ABOES 14: Look Alike

The hashtag #YeXinianAndHisFiancéXiaHuaimingOnADate ended up staying on Weibo’s trending list for half a day.

During that time, Xia Huaiming called Ye Xinian multiple times, all urging him to take it down quickly.

But since Ye Xinian was the one who paid to push it up in the first place, how could he possibly spend money again to remove it?

Seeing Xia Huaiming getting agitated, Ye Xinian even pretended to be hurt and asked if Xia Huaiming didn’t like him anymore, otherwise,  why else would he be so unhappy about them trending together?

Flustered by the question, Xia Huaiming had no choice but to comfort Ye Xinian while reaching out to friends for help himself.

By the time the trending topic was finally taken down, it was already noon the next day.

On the internet, anything can go viral in a matter of hours and now that Ye Xinian and Xia Huaiming had been on the trending list for over ten, it was safe to say most of Ye Xinian’s fans had already recognized Xia Huaiming as his fiancé.

Even after the tag dropped off the list, many netizens were still leaving comments under Ye Xinian’s Weibo, wishing him and Xia Huaiming a lifetime of happiness. Some even went to the Xia Group’s official account to send their blessings.

Everything had gone exactly as Ye Xinian had planned and he was very satisfied.

The only unhappy person was likely Xia Huaiming.

He had been trending alongside another man for half a day, his personal details were all dug up by netizens, and people even flooded the Xia Group’s official page.

Due to this, Mother Xia called him and gave him a furious earful.

“Let me make this clear. However you want to mess around, that’s your business and I won’t interfere. But if you really bring a man into our family, I won’t let it slide!”

With that, she hung up.

Before Xia Huaiming could finish feeling annoyed, his father called next.

Though Father Xia didn’t mention Ye Xinian by name, his meaning was clear: keep your distance from him.

At the end of the call, he even said a friend’s daughter was interested in Xia Huaiming and suggested he meet her.

While all this was happening, Song Jing was sitting right beside Xia Huaiming.

He couldn’t help asking, “Huaiming, are you really going to meet that girl from Liu family?”

Already frustrated, Xia Huaiming exploded at the worst possible moment. He kicked Song Jing hard. “So now you’re mocking me too?”

Song Jing fell to the floor, completely stunned. The pain hit a second later, and tears welled up in his eyes. He stared at Xia Huaiming in disbelief. “You know that’s not what I meant…”

Xia Huaiming hadn’t planned to lash out. It was just a moment of lost control.

Still, he blamed Song Jing for it. If he hadn’t said anything, would he have kicked him?

With that thought, Xia Huaiming’s face darkened even more. Without looking back, he turned and walked away.

Holding his aching stomach, Song Jing stared at Xia Huaiming’s retreating figure. “Huaiming…”

All he got in return was the sound of a slamming door.

Furious, Song Jing grabbed a vase and hurled it at Ye Xinian’s door across the hall.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his body trembled slightly.

He was the one who had been by Xia Huaiming’s side all this time.

He was the one who had bent over backwards to please him in bed and yet, Xia Huaiming flipped on him in a second, taking out his anger over Ye Xinian on him.

A cold sense of dread began to settle in Song Jing’s heart. For the first time, he began to question if everything he had done was even worth it.

Xia Huaiming was nothing but a selfish and self-centered man.

The only person who truly mattered to him… was Ye Xinian.

And as for Song Jing—

He was nothing more than someone disposable.

A terrifying thought crept into his mind.

What would happen if Ye Xinian ever found out about them?

A man like Xia Huaiming couldn’t be trusted. If push came to shove, he would likely dump all the blame on Song Jing just to earn Ye Xinian’s forgiveness.

The more Song Jing thought about it, the more terrified he became.

Just then, his phone rang.

Startled, he looked down and his heart skipped a beat.

Three words lit up on the screen: Ye Xinian.

…

These past few days, Duan Zhiyan had been visiting the hospital daily to check on Grandma Chi.

No matter what anyone said, the old woman refused treatment and kept demanding to be discharged.

Chi Xiwen was at his wit’s end. He had stopped going to the company and was now stationed at the hospital full-time.

Chi Ling was completely overwhelmed too. If it were anyone else, he would’ve already forced them onto a plane for treatment.

But this was his mother lying in that bed.

All he could do was keep coaxing her.

Tan Yao, seeing how uncooperative Grandma Chi was, also cleared her schedule and stayed with her around the clock, hoping she would change her mind.

Earlier that day, Duan Zhiyan even brought up the situation with his therapist.

After a long silence, the therapist asked, “Does the elderly lady… have anyone left in the world she still cares about?”

Duan Zhiyan thought for a moment. “She does… but they might not be able to meet.”

The therapist frowned. “Oh?”

This was the wound that cut deepest in the Chi family.

A secret no one dared to speak.

Yet it bled fresh every year when the holidays came around.

It had been seventeen years since that day, yet no one in the family had truly moved on.

Since coming of age, Chi Xiwen visited the police station multiple times a year.

When Old Master Chi fell ill, he practically lived there, waiting for news.

Most of the officers there had watched him grow up.

Seeing his desperation, they could only offer weak reassurance: We’ll find them eventually.

But Old Master Chi never lived to see it.

On his deathbed, he’d murmured over and over: If only I could see Yunxing before I go…

Chi Ling lost it then and there. A man in his forties broke down sobbing while begging his father for forgiveness.

Even now, Duan Zhiyan found those memories hard to revisit.

The therapist noticed his expression and wisely changed the topic.

When the session ended, He You came over, quickly putting a hat and mask on Duan Zhiyan. “Want me to take you home?”

Duan Zhiyan paused, then shook his head. “I want to visit the hospital.”

He You nodded. “Should I grab anything for Grandma Chi? Supplements?”

“Just a bouquet,” Duan Zhiyan said. “She likes roses.”

He You got him into the car, called a florist, and rerouted the driver to pick up flowers before heading to the hospital.

When they arrived, only Chi Xiwen was in the ward.

Grandma Chi had been feeling weak all day and was still asleep.

Duan Zhiyan set the flowers down and stepped out to the hallway with Chi Xiwen, who lit a cigarette and smoked slowly.

“How is she today?” Duan Zhiyan asked.

Chi Xiwen looked visibly thinner after just a few days. He gave a bitter smile. “What do you think? Still throwing a fit and saying no to everything.”

Duan Zhiyan frowned. “This can’t go on.”

Chi Xiwen sighed heavily. The taste of smoke lingered bitterly on his tongue.

No one knew how long they stood there in silence, until footsteps echoed down the corridor.

They turned to see Tan Yao approaching with a lunch box.

“Aunt Tan,” Duan Zhiyan greeted.

Chi Xiwen quickly stubbed out his cigarette and called, “Mom.”

Tan Yao smiled and greeted them. Then she looked at the unfamiliar face beside them and asked, “And this is?”

He You smiled politely. “I’m Duan Ge’s manager.”

Tan Yao nodded and turned to He You with a warm smile. “Ah, I’ve heard Zhiyan mention you. Thank you for taking care of him. He’s never been good at looking after himself.”

He You quickly said, “It’s nothing, really.”

They chatted briefly at the door. Before entering, Tan Yao glanced at Chi Xiwen and said sternly, “Still haven’t quit smoking?”

Chi Xiwen scratched his nose in embarrassment and coughed lightly, not answering.

“Go change your clothes before coming back,” she said, giving him a sharp look. Then she turned to Duan Zhiyan. “Once your grandma wakes up, I’ll let her know you came. You should go get some rest. I’ll take care of her.”

Duan Zhiyan was about to protest, but Tan Yao cut him off. “Go. Chi Ling just called—he’s on his way too. Don’t worry.”

With Tan Yao’s reassurance, Duan Zhiyan didn’t press further.

Chi Xiwen looked completely drained and had already yawned several times on the short ride down in the elevator.

“Are you heading home?” Duan Zhiyan asked.

Chi Xiwen shook his head. “I have to stop by the office, there’s too much stuff piling up.”

“You look exhausted. Can you even drive?” Duan Zhiyan frowned.

Chi Xiwen was about to insist, but after a second, he gave in. “Fine. Can I borrow your driver?”

Duan Zhiyan nodded and sent the driver with him.

On the way back, He You was the one driving.

Seeing Duan Zhiyan frowning beside him the entire time, He You finally spoke up. “Should I cancel your upcoming gigs so you can stay with Grandma Chi?”

After a pause, Duan Zhiyan agreed.

“I’ll call the brand reps after this,” He You said, and silence fell again.

Remembering the therapist’s words, He You tried to steer the mood lighter. “By the way, that lady we saw earlier, is that President Chi’s mother?”

“Yeah,” Duan Zhiyan replied.

He You sounded thoughtful. “She looks really young and beautiful… kind of familiar, actually.”

That got Duan Zhiyan’s attention. “You’ve seen Aunt Tan before?”

He You shook his head. “I don’t think so. I just feel like she looks like someone I’ve seen but I can’t remember who.”

Duan Zhiyan nodded. “I haven’t seen her in a long time either.”

Ever since her divorce from Chi Ling, even Chi Xiwen didn’t see her much.

Last Lunar New Year, Duan Zhiyan had planned to visit, but Tan Yao wasn’t seeing anyone then.

By now, it had been almost a year since he last saw her.

If Grandma Chi hadn’t fallen ill, he probably wouldn’t have seen her until the next holiday.

As he thought, his fingers absentmindedly scrolled through Weibo—

And suddenly, a familiar face flashed across the screen.

He looked down.

It was a post from a gossip account: Ye Xinian and his fiancé were spotted on a date.

Skimming quickly, Duan Zhiyan tapped the photo of Ye Xinian and Xia Huaiming.

His brows furrowed. He didn’t know Xia Huaiming, but something about the man rubbed him the wrong way.

They stopped at a red light. He You noticed Duan Zhiyan had been staring at his phone and leaned over to peek—

And froze.

“I remember now!” He You exclaimed.

Duan Zhiyan looked at him, confused.

He You slapped his thigh, excited. “I know why Aunt Tan looked so familiar! Look—” he pointed at the phone screen. “Doesn’t she look a lot like Ye Xinian? The eyes, the dimples!”

“That’s it! She looks like Ye Xinian! No wonder I couldn’t place it!”

Duan Zhiyan felt a shock ripple through him.

He stared at He You, then quickly looked down at the photo of Ye Xinian again.

In the picture, Ye Xinian’s eyes curved in a smile, lips gently pressed together—

Two small dimples visible just under the corners of his mouth.

The resemblance was striking.

Too striking.

No wonder he’d felt a sense of déjà vu the first time he saw Ye Xinian during filming.

A bold guess began to form in Duan Zhiyan’s heart.

In a hoarse voice, he asked He You, “Do you think two people with zero blood relation… could look this similar?”

He You was stunned, not even noticing the light had turned green until a chorus of honking snapped him out of it.

He hit the gas, still shaken, and asked cautiously, “You mean…”

“Go to the company,” Duan Zhiyan said, heart pounding in his chest.

For some reason, he just knew—

This time, they couldn’t be wrong.