IOLYF Chapter 1

The lights were dim, and electronic music was booming.

Han Shaozhou reached out to pour himself a drink. His fitted black shirt clung tightly to his shoulders and arms, highlighting the firm, smooth lines of his muscles.

He had been working on a project in the South Seas for over half a year and had finally delivered a decent report card to the old man. Now that he was back in Chuanhai, he could finally relax.

The bar belonged to Han Shaozhou’s friend Zhao Cheng. They had been close buddies since they were kids, causing mischief together. As soon as Han Shaozhou returned, Zhao Cheng called him over for drinks. Along with them were Qin You and Jiang He, who were also rare to find free.

“The old man must be over the moon that you handled such big projects in the South Seas,” Qin You said, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses with a calm and refined demeanor.

“I’d be grateful if he just stops scolding me so often,” Han Shaozhou said lazily. He had inherited the advantages of his mixed-race mother, with sharply defined features that stood out even under the dim lights, making him look incredibly handsome.

Jiang He chuckled beside him, “Even though the old man has a bad temper, I have to say I admire how he managed to straighten you out.”

Han Shaozhou had changed a lot over the past few years. His once fiery temper had cooled, and the rough, soldier-like demeanor from his younger days had faded, replaced by a more steady and reliable aura.

People used to say that if Han Shao passed the family business to his lazy grandson Han Shaozhou, it would only be a matter of years before he squandered the entire fortune. But to everyone’s surprise, Han Shaozhou had actually started to get his act together in recent years.

Han Shaozhou raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

“The old man must be pushing you to settle down by now, right? That’s probably his biggest concern at the moment.”

“Don’t even mention it. He nags me about it every time we meet,” Han Shaozhou replied, tipping back his drink.

“By the way, Han, I’ve got a question for you.” Zhao Cheng suddenly leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Are you still a virgin?”

Han Shaozhou almost spat out his drink in Zhao Cheng’s face. “What kind of ridiculous question is that?”

“I’m serious, Han. You’ve been single for twenty-seven years, and we’re worried about your health, you know?”

“No need. I’m perfectly fine.”

“Ever since Wen Ci got married, we haven’t seen you with anyone. What’s the deal? Are you seriously waiting for Wen Ci to get a divorce?”

At the mention of Wen Ci, the expressions of everyone at the table changed slightly. Qin You shot Zhao Cheng a look, signaling him to drop the subject.

Everyone in their circle knew about Wen Ci. They all remembered how Han Shaozhou had pursued Wen Ci with great fanfare for years. They also remembered the night Wen Ci got married when Han Shaozhou drank himself into oblivion and wailed to his friends like a fool: “I won’t give up! I’ll wait! I’ll wait for Wen Ci to get a divorce…”

Wen Ci was a handsome young man from a family with a strong literary background, whose refined and elegant appearance had captivated many admirers from a young age. Han Shaozhou had been the most fervent among them, pouring out his heart in a self-deluded attempt to win Wen Ci over, even staying celibate for twenty-four years in the hope of winning him.

But in the end, Han Shaozhou couldn’t escape the fate of a devoted admirer. Three years ago, Wen Ci fell in love with a talented singer in the music industry, married him, and moved abroad with his family, shattering Han Shaozhou’s delusions.

Qin You and the others usually avoided bringing up Wen Ci in front of Han Shaozhou. Three years had passed, and during that time, they had all gone through numerous casual flings. But Han Shaozhou had remained like a monk, unable to forget his past.

Han Shaozhou put down his glass. The dim lighting of the bar cast shadows over his sharply defined features, but surprisingly, he didn’t change his expression. He frowned in thought for a moment before saying slowly, “I’ve got someone. They’ve been with me for three years.”

Zhao Cheng and the others were taken aback, staring at Han Shaozhou.

“No way, really?” Zhao Cheng looked like he had discovered a new continent. “Three years? So you found someone right after Wen Ci got married?”

Qin You also frowned. “How come you’ve never mentioned this before?”

“Come on, Han, spill the details,” Zhao Cheng urged impatiently. “What does he do? What’s he like? He must be a real looker to pull you out of your last relationship.”

A tall, slender figure flashed in Han Shaozhou’s mind, and a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. He shifted to a more comfortable position. “Yeah, he’s pretty good-looking. He’s gentle and sensible, like a little white flower.”

When it came to matters of the heart, Han Shaozhou’s friends still thought of him as the guy who had shamelessly pursued Wen Ci. Hearing him describe someone else like this piqued their curiosity even more.

“You really kept this under wraps, Han. Hurry up and bring him out so we can meet him.”

“Forget it.” Han Shaozhou lit a cigarette and took a drag. “He doesn’t like these kinds of places.”

The others were stunned, sensing a hint of affection in Han Shaozhou’s tone.

“You seem to really care about him, but you’ve been together for so long and kept it so low-key,” Jiang He teased. “Doesn’t seem like you two are in a serious relationship.”

“Maybe Han’s just keeping a little plaything on the side,” Zhao Cheng suggested casually.

“Just for fun,” Han Shaozhou said nonchalantly, flicking the ash from his cigarette. “It’s not like we’re getting married.”

“Hahaha, exactly. Han’s still waiting for Wen Ci to get a divorce.”

“…”

Han Shaozhou shot Zhao Cheng a look, and Zhao Cheng quickly shut his mouth.

Han Shaozhou soon changed the subject. He had admitted this mainly to stop Zhao Cheng from teasing him about being a virgin, but he didn’t want to bring the person out to be the subject of his friends’ jokes.

As the night went on and the drinks kept flowing, Han Shaozhou got up to go to the bathroom. Zhao Cheng, seeing him swaying a bit, worriedly asked one of the staff to accompany him.

Not long after Han Shaozhou left, a buzzing sound came from the table filled with foreign liquor.

“Han didn’t take his phone.”

Zhao Cheng glanced at the incoming call displayed on the phone and was stunned.

“Xiao Guai…”

“Xiao Guai? No way, that’s his nickname…” Zhao Cheng laughed heartily. “Could it be Han’s little lover? Xiao Guai… Han’s got a real cheesy side, doesn’t he? Where did he come up with that nickname?”

Qin You couldn’t help but smile, but he said, “That’s not cheesy. If this is the person Han was talking about, it shows that he’s pretty fond of him. Just ask yourself, Zhao Cheng, have you ever kept a lover for three years? You’re lucky if you last three months.”

Zhao Cheng’s curiosity couldn’t be contained. He hesitated for a moment before answering the call, muttering, “I’ll just pick it up for Han. What if it’s something important?”

He put the call on speaker. He didn’t speak right away, and Qin You and Jiang He both instinctively put down their drinks and leaned in slightly, holding their breath as they stared at the phone.

“Shao Ge, I’m off work now.”

The noise of the bar, with its voices and electronic music, filled the air, and the group was surrounded by the scent of alcohol. But the voice that came through the phone was warm and gentle, like a soft breeze that soothed the heart.

Zhao Cheng cleared his throat. “Hey, are you Han’s lover? I’m one of his friends. Han’s had a bit too much to drink. Could you come pick him up?”

There was a brief pause on the other end. “Hello, may I ask for the address?”

The voice suddenly turned cold, but it was still polite.

Zhao Cheng quickly gave the address.

“I’ll be there within half an hour. Please take care of Shao Ge for me. Thank you.”

After hanging up, Zhao Cheng was still a little dazed, thoughtfully stroking his chin. “Judging by the voice, he should be pretty good-looking. But why does he call him Shao Ge instead of Han Ge? It sounds kind of odd.”

“Aren’t you worried that Han will be mad at you?”

“Han’s not that petty. He’s already drunk enough of my six-figure booze tonight. What’s wrong with taking a peek at his lover? Besides, aren’t you curious?”

Jiang He chuckled. “It’s no big deal. Given Han’s looks and family background, it’s pretty normal for him to have a lover.”

“The point isn’t whether Han has a lover or not. The point is that Han found someone right after Wen Ci got married, and he’s been with them for three years. Do you guys even remember how hard Han chased after Wen Ci? At least two-thirds of Wen’s family’s current status was built on Han’s investment. After Wen Ci got married, I almost thought Han was going to become a monk. But it turns out, hey, this guy found a new lover quietly. All that worry for nothing…”

“In the end, it’s a good thing,” Qin You said. “Did you really want Wen Ci to get a divorce and come back to him?”

Soon, Han Shaozhou returned from the restroom. He seemed to have washed his face, his thick eyebrows darkened by the water, and he slumped onto the sofa with a long, satisfied sigh, exhaling a puff of alcohol-laden air.

Han Shaozhou had drunk quite a bit, and his thoughts were a little scattered, but he was in a good mood. After Zhao Cheng poured him a few more drinks, he quickly leaned back against the sofa, looking thoroughly content as he chatted with Qin You about business.

Zhao Cheng occasionally checked the time on his phone and glanced toward the bar’s entrance.

Most of the people who entered were in groups of three or five. After what seemed like a long time, Zhao Cheng’s eyes finally locked onto a young man who had just walked through the door.

The young man was wearing jeans and a white casual jacket. Although he was wearing a mask, his tall, slender figure stood out in the crowd. He was alone, and even after entering the bar, he didn’t remove his mask, his gaze calmly scanning the colorful lights and music.

“He’s here, he’s here,” Zhao Cheng said, waving at Han Shaozhou. “Hey, Han, look over there. Is that your wife?”

Han Shaozhou was startled, and both he and Qin You looked in the direction Zhao Cheng was pointing.

The young man turned his head just in time to see Han Shaozhou sitting on the sofa, and in the next moment, he walked straight over.

After all, they had been together for three years. Even if he could only see the young man’s eyes, Han Shaozhou recognized him immediately.

It was Mo Ming.

Just as Zhao Cheng was about to explain, Han Shaozhou stood up from the sofa, quickly walked around the table filled with liquor, and approached Mo Ming.

“Why did you come here?” Han Shaozhou frowned, but his voice was gentle.

Mo Ming raised his hand and gently pulled down the mask to his chin, revealing a clear and soft face. “I called earlier. Your friend said you were drunk and asked me to pick you up.”

Zhao Cheng craned his neck like a turtle, finally getting a clear look at the face behind Han Shaozhou.

He was very young, looking to be around twenty, and almost excessively good-looking. His features were delicate and refined, as if meticulously painted by nature itself. Even in this dim environment, his face was as smooth as white porcelain, making it impossible to take your eyes off him.

Zhao Cheng had thought that someone who looked like this would have a cool, distant demeanor, just like the impression he got from the man’s voice on the phone. But as Mo Ming faced Han Shaozhou, the clear eyes held a warm and obedient affection, making Zhao Cheng feel as if he was indeed a gentle, well-behaved “little white flower,” just as Han Shaozhou had described.

Hearing Mo Ming’s explanation, Han Shaozhou turned to glare at Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng stiffened but quickly grinned and stepped forward to greet Mo Ming. “Hello, hello, I’m Zhao Cheng, a buddy of Han’s. I was the one who answered the call earlier. I was just worried that Han might be too drunk tonight.”

Mo Ming nodded politely. “Hello, I’m Mo Ming.”

“Mo Ming? That reminds me of a song—‘Mo Ming, I Just Like You, I’m Deeply in Love with You…’”

Mo Ming smiled slightly. “It’s Mo from ‘end of the world’ and Ming from ‘Ming River.’”

“I see, haha. By the way, Mr. Mo, you look kind of familiar. Have we met before…”

Zhao Cheng turned around to find Han Shaozhou glaring at him with a dark, murderous look, as if he was about to tear his mouth apart, so Zhao Cheng quickly shut up.

Han Shaozhou ignored Zhao Cheng and, after a moment’s thought, turned back to Mo Ming. “Since you’re here, let me introduce you to my friends.”

Mo Ming nodded slightly.

At this point, Qin You and Jiang He had also stood up. As they looked at Mo Ming walking over with Han Shaozhou, their faces showed varying degrees of confusion and shock…

Han Shaozhou introduced Qin You and Jiang He to Mo Ming, then pulled Mo Ming’s mask back over his face, whispering seriously, “There are too many people here.”

Mo Ming obediently blinked, and a smile appeared in Han Shaozhou’s eyes as he reached out to ruffle Mo Ming’s hair.

Zhao Cheng motioned for a waiter to bring some drinks, but Han Shaozhou stopped him. “Mo Ming is a young actor. It’s not convenient for him to drink here. Let’s book a private room next time, and I’ll host. We can invite Old Cai and the others. For now, we’ll head back.”

Qin You withdrew his gaze from Mo Ming’s face and smiled, “That sounds good. You’ve had quite a bit to drink tonight, so it’s best to get some rest.”

Soon after, Han Shaozhou left the bar with Mo Ming.

As Zhao Cheng watched them leave, he let out a long sigh. “Han’s got an eye for this. Those legs, that waist, that face—damn, he’s no worse than Wen Ci.”

Jiang He smoked a cigarette, his brows tightly furrowed without saying a word. Qin You, noticing this, chuckled and said, “You noticed it too?”

Jiang He nodded.

“What? What did you notice?” Zhao Cheng looked confused.

“Did you really think Mo Ming looked familiar, or were you just flirting?” Jiang He asked Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng nodded seriously. “He did look familiar. I kept thinking I’d seen him somewhere before, but Han said he’s an actor, so maybe I saw him online one day. But I’m not sure.”

“I’ll show you something to jog your memory.”

Qin You took out his phone, logged into a social media app, searched for someone’s profile, and found a selfie in one of the albums. He then handed the phone to Zhao Cheng.

The young man in the photo had delicate features and a warm smile. This person was none other than Wen Ci.

Zhao Cheng stared at the photo for three seconds, then gasped, “No wonder! No wonder I thought Mo Ming looked familiar. He looks a lot like Wen Ci.”

“They’re not exactly alike, but there’s a certain resemblance in the eyes, and when they smile, the similarity is even stronger,” Qin You said calmly. “It’s been three years since Wen Ci moved abroad and we’ve all seen him. It’s understandable that you didn’t realize it right away.”

Zhao Cheng felt like his soul had been shaken. “No wonder Han found a new lover right after Wen Ci got married and has been doting on him for three years. Turns out he found a stand-in.”

“By the way…” Jiang He turned to Qin You. “Do you think Mo Ming knows he’s a stand-in?”

“Wen Ci was a top-tier star before he left the industry. When Han Shaozhou pursued him so openly, nearly everyone in the entertainment world knew about it. As long as Mo Ming’s looked in a mirror, he should know why Han Shaozhou took a liking to him.”

“So he knows he’s a stand-in…” Jiang He nodded. “Given Han Shaozhou’s family background, anyone with a bit of sense would know this is a great deal. Being a stand-in wouldn’t even matter.”

“Unbelievable.” Zhao Cheng clicked his tongue. “I almost want to sing ‘Die Hard Love’ for Han. This guy is a reincarnated love saint. I thought he’d moved on from Wen Ci, but he’s just getting deeper and deeper. Is Han even thinking straight?”

“There’s no need to worry. No matter how much he deceives himself, there will come a day when he wakes up. It’s just a matter of time…”

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