himself to be humble. “Lin Dun, can I talk to you for a moment?”

Lin Dun took a moment away from his game to give some advice, “You know, when you’re in the middle of an online game, it’s important to see it through to the end.”

This time, He Zaifeng finally helped Liu Cheng out—though he hadn’t lifted a finger earlier. He sat down next to Lin Dun, saying, “I’ll handle the controls for you.”

Lin Dun solemnly handed over his tablet. If this were a martial arts film, it would have been a sacred martial arts manual capable of saving the world from calamity. Liu Cheng watched in disbelief as his normally serious friend skillfully played the game.

Finally, Lin Dun turned his attention to Liu Cheng. “Alright, what do you want to talk about?”

The guy didn’t seem to remember his misdeeds at all, looking as composed as ever.

Liu Cheng stared at him for a while. “I want to talk about that phone call you made earlier.”

Lin Dun quickly asked, “Did I say that Sun Chen was going to be the groom?” His tone was as righteous as could be.

Liu Cheng was stumped. He thought for a long time before replying, “But you didn’t say Sun Chen was going to be the best man either.”

“And I didn’t tell you that you should eat when you’re hungry, but you didn’t starve to death, did you? This shows I don’t need to tell you everything.” Lin Dun spoke with such seriousness, as if he truly believed he was making sense.

“But you misled me, didn’t you?” Liu Cheng felt he needed to make Lin Dun realize his mistake; otherwise, he feared Lin Dun wouldn’t give him an honest answer about where Sun Chen was going.

But when faced with Liu Cheng’s accusation, Lin Dun, with an expression of pure innocence, sincerely replied, “What can I say? Not only am I short and fat, and He Zaifeng has poor taste in men, but here’s another secret—I also hold grudges.”

The first part of that statement sounded very familiar.

Liu Cheng had a good memory; he recalled what he had said before.

…He also remembered Sun Chen saying he would tell Lin Dun.

Back then, Liu Cheng thought Sun Chen was just joking, but it turned out that Sun Chen was serious—if he said he was going to tattle, he really did tattle. Embarrassed, Liu Cheng explained, “I was just worried that Sun Chen might misunderstand. He seems to get jealous easily…”

Lin Dun’s expression grew slightly more serious. “You know why that is, right?”

Liu Cheng nodded, his voice low. “Because he lacks a sense of security, he doesn’t dare believe that someone could truly like him.”

Everyone else in the world has a mother’s love, but Sun Chen didn’t even have that. His mother gave him the genes for high intelligence, but also the deep-seated belief that he was unworthy of love.

“But he does trust you now.” Lin Dun suddenly said.

It was such a wonderful thing to hear that Liu Cheng could have showered Lin Dun with gratitude.

…On second thought, although Liu Cheng felt Lin Dun had put him through the wringer, in reality, Lin Dun had been helping him all along—or rather, he was helping Sun Chen. Lin Dun knew Sun Chen still wanted to be with Liu Cheng, which is why he initially tipped Liu Cheng off about Sun Chen’s return to China. Later, he clarified that Sun Chen and Chen Xi weren’t living together, and today, it was his call that had driven Liu Cheng to the airport.

Originally, Liu Cheng had intended to use moral persuasion to get Lin Dun to tell him where Sun Chen had gone, but now, after some thought, he decided on a more sincere approach.

“Can you tell me where Sun Chen is going? I want to find him.”

Lin Dun looked at him curiously. “Sun Chen’s just going to be a best man. Why are you following him?”

“…I could go be a bridesmaid.”

As long as he could stand next to Sun Chen, it didn’t matter if he had to wear a wedding dress, or even clothes made of thorns.

Liu Cheng’s thoughts were solemn and sacred. But the look Lin Dun gave him was odd and amused. “So, is it true that birds of a feather flock together? You and He Zaifeng both have a thing for cross-dressing?”

The information in that statement made Liu Cheng instinctively glance at his usually serious friend in shock. He Zaifeng, still engrossed in the game, didn’t even bother to refute it. He skillfully continued to play while pulling out his phone.

Two seconds later, Liu Cheng received a message. He looked down to see that He Zaifeng had sent him a text—

“I was forced.”

Liu Cheng could see it clearly: He Zaifeng was indeed being oppressed. He didn’t even dare openly refute what Lin Dun had said and had to resort to secretly texting his disagreement.

…But Liu Cheng was so envious of He Zaifeng.

If Sun Chen were willing to complain about him, Liu Cheng would happily text back, “Plus one.”

“Lin Dun, please, I want to find Xiao Chen. I’ve already wasted so much time not saying or doing what I needed to, and I can’t afford to waste any more.”

“Alright, I can give you a chance.” Lin Dun stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“What chance?”

“If you can do a handstand for ten seconds, I’ll tell you which city Sun Chen is taking a train to after London.”

Liu Cheng wondered if he had misheard. “A handstand for ten seconds?”

“Or would you rather wear a women’s evening gown?”

Lin Dun might not have used the word “also,” but that didn’t stop Liu Cheng from guessing what kind of fancy outfit He Zaifeng had been made to wear.

“Are you testing how much I’m willing to do for Sun Chen?” Forget ten seconds—he’d do a handstand for ten seconds while barking like a dog if that’s what it took.

The drama queen guess was quickly denied by Lin Dun without a second thought. “I don’t need to test you. Even Sun Chen understands your feelings, so of course, I’ve known all along. I’m just messing with you.”

…How do you manage to say something so malicious so righteously?

“When did I ever offend you?” Liu Cheng asked, genuinely confused.

Lin Dun looked at him with reproach. “When He Zaifeng covered for you and helped you hide your deception from Sun Chen. Because of that, we had a two-hour cold war.”

As the culprit, Liu Cheng felt too embarrassed to question “only two hours—how insincere.” He thought for a moment before asking, “How did you make up?” He sincerely wanted to know because he also wanted a future with Sun Chen where, even if they had a cold war, they would quickly reconcile and stay together forever.

Faced with Liu Cheng’s question, Lin Dun glanced playfully at his phone. “Didn’t the text message He Zaifeng sent you explain it?”

—So, He Zaifeng had worn women’s clothes to appease a sulking Lin Dun?

Liu Cheng was dumbfounded.

Love makes the world so foolish.

…But also so wonderful.

A reserved He Zaifeng now glared at Liu Cheng with an undisguised look of frustration, making Liu Cheng immediately forgive his friend for not helping him out earlier. Then he watched as his friend offered the tablet back to Lin Dun. “I finished the dungeon for you.”

Liu Cheng saw the tenderness in his friend’s eyes as he looked at Lin Dun and was filled with the overwhelming desire to see Sun Chen. He couldn’t wait another second.

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