Zeng Yu looked into Wang Zheng’s eyes, seeing the concern there. The room had fallen silent, everyone watching them.
“It’s nothing, really. I just ran into someone I shouldn’t have,” Zeng Yu replied calmly, trying to steady his emotions.
Wang Zheng’s eyes narrowed, “Was it Xiao Xiao? Did you see her?”
Ye Xiyan, sitting nearby, noticed Zeng Yu’s subtle reaction. She thought to herself, *These two are closer than Wang Zheng and I ever were. The bond between men is truly something.*
Zeng Yu answered coolly, “Since you already know, why ask?” He took another drink, and this time Wang Zheng didn’t stop him. Instead, he laughed, “It’s her loss for leaving you. Besides, I never thought Xiao Xiao was a good match for you. She’s not worth your time.”
Zeng Yu finished his drink with a bitter smile, “From now on, I’m only drinking water.”
At that moment, the door opened, and Yuan Lei walked in with a smile, “Zeng Yu, come here for a moment.”
Everyone in the room was taken aback. Jiang Nan was already stunning, but Yuan Lei wasn’t far behind—one was elegant and graceful, the other voluptuous and sensual. To see both women taking an interest in Zeng Yu was surprising.
Zeng Yu remained seated, looking at Yuan Lei before saying, “Wang Zheng is my friend, and Ye Xiyan is Wang Zheng’s girlfriend. These are her friends.”
Yuan Lei smiled and nodded at the group, “My apologies for the interruption. I’m Yuan Lei. Please excuse me.”
Only then did Zeng Yu stand up and follow Yuan Lei out the door. Yuan Lei gave the group a polite nod before stepping out with Zeng Yu.
As the door closed, Wang Zheng chuckled, “That woman is interesting.”
Ye Xiyan, puzzled, asked, “Where does Zeng Yu meet these people? They all seem so sophisticated.”
Wang Zheng shook his head, laughing, “How would I know? You should be more concerned about Zeng Yu. He’s my friend.” Wang Zheng emphasized the word “friend” with a playful tone.
Ye Xiyan smiled warmly, nodding, “You’re right. He’s our friend now too.” Because of Wang Zheng, Ye Xiyan also considered Zeng Yu a friend. Wang Zheng noticed the implication in her words but chose not to correct her.
“I can make that man leave Xiao Xiao,” Yuan Lei said as they reached a quiet corner.
Zeng Yu’s brow furrowed as he looked at her disapprovingly, “Do you think you’re so high and mighty that you can control other people’s lives?”
Yuan Lei was taken aback, momentarily stunned by Zeng Yu’s words. As she considered her response, Zeng Yu calmly added, “We were together for a reason. Even though we’ve broken up, I still want her to be happy.”
Yuan Lei silently watched Zeng Yu walk away, her expression a mix of surprise and contemplation. With a slight smile, she returned to her room. As she entered, Jiang Nan looked at her expectantly, “How did it go?”
Yuan Lei smiled, “You were right. You have a good eye for people.”
Jiang Nan beamed, “Of course! I may not know about others, but I’m sure I was right about Zeng Yu.”
Yuan Lei said nothing, but in her mind, she thought: *Uh-oh, this girl is getting too involved. How am I going to explain this to her mother?* Jiang Nan was strong-willed, and trying to persuade her would likely backfire.
“Sorry for ruining the mood earlier,” Zeng Yu apologized as he returned to the room.
The others were singing and drinking, and they all smiled, reassuring him that it was no big deal. Even Ye Xiyan seemed unbothered. When Yuan Lei had entered earlier, everyone had assumed she was out of their league. But when Zeng Yu didn’t act impressed and Yuan Lei apologized, everyone felt more at ease.
Initially, the three girls had found Zeng Yu hard to approach, but now they became more friendly, with one even crouching in front of him, asking, “Brother Zeng, what song do you like? I’ll put it on for you.”
Zeng Yu was a bit taken aback. With their warm demeanor, he couldn’t stay aloof. He nodded, “Put on ‘A Life of Love.’ But I’m only singing one song. This night belongs to Wang Zheng and Ye Xiyan.”
“I’ve never heard you sing before. Glad we invited you,” Wang Zheng joked. Zeng Yu’s change in demeanor surprised him. *What did Yuan Lei say to him that made such a difference?* Wang Zheng wondered but decided not to pry.
What Yuan Lei didn’t realize was that her words had completely freed Zeng Yu. She had suggested breaking up Xiao Xiao’s relationship, but Zeng Yu’s response—expressing a sincere wish for Xiao Xiao’s happiness despite their breakup—had marked a turning point for him.
The familiar melody of *A Life of Love* began, and Zeng Yu started to sing. His voice was deep and resonant, and though not particularly skilled, his heartfelt performance added a layer of melancholy that made the song even more poignant.
Zeng Yu’s singing wasn’t spectacular, but it was filled with emotion. Everyone hopes for a love that lasts a lifetime, but in the chaotic and desire-driven world we live in, such love is rare. Love, hate, joy, and sorrow—all are part of the journey.
When the song ended, Zeng Yu leaned back, silent. The room fell into a brief quiet until the next song started, and no one immediately picked up the microphone.
“Why so serious? It’s just a song!” Wang Zheng teased, pausing the next track and returning to his seat. Ye Xiyan discreetly wiped away a tear before turning back with a smile, “That was beautiful. Let’s drink.”
The three girls remained friendly but stopped trying to flirt with Zeng Yu. They realized that while he appeared approachable, he was actually quite disciplined.
Wang Zheng, in contrast, was entirely different. It seemed strange to some that he and Zeng Yu were such close friends.
After announcing he was done with alcohol, Zeng Yu stuck to drinking tea for the rest of the night. The six of them had a lively time in the room, though Zeng Yu occasionally seemed lost in thought.
Wang Zheng sat down beside him, “So, what’s the story with that woman? Care to share?”
Zeng Yu smiled wryly, “I knew you’d misunderstand. We’re just business partners. At first, I naively thought that having a good plan was enough to make a business successful. But the hardest part of starting a business isn’t a lack of talent—it’s a lack of startup capital. Without money, even the best plans are difficult to execute.”
“So what you’re saying is… Jiang Nan has the money?” Wang Zheng perked up, thinking this might be Zeng Yu’s clever strategy. He envisioned his friend wooing his junior with a business plan, possibly reaping both financial and romantic rewards.
Zeng Yu could see what Wang Zheng was thinking and shook his head, “It’s not like that. I accidentally left my business plan at Lanmei Bar. Jiang Nan, who had been trying to track me down because of something that happened in the past, happened to pick it up. She read it and decided to partner with me to distribute a wine brand. The capital comes from a house her grandmother left her, which she used as collateral for a bank loan. Honestly, I’m worried about this partnership. Jiang Nan doesn’t seem like someone with much experience in the business world. If she’s too headstrong, it’ll be tough to work with her. But I couldn’t bring myself to give up on the marketing plan I put so much effort into, so I agreed to partner with her. After all, I don’t stand to lose much. The worst that could happen is wasting some time.”
“Oh, I get it. So you’re not after her money, just her affection,” Wang Zheng jokes, unable to resist teasing his friend. Zeng Yu rolled his eyes, “Forget it. I won’t talk about this anymore.”
Be my Patron ~ Buy me Ko-Fi
✨Be a part of the story – support my translations✨
✨Buy me some Ko-FI | Paypal to support my effort✨
✨✨Advance chapter at Patreon✨✨
