Sang Ning paused mid-step, acutely aware of the icy chill emanating from behind her.
Ji Yan eagerly pulled Sang Ning down onto the sofa near the stage. "Sit here, sit here! This spot gives you the best view of the stage. They’re just warming up now, but once the real show starts, it’ll be amazing!"
Sang Ning nodded. "The view here really is perfect."
It was an ideal vantage point to overlook the entire stage. Leaning slightly against the back of the VIP booth’s sofa, she could take in the entire first floor of the bar in one sweeping glance.
"Right?" Ji Yan agreed, satisfied, handing Sang Ning a cocktail.
Sang Ning took a sip—it was orange-flavored and pleasantly sweet.
Meanwhile, Gu Xingchen had already pulled He Siyu down onto another sofa in the booth. Their VIP section had three spacious sofas, and nearly all their childhood friends had gathered there.
Gu Xingchen was visibly moved. "I didn’t expect so many of you to show up for my event today. Even Songhan managed to squeeze it into his busy schedule, and Siyu came too. Cheers, everyone—I’ll drink to that!"
He Siyu glanced up at Pei Songhan, who picked up his glass with a smile. "I thought you hated noisy places like this?"
"I had time, so I came," He Siyu replied flatly.
"Come on, everyone, let’s toast!" Gu Xingchen cheered, hyping up the atmosphere.
He Siyu lifted his glass, his gaze flickering briefly toward Nan Sangning before he looked away and downed the whiskey in one go.
Suddenly, the pulsing DJ music cut off, and the bar plunged into darkness.
Ji Yan tugged at Sang Ning’s arm. "Look, look! It’s starting!"
Sang Ning immediately set her drink aside and turned toward the stage.
The stage lights blazed back to life, beams sweeping across the room as the familiar music exploded through the speakers again. The crowd in the dance floor below erupted into waves of screams.
Seven men stood in a line onstage, each illuminated by a single spotlight as the music kicked in. They launched into a synchronized dance routine.
"Ahhh! This is incredible! A real stage performance hits so much harder than the one at my birthday party!" Ji Yan shrieked.
Sang Ning nodded in agreement.
He Siyu frowned at the performance. "Where’d you find these guys?"
Gu Xingchen clinked his glass against He Siyu’s. "Ji Yan picked them. She said this boy band is the hottest right now."
He Siyu shot him a cold look. "You’re awfully obedient these days."
Gu Xingchen bristled, as if struck a nerve. "I’m just trying to boost business! Of course I’d book whoever’s popular!"
He Siyu replied indifferently, "Sure."
Gu Xingchen: "..."
He suddenly felt unbearably frustrated.
Onstage, the boy band continued their high-energy performance. He Siyu’s eyes flicked toward Nan Sangning, who was staring at the stage without blinking.
He scoffed, raising his glass to his lips and draining it again.
As the music slowed, He Siyu’s patience wore thin. He glanced back at the stage just as the performers began loosening their ties.
His hand stilled around his glass.
The men tugged at their ties three times in perfect unison before finally pulling them free and wrapping them around their arms, continuing their dance to the beat.
He Siyu turned to Nan Sangning, his gaze freezing for a moment.
It suddenly occurred to him—she had watched him adjust his tie several times before. He’d never understood why.
So this was her thing?
Gu Xingchen nudged him, lowering his voice. "Siyu, why don’t you bring your girlfriend out sometime? We’re all close friends here—we won’t blab. It’d be more fun with everyone together."
He Siyu poured himself another drink and took a sip, his tone indifferent. "She’s shy."
"You’re so overprotective!" Gu Xingchen rolled his eyes.
"Mind your own business."
"How am I not minding it? I’ve been doing great!"
Gu Xingchen couldn’t help but complain. "I haven’t told a soul, I swear! I’m practically dying keeping this to myself!"
Being forced to keep a secret was torture for him.
This was such juicy gossip—he was dying to share it!
He Siyu said coldly, "Then die."
"..."
Gu Xingchen grumbled, "Damn, I guess our friendship really is just that shallow."
Once the boy band’s performance ended, Sang Ning and Ji Yan finally turned back to the group.
"That was amazing! So much fun!" Ji Yan cheered, raising her glass to clink with Sang Ning’s.
Sang Ning loved cocktails—they were sweet and easy to drink.
Pei Songhan casually asked, "You didn’t go to the company today?"
Sang Ning nodded. "I had some personal matters. I heard Young President Pei dropped by for an inspection. Was General Manager Li’s reception satisfactory?"
He gave a faint smile. "It was fine."
After a pause, he added, "I thought you’d be there."
Sang Ning smiled apologetically. "There’s too much at the company—I can’t handle everything personally."
Pei Songhan fell silent. For some reason, ever since New Year’s, she had grown even more distant.
Sang Ning looked up and met He Siyu’s icy gaze. Her lips pressed together slightly.
Meng Lai suddenly brought up, "Why isn’t Lin Shuyan here? I heard yesterday she was planning to come support Xingchen."
Gu Xingchen glanced at He Siyu. "That’s not my problem."
Meng Lai laughed. "Siyu, did you make her cry again?"
He Siyu replied coolly, "None of my business."
"Who else could’ve upset her?" Meng Lai teased. "I heard your family’s pushing you two together. Lin Shuyan’s one of our childhood friends—why not just go for it? Marry whoever, right?"
With a soft thud, He Siyu set his glass down on the coffee table.
His voice was frigid. "With this many childhood friends, should I marry all of them?"
The atmosphere instantly turned tense. Meng Lai forced a laugh. "Come on, I was just joking."
Gu Xingchen kicked him under the table. "If he wanted Lin Shuyan, he’d have married her already. Who asked you to play matchmaker?"
"Alright, alright, I’ll punish myself with three drinks!"
The mood lightened again. Sang Ning glanced at He Siyu across the booth. He sat in the shadows, his expression unreadable, but she saw him lift his glass and drain it once more.
Ji Yan was still buzzing with excitement, chattering nonstop to Sang Ning.
By eleven, the gathering was winding down.
Everyone stood, laughing and chatting as they headed downstairs in high spirits.
Ji Yan was still talking to Sang Ning. "Come over to my place this weekend! I still haven’t finished Overcooked, and no one will play with me."
Sang Ning thought for a moment. "I’ll see. I’m not sure if I’ll be free."
She turned to look at the opposite sofa.
He Siyu stood to leave but suddenly swayed, his tall frame threatening to collapse.
Sang Ning rushed to steady him. "Are you okay?"
He leaned heavily against her, his full weight pressing down, his large frame nearly enveloping her.
Sang Ning staggered but held on, afraid he might actually fall.
Behind them, Pei Songhan, who had just risen to his feet, froze mid-step, his expression stiffening.
He Siyu rested his chin on her shoulder, nuzzling her neck with his nose as his warm breath brushed against her skin. His voice was low and soothing as he murmured, "It's alright."
