Chapter 14 – I Think He Understands You

The restaurant suddenly fell silent, the hustle and bustle outside the private room turned into white noise in the background of their gaze.

Bian Ji paused for a moment before awkwardly turning his head to eat a white jade dumpling as if nothing had happened. The dessert was rich with milk fragrance, yet not overly sweet – Yan Ankuo had good taste.

After affirming the host’s palate, Bian Ji didn’t speak again. Today, he had displayed too many abnormalities, coupled with his old friend’s teasing, these were impolite for a “straight man.”

Others could jest about him and Yan Ankuo heartlessly because they had no ulterior motives. Bian Ji was different; he needed to be spotless and upright to deserve Yan Ankuo’s trust in the “introducer.”

In the latter half of the gathering, Bian Ji spoke much less, especially keeping a slight distance from Yan Ankuo compared to earlier. Due to the Japanese-style decor, everything in the store, including the tables and chairs made of original wood, was low, which left Bian Ji, who was 181 centimeters tall, with nowhere to put his legs.

Initially, he bent his knees awkwardly to one side to avoid touching Yan Ankuo. But the person beside him seemed indifferent to such matters, sitting with his legs spread wide open and occasionally taking the napkin on everyone’s side from Bian Ji’s hand.

Yan Ankuo, supporting himself on the tatami, stretched out his left hand towards the wall, inevitably brushing against Bian Ji’s arm.

“Sorry,” Yan Ankuo said, but there wasn’t much regret in his expression.

“No problem.” Bian Ji helped place the napkin next to Yan Ankuo’s left hand, “Here, it’s easier for you this way.”

Yan Ankuo nodded in thanks.

Bian Ji then focused on savoring the carefully selected dishes, trying to discern the differences between the sauces, but before he could even move his chopsticks, he felt a warmth at the side of his leg. It was the pant leg of the person next to him rubbing against his calf.

Yan Ankuo, standing at 186 centimeters, was indeed cramped beside the low table, so it was normal for his knee to wander. Bian Ji moved slightly towards the wall without showing it, but the familiar sensation followed him immediately.

This time, it wasn’t the pant leg but the leather shoe brushing against Bian Ji’s sneakers. Looking at the shoe’s owner, he was still engrossed in conversation, completely unaware.

“Attorney Yan,” Bian Ji had to signal, “Would you mind letting me through? I need to go out for a bit.”

Yan Ankuo didn’t stand up but turned around, making way for a passage just wide enough for one person, continuing his chat with Nie Hang.

Bian Ji went out primarily to reduce physical contact, but the passage was so narrow that there would inevitably be more chances of contact, making his excuse seem a little pale.

Having no choice, Bian Ji had to steel his nerves and cautiously sidestep past.

“I’ll go with you.” Qiao Yuan suddenly got up and walked out alongside Bian Ji.

When the two returned, Nie Hang was already enlightening Yan Ankuo about the differences between various passenger aircraft models.

Upon seeing Bian Ji, Yan Ankuo naturally shifted to the right, moving the tableware over, “You sit here.”

Bian Ji was puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

“I think I was crowding you earlier,” Yan Ankuo said straightforwardly, making Bian Ji seem less magnanimous, “Sitting here makes it easier for you to come and go.”

“It’s fine, I can sit anywhere.” Bian Ji didn’t refuse and moved from directly opposite Qiao Yuan to diagonally across.

The meal dragged on until ten o’clock, and nearby bars started their first small peak of the night, the streets still bustling with activity.

Yan Ankuo went out first to pay the bill, only to be informed by the front desk that it had already been settled.

None of the four people had difficult personalities; they got along well and became familiar with each other after the meal. Therefore, Yan Ankuo didn’t beat around the bush and pretended to demand an explanation when he returned to the private room, “Who stole the bill? Step forward.”

He looked to his right first, where Bian Ji shrugged his hands in denial. Then looking to the left, Nie Hang was drunk and couldn’t have secretly run to pay, leaving only Qiao Yuan.

Qiao Yuan supported Nie Hang, raising his hand in admission, “I had an unexpected guest, and you bought such an expensive gift. It wouldn’t be right to let you bear all the expenses.”

Qiao Yuan was still too polite. Afraid of putting Yan Ankuo in a tough spot, Nie Hang stepped in to smooth things over, “We can always make another appointment! Next time, Attorney Yan pays!”

Yan Ankuo nodded, “Alright, I’ll ask Mr. Bian to arrange a time for all of us.”

“Hey, why single him out?” Nie Hang took out his phone and added Yan Ankuo on WeChat, “Any of us three will do!”

Yan Ankuo smiled, “Thank you, Captain Nie, for your graciousness.”

The group walked shoulder to shoulder to the underground parking lot. Qiao Yuan, who hadn’t drank, planned to drive Nie Hang home in his car. Nie Hang was quite tipsy, being supported by both Qiao Yuan and Bian Ji, walking unsteadily.

Bian Ji lifted Nie Hang into the back seat, taking out a bottle of warm water and a pack of napkins he had asked a waiter for, placing them in the pocket in front of the seat. Qiao Yuan warmed up the car at the driver’s seat, glancing back at the two from time to time.

“Rest well, let me know when you get home.” Bian Ji instructed, then told Qiao Yuan, “Drive carefully, Brother Yuan.”

Qiao Yuan nodded in agreement.

As Bian Ji was about to leave, Nie Hang suddenly grabbed him, beckoning him mysteriously.

Confused, Bian Ji leaned in, asking what was going on.

Nie Hang cupped his hands into a megaphone shape and whispered, “I think he’s really good for you.”

“Huh?” Bian Ji was utterly perplexed, pushing him back into the seat and pointing at him, “Go to sleep!”

“I’m not drunk,” Nie Hang stubbornly said what every drunk loved to argue, “I’m perfectly sober.”

Bian Ji laughed dryly, placing the water in his palm, “Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m serious,” Nie Hang held him back, refusing to let him go, “At least, he understands you.”

Nie Hang’s words left Bian Ji momentarily dazed. Not because the topic’s focus was watching him from behind, but because Nie Hang had said something similar three years ago, albeit with the opposite meaning.

Back then, Bian Ji had just broken up with his ex and found Nie Hang to drink. Nie Hang shook his shoulders and said, “He doesn’t understand you at all.”

Nie Hang was usually lively, seeming to lack deep thoughts, but in reality, he was very perceptive.

Bian Ji’s ex was a pilot, also in the circle, but was dissatisfied with Bian Ji’s job, thinking that being a flight attendant was hard work with low pay and scarce dating time, repeatedly urging Bian Ji to find another job on the ground.

Even at a pilots’ gathering, the ex openly advised Bian Ji to switch jobs in front of all his friends, his words dripping with superiority. Bian Ji broke up with him that night, later rejecting many attempts to reconcile, even blacklisting him despite working for the same company.

Nie Hang was at that party, so he knew very well what Bian Ji wanted and what suited him.

Bian Ji stood by the car for too long, half his body leaning into the cabin. From Yan Ankuo’s perspective, it looked like they were doing something intimate.

He knew Bian Ji wouldn’t, but it didn’t stop him from stepping forward to make some rather impolite moves.

“Mr. Bian, sorry,” Yan Ankuo interrupted, “My car is over there.”

Bian Ji straightened up, turning to see the Lincoln behind him, quickly stepping aside, “Was I blocking the way? Sorry, sorry.”

“No problem.” Yan Ankuo opened the car door, casually asking, “How are you getting back?”

Bian Ji thought for a moment and said, “Subway, probably.”

“Do you need a ride?” Yan Ankuo took out his phone to check the time, “The chauffeur will be here in a minute.”

Bian Ji waved his hand, “No need, it’s close.”

Hearing this, Nie Hang immediately stuck half his body out of the car window and shouted, “Our company apartments are quite far away, near the outer ring — “

“…” Bian Ji wished he could sew this friend’s mouth shut, but since the deed was done, he could only continue to decline politely, “Yeah, so it’s not on the way. Besides, the elevated highway is congested at this hour. I’ll get there faster by subway.”

“It’s on the way, not congested.” Yan Ankuo showed him the map results, “I live in Pudong too.”

Facts spoke louder than words, and further refusal would be impolite, so Bian Ji agreed reluctantly.

Nie Hang finally returned to the car, waving to the two, “Then we’ll be off, farewell.”

“See you.”

Nie Hang’s Mustang drove past the two of them, and the vast parking lot suddenly fell quiet.

Soon, the chauffeur arrived. Yan Ankuo handed his phone to Bian Ji, asking him to input the address. Bian Ji felt it was inappropriate to use someone else’s phone, so he typed the address in his own notes app to show him.

When exchanging phones, Yan Ankuo’s fingertips brushed against Bian Ji’s hand.

Yan Ankuo confirmed the new destination with the chauffeur, then suddenly asked Bian Ji, “Cold?”

Bian Ji wasn’t cold; instead, he was a bit hot due to the alcohol, puzzled, “Hmm?”

“Your hand is very cold,” Yan Ankuo said.

His tone was so calm, as if saying, “The sun rose as usual today.”

Bian Ji’s heartbeat quickened significantly, “Maybe because I just got some wind?”

“Here.” Yan Ankuo pulled out a bottle of water from his bag, “It’s warm.”

Bian Ji didn’t know how Yan Ankuo managed to produce warm water like Doraemon’s magical pocket. He wanted to say that he actually didn’t need anything to heat his body further, otherwise, his complexion might become even more flushed. But he still accepted the water bottle, warming his hands with it.

After a long silence, Yan Ankuo said, “Today’s meal was on Qiao Yuan.”

Bian Ji was stunned for a moment before asking, “What do you mean?”

But Yan Ankuo didn’t care and readily replied, “When are you free?”

“Bah, no need to invite me again. It doesn’t matter whose treat it was today,” Bian Ji explained, “Brother Nie and Brother Yuan were joking with you, don’t take it seriously.”

“It does matter.” Yan Ankuo insisted, “They’re them, I’m me.”

Unable to argue, Bian Ji said, “I’m not free recently, my schedule is packed, except for tomorrow, I’m not flying.”

Yan Ankuo said, “Tomorrow, I have to meet with the advisory firm. How about the weekend?”

Bian Ji smiled bitterly, “I’m overseas during the weekend… forget it, let’s talk about it later.”

Adults knew that “later” often meant never.

Yan Ankuo chuckled softly. Bian Ji asked him what he was laughing about, and there was a hint of defeat in his tone, “Mr. Bian is really hard to schedule.”

Bian Ji was taken aback for a moment and retorted, “Likewise, I’d say.”