Chapter 48

You’re so naive—can rivals really be true friends?

Hu Xiu was still dazed in the backseat. Pei Zhen waved at her: “Come to the front seat...”

Once she climbed into the front seat, Pei Zhen quickly held her hand. Hu Xiu let him squeeze her hand as he said, “Diao Zhiyu really doesn’t hold back when playing basketball, always trying to throw me off with big moves.”

“Ah?”

“Diao Zhiyu used to be on the school’s basketball team, and so was I. But in terms of skill, he’s a bit behind. People from drama schools don’t really play basketball, but men from technical universities are different; they’re always out on the basketball and football fields, showing off their youth.”

“Does this really need to be compared...?”

“Sports are a man’s pride, you know?” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Although I’d like to hold your hand a bit longer, I need to drive. There’s a gift for you in the glove compartment. You can open it slowly.”

“Stop buying me gifts. I haven’t given you anything.”

When Hu Xiu opened the glove compartment, she found a Moleskine smart notebook. The sensor pen could scan and upload content to a computer or phone. Hu Xiu stared at this unexpected gift, slightly stunned.

Pei Zhen started the car, but drove unusually slowly, turning what should have been a five-minute ride into ten minutes. “I noticed you prefer writing by hand over using a computer, but it’s a bit of a timewaster. This might improve your efficiency.”

Indeed, writing by hand was a habit Hu Xiu had kept, and she liked using mechanical pencils and erasers. He had even noticed that.

The car stopped at her apartment complex. Pei Zhen stood by the entrance and hesitated before saying, “I really want to go upstairs and see.”

“I haven’t tidied up. If you go up, you’ll probably find that I’m a mess,” Hu Xiu replied, understanding that work at the hospital was usually boring. Hu Xiu had no interest in medicine, and Pei Zhen was clearly trying to create opportunities to spend more time alone or perhaps to get to know her better. Going upstairs seemed like a way to find an excuse to talk—he didn’t seem like a man interested in taking advantage.

“Then... I’ll leave first,” he said.

“Okay. Thank you for the gift.”

“By the way...” He finally remembered another topic after a nervous pause. “Where are you spending New Year’s Eve?”

“It should be at Zhao Xiaorou’s place. We spend every New Year’s together. How about you?”

“I’m on duty that night,” Pei Zhen laughed and patted his pocket. “Looks like we won’t be able to celebrate together. It wouldn’t be right to swap shifts with someone else at this time. Have fun with Zhao Xiaorou.”

Hu Xiu, sitting on the floor, flipped through the product manual, increasingly feeling that the gift was a bit useless.

She had read reviews online, and the pen was hard to use for continuous handwriting, with the sensor pen better suited for scanning an entire page and saving it as an image on a phone.

They called it “smart writing,” but it really wasn’t very smart.

Leaning by the bed, Hu Xiu looked at the gift. It was priced at 1298, and Pei Zhen was clearly a clueless idiot when it came to anything outside of medicine.

At that point, Hu Xiu started to feel something was off. She dialed Li Ai’s number: “What’s going on with basketball?”

“Diao Zhiyu invited me to play, so I went. I realized that the only people I know who play basketball are you and Pei Zhen, so it was a good chance to get some exercise together.”

“To be honest...”

“Not a word of a lie...”

“From what I know about you, this is your last chance.”

“Alright, I admit it. I helped Diao Zhiyu out. On Christmas, when you two were hugging, I saw Diao Zhiyu’s face turn green, so I stepped in. The master teaches, but it’s up to the individual to practice. So, is Diao Zhiyu chasing after you?”

“Aren’t you the one who’s heartbroken over Xu Meng, and now you’re matchmaking?”

“Dad’s back hurts but he still cooks for his daughter,” Li Ai’s tone was calm. “Two people are chasing you, fair competition.”

“Diao Zhiyu rejected me in the kitchen, that was the time I cried on you. I was about to give up on him too. After playing basketball, Pei Zhen drove him home, and they had a nice chat.”

“You’re really naïve. I was going to drive Diao Zhiyu home, but Pei Zhen volunteered. He said your place is nearby. Diao Zhiyu also wanted to chat with him. You were asleep, Pei Zhen carried you into the car, and Diao Zhiyu purposely sat in the front seat. He said you should lie in the back to rest and that it would be safer if he drove without the seatbelt on. I felt so awkward, I immediately hailed a taxi.”

“Think carefully. Rivals never have real friendship.”

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Did you fall asleep?”

“I’ve realized two things. First, male animals also have these petty thoughts. I really don’t understand men.”

“And the second?”

“The way you just spoke sounded like Zhao Xiaorou. When men imitate someone they like, they do it perfectly.”

The man who never hung up first quickly said goodnight. Hu Xiu leaned against the bed, wrapped in a thick coral fleece blanket, reflecting on how she must have looked when she fell asleep in the backseat—just off work, wearing an old-fashioned down jacket (she was cold and used to it), black-framed glasses (couldn’t read without them), no makeup (just too lazy to wake up early)—looking terribly unattractive, yet somehow managing to make two handsome guys compete for her. Love truly does blind you.

And what was up with Diao Zhiyu? He was so hot and cold, always avoiding her when they met, yet still trying to compete with Pei Zhen.

If what Li Ai said is true, then his feelings really aren’t very straightforward.

Her heart was hit again by thoughts of this man, tingling and warm at the ears, and Hu Xiu wrapped herself in a blanket, unwilling to sleep. Thinking about him made her feel flustered, sad, and angry all at once, to the point where she couldn’t eat and fatigue vanished entirely.

Unable to sleep, she picked up the notebook and pen that Pei Zhen had given her and began writing notes. She looked at topics like “BEC Business English from Beginner to Master” and “MTI Translation Master’s Guide for Passing the CATTI Level 3 Oral Exam,” which only made her more frustrated. Aside from the course on relationships, her translation certificates were top-notch.

On her phone were notifications for new videos from Zhao Xiaorou and a message she had sent.

Zhao Xiaorou was testing out cosmetics in her room, surrounded by boxes, overwhelmed by the mountain of deliveries. Her message said, “No gathering for New Year’s, can’t finish selecting products.”

Hu Xiu knew Zhao Xiaorou’s product selection process. With millions of followers, she wasn’t dealing with small brands anymore; the new products from mid-to-high-end brands had the same pricing for influencers of the same follower count, and they were even more stingy. Zhao needed to sift through heaps of cosmetics to find the truly good ones, record the video, and then make revisions for the client. Hu Xiu wasn’t sure how her team was doing, and with things tense between her and Li Ai, a typical straight guy probably wouldn’t be much help.

Hu Xiu took a screenshot of Zhao Xiaorou’s message and sent it to Li Ai, along with the photo of the room filled with packages.

On the evening of December 31st, around five or six o’clock, most of the office building was empty.

Hu Xiu’s desk had her notebook and pen, and she was preparing to write two hours of thoughts on BEC experience, starting with the basics.

Though the time felt long ago, she recalled how she studied for university exams, from vocabulary and grammar to written and oral tests, but she felt that the new exam formats were beyond her reach.

She opened Bilibili and looked at other influencers’ experience videos. Hu Xiu couldn’t help but admire how, in this day and age, only those with a strong desire to express themselves and excellent communication skills could gain more viewers and attention.

At this point, Hu Xiu realized she would have to rewrite everything. She thought to herself, “This New Year’s Eve, I’m probably going to drive myself crazy trying to finish this article.”

She went out for a meal, then stopped by a local restaurant to pick up a few dishes for Pei Zhen and delivered them to his office. Before long, she received a message from him: “Didn’t go for New Year’s?”

“Zhao Xiaorou is too busy, she didn’t have time for me.”

“Come to my office.”

Sure enough, the office was empty. Pei Zhen was overjoyed to see her and dug into the braised pork. When he noticed Hu Xiu wasn’t eating, he grew a little anxious: “Aren’t you hungry?”

“I already ate. I thought I’d drop this off and leave, but you’re still here.”

“On duty, just came back from checking rooms. If you’re not hungry, you can have this.” Pei Zhen took out a konjac jelly from his drawer and handed it to her. “I bought it earlier. I figured you might like this.”

Every time Pei Zhen took out these little treats, Hu Xiu felt a little touched. He was always thinking about her, every moment.

Holding the jelly, she stared at Pei Zhen, making him feel embarrassed: “Something on your mind?”

Hu Xiu smiled and shook her head.

“Can’t open it?” Pei Zhen took the jelly from her and twisted it open. Suddenly, Hu Xiu said, “Honestly, I’m a little curious about your... past.”

Pei Zhen was caught off guard: “Digging into old history, that’s sudden. Was this what you were preparing for?”

“Of course not, I’m just... curious.”

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

Hu Xiu decided to test her rhetorical skills: “Let’s do a rapid-fire round. Please answer quickly without any hedging—how many ex-girlfriends have you had?”

“Seven...”

“What? Are you Snow White with seven dwarfs?”

“You’re not supposed to interrupt the rapid-fire round.”

“How long did the longest relationship last?”

“Five years...”

“Did you fall in love at first sight with any of them?”

“You; and my ex-girlfriend of five years.”

“Does she also like Super Junior?”

“Yeah, just like you.”

This question left Hu Xiu at a loss for words. She didn’t even need to hide anything, admitting outright that someone who had liked someone for five years wasn’t likely to just move on easily.

Feeling a little down, Hu Xiu asked, “Then... is it because I resemble your ex-girlfriend that you like me?”

“You and her are unrelated. You are you, and she is her. When the Korean drama Reply 1997 came out, I used to think about her. She was really into idol groups, spending all her free time going to concerts. She even failed some exams, and her qualification for a research spot was canceled.

Later, she went to study abroad in Seattle, stayed in the U.S., and we broke up on good terms. It was quite unbelievable.

Back then, I didn’t understand the appeal of singing and dancing, but I’d accompany her to concerts. Once, I even wore sunglasses and followed her, pretending to be some celebrity. People kept guessing who I was.

Later, we started arguing all the time because she wanted to go to the U.S., but I wouldn’t follow her. We argued over trivial matters, and eventually, we got tired. Many voices tried to tear us apart for various reasons, and we fought against them. When we broke up, it was over with just two words, and we stopped contacting each other.

Since then, I’ve dated other girls—though not that many. I was just joking about the ‘seven.’

But maybe after releasing so much energy in one relationship, it was hard to find passion again. I found more satisfaction in medicine than in love, so I stopped bothering with relationships. Research gives me a sense of accomplishment. Until... I met you.”

This didn’t exactly make Hu Xiu feel any better. Although it was a memory from the past, it felt complex and bittersweet. There is only one chance to live a lifetime, and she wanted to be the one to make the other person feel uniquely loved to the fullest. In her youth, there were only a few years of the best time, and she wanted to love him at that point, having the best timing in his life. She wasn’t without regret.

“You and her, it’s really a coincidence. It has absolutely nothing to do with why I like you. But there’s something mysterious about idolizing stars. Distant stars can light up many young boys and girls, making them shine along with their songs or personal charm.”

“Diao Zhi Yu is the one who lit you up, and I really don’t like this fact, but I have to admit that he’s a special guy with qualities that make people chase after him. He’ll always stand on a bigger stage, it just depends on his choices.”

Hu Xiu sat there in a daze, and when Pei Zhen stood up, he reached over and patted her head. “Saying this isn’t to make you distance yourself from me. I’ve only had three ex-girlfriends, counting my first love from middle school—so don’t think of me as some old man with a criminal record.”

Hu Xiu pretended to be nonchalant. “No, I won’t...”

“Then I’ll go check the rooms.”

“If you’re not too busy, could you do me a favor and take me somewhere? I promise she’s not asleep yet.”

She was woken up from a nap at 3 a.m. The car drove to Xiayuyuan, and Hu Xiu skillfully took the key from the mailbox, leading Pei Zhen to the elevator.

In the elevator, Hu Xiu said, “At this hour, Zhao Xiaorou definitely hasn’t slept yet. Although she seems like a party girl, she takes her work very seriously. Even if she has to stay up all night, she will finish choosing the products. It’s a shame that this disorganized woman has a mess at home right now.”

When they knocked on the door, both were stunned. Li Ai opened the door and welcomed them in, wearing an apron with lots of pockets, sorting products.

She was arranging them by release date and ingredients, each box had a sticker with a code on it.

Zhao Xiaorou was sitting on the floor, her arms covered in cream. When she saw Hu Xiu and Pei Zhen enter, she greeted them with dark circles under her eyes. “You’re here.”

Her mood was visibly much better. Li Ai, holding various bottles and jars, asked, “Why are there so many niacinamide products?”

“Because it’s popular. You should place this one in its own box. I also have some niche, good brands to test. Don’t throw away the boxes, using empty bottles or unboxed products will appeal more to viewers.”

Zhao Xiaorou looked at Li Ai’s back, her expression not showing any extra emotions. Impatience was her usual work style.

It seemed like in just a few days, she had learned not to take Li Ai so seriously. The unpleasant things between them had disappeared, and they treated each other like friends.

There were other sounds in the room. Diao Zhi Yu, also with dark circles under his eyes, walked out holding a mouse. “This special effect isn’t enough, I’ve bought the installation package for you.”

“I’ll reimburse you. How much?”

“It’s nothing...” When he saw Hu Xiu and Pei Zhen together, Diao Zhi Yu gave them a cold nod.

“Then I’ll pay you your salary.”

Diao Zhi Yu scoffed, “Forget it, I’m very expensive.”

Hu Xiu felt a deep sense of gratitude—there’s nothing more loyal than a friend coming to help in the middle of the night without being asked. Friends—those simple two words always carry a sense of commitment.

All five of them in the living room were exhausted, but they kept busy helping Zhao Xiaorou.

As a friend, Diao Zhi Yu stayed within his own little circle, and surprisingly, became even more immersed than expected.

He wasn’t very skilled with cosmetics, but he could handle the grunt work. He squatted next to Zhao Xiaorou and thought for a moment. “Do you need any models? I can do hair shots.”

Zhao Xiaorou quickly stood up and pushed Hu Xiu down. “Don’t move! Diao Zhi Yu, get a close-up of her, write on the subtitles ‘after use’—don’t waste this high-quality model.”

Diao Zhi Yu, holding a camera, stood in front of Hu Xiu. “Sorry to interrupt...”

Then he smoothed out her hair. A tingly sensation spread through her body again.

Diao Zhi Yu didn’t say anything, but the memory of coconut oil detangling flashed in both of their minds.

Once everything was finished, Zhao Xiaorou said, “Everyone, Happy New Year! You’ve stayed up with me all night, and I, Zhao Xiaorou, can’t do much, so I’ll treat you all to a Snowpiercer show. We can also do a few lucky draws for the audience. Pei Zhen, do you want to join?”

“Of course. I’ve been wanting to see what this is about.”

Hu Xiu sighed inwardly. Whether horizontal or vertical, it was just Snowpiercer, wasn’t it?

She secretly shot a look at Diao Zhi Yu. He said, “You’re lucky. At 9:30 a.m., there are six solo spots for this show. You’d better grab them quickly.”

She glanced at the time. They could basically make it there in time. Diao Zhi Yu put on his clothes and left first. “Actors need to prepare. I’m leaving now.”

The long-awaited Snowpiercer made Hu Xiu nervous, her heart pounding like crazy. Although it had always been her safe harbor, now, near home, she was still sad that Pei Zhen might discover her secret hideaway.

Pei Zhen, also used to staying up late, looked tired as he drove, but was excited when changing clothes. “Role-playing is something I’ve never done before, it’s completely not my area.”

“Don’t worry. I’m an experienced player.”

“What role is Diao Zhi Yu playing?”

“He’s playing an illiterate, brutal sheriff. He’s supposed to be violent and gruff, and he even has to wear a little mustache.”

At this point, Hu Xiu couldn’t help but laugh. Feng Youjin, the character, was often described online as an “ice-cold handsome guy”—with a well-defined face, not smiling, and very shy, exactly the ideal type.

But to Hu Xiu, it seemed no big deal. A charming boy playing a fool and pretending to be silly didn’t spark any real interest.

But, of course, what she feared came to pass. When the large iron door clanged, Diao Zhi Yu appeared in a white suit and black vest, playing the character Qin Xiao Yi. His short hair made him look taller and more proportional, and his gaze was clearly focused on Hu Xiu—he was doing this to tease her.

Her heart raced like an out-of-control roller coaster. Hu Xiu instinctively hid behind the platform, thinking, what the hell is going on? Didn’t he say he wasn’t playing Qin Xiao Yi?

Diao Zhi Yu remained calm, playing his role effortlessly. “I am Qin Xiao Yi, the finance minister of Rongcheng. Thank you for waiting. Please follow me with your invitation.”