After My Childhood Friend Misunderstood That I Had a Boyfriend - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Work Hard to Become the Third Party and Take Over

Zhou Jinyan’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the steering wheel. It wasn’t until a car behind him honked to urge him forward that he regained his focus.

Chu Xi had outstanding looks, a cheerful personality, and great social skills; it would be strange if he didn’t have a partner.

So why am I surprised? An inexplicable irritability surged in Zhou Jinyan’s heart. The light music playing in the car became the victim of its owner’s groundless frustration, as it was abruptly and miserably switched off.

Guided by a valet, the Cullinan was parked and the engine shut off. Zhou Jinyan got out, closed the door, and checked in at the front desk with his private room number. He followed the server toward the room Jiang Yi had booked, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Jiang Yi was playing a game of “King” with the others. Seeing Zhou Jinyan’s dark expression, he decided not to poke the bear and didn’t force him to join the game.

Jiang Yi even advised Gu Wenzhi and his partner to tone it down a bit.

Gu Wenzhi: Why?

Jiang Yi tilted his head toward Zhou Jinyan: “Someone seems to be suffering from a broken heart.”

Gu Wenzhi looked over and instantly understood.

At 6 PM in late autumn, the sky was completely dark.

With the photoshoot finished, Chu Xi had originally planned to head back to the dorm and grab a quick, simple dinner. However, Song Shiyu took the initiative to suggest eating at the trendy “forest restaurant” in the center of the park. After a moment’s thought, Chu Xi agreed.

The car was parked according to the valet’s directions. As Chu Xi stepped out, he noticed a Cullinan SUV parked nearby. It looked like the exact same model as Zhou Jinyan’s.

Could Zhou Jinyan be eating here too?

There’s no way it’s that much of a coincidence, Chu Xi thought gloomily. The world didn’t revolve around him; things rarely worked out so perfectly.

Chu Xi pushed the thought aside and followed Song Shiyu inside.

This forest restaurant was very popular on Little Red Book. With floor-to-ceiling glass and surrounded by trees, the interior was stylish and perfect for photos. Many influencers frequented the spot to check in, making reservations hard to get.

Song Shiyu had reserved a table by the window, and the two sat down.

Chu Xi: It looks like my luck is good. I managed to snag a seat by following you.

Song Shiyu took the menu from the server: “Keep the flattery to a minimum. If you really want to thank me, be my model again next time. What do you want to eat?”

Chu Xi took the menu: Let me think.

Chu Xi had a small appetite. He ordered a dessert and a coffee, then handed the menu back to Song Shiyu.

The two chatted idly about their lives. A while later, the server brought their orders. The indoor temperature was comfortable, but as time passed, it began to feel a bit warm. Feeling the heat, Chu Xi took off his coat and draped it over his chair.

Chu Xi was scraping off a small piece of dessert with his fork when he heard Song Shiyu ask: “Not taking a photo?”

Chu Xi paused: “I forgot. Ah, forget it, I’ve already started eating. No photo.”

“It’s fine, I took one just now. I’ll send it to you later,” Song Shiyu said. Seeing that Chu Xi seemed to be in a good mood, he continued the small talk. “By the way, Chu Xi, I bought tickets for the Jiangshang Film Festival. The crew of Eye of the Storm will be attending. Will you be going with them?”

Song Shiyu: It’s my first time at an event like that. I’m nervous. I thought if you were going, we could go together.

Chu Xi ate while listening. He had already finished half the dessert. He put down his fork: “I might go, but I don’t actually interact much with the film crew. I won’t be doing the red carpet or the after-party. I’m just going purely to watch the movies.”

Song Shiyu laughed, putting down his chopsticks with a light clink against the bowl: “I’m also going purely to watch movies.”

Chu Xi propped up his chin: “Send me the photos.”

Song Shiyu: Okay.

Song Shiyu tapped the top of his phone against Chu Xi’s: Sent. Do they look good?

The second floor of the restaurant consisted of private rooms. The one-way glass design allowed for an excellent view of the first floor.

From where Zhou Jinyan sat, he only had to look up to see Chu Xi and Song Shiyu chatting happily.

Jiang Yi had long since stopped playing games with Gu Wenzhi and the others. He had come over to play the “cool guy” with Zhou Jinyan.

Jiang Yi walked over, clicking his tongue in wonder: “What exactly are you looking at? He is indeed good-looking, but he seems to already have a boyfriend?”

Jiang Yi: “Wow, Zhou Jinyan. Don’t tell me you want to play the ‘steal someone else’s love’ game?”

Zhou Jinyan said flatly: “If you have nothing better to do, go study Criminal Law.”

Jiang Yi: “Is that your little roommate?”

Thinking back to the night before last, Jiang Yi felt a surge of pity for the cool guy. He poured a glass of the wine Gu Wenzhi had brought and handed it to him: “Don’t be sad, Old Zhou. Even though your little roommate is ‘eating from the bowl while looking at the pot,’ he’s still willing to flirt with you. That means you’re in his heart. If you work hard, you can become the third party and take over.”

Zhou Jinyan took a deep breath and gave Jiang Yi a long, hard look: “If you have time, you should visit the neurology department.”

Zhou Jinyan: “And he is not flirting with me. That was a normal request between roommates. Don’t overthink it.”

Moreover, his feelings for Chu Xi were purely those of childhood friends. Feelings between childhood friends… him becoming a third party? Absurd.

As for why he felt annoyed seeing Chu Xi being intimate with someone else…

Zhou Jinyan remembered when Zhou Siyuan was in a puppy love phase and brought her boyfriend home; he had felt annoyed with that boyfriend too. His current annoyance was likely for the same reason.

Having figured out the cause, Zhou Jinyan’s brow smoothed over.

Jiang Yi was astounded by his “counter-accusation” behavior: “You’re the one who needs a brain scan.”

Zhou Jinyan ignored him and moved the wine away: I have to drive later. I can’t drink.

Dinner time slipped away. At 7:30 PM, the dark clouds looming over A-City finally released the autumn rain they had been brewing. The rain drummed against the forest, providing white noise that adjusted the atmosphere.

Chu Xi finished his last sip of coffee. Neither of them had an umbrella, and after waiting thirty minutes, the rain showed no signs of stopping.

The restaurant had umbrellas, but unfortunately, the last one had been taken by a previous customer who forgot to return it. That customer had received a message and was currently on their way back to return it.

Song Shiyu had something to do that evening and couldn’t wait any longer: “I’ll go bring the car around. That way you won’t get as wet.”

Chu Xi looked out the window: Okay.

As Song Shiyu ran into the rain, Zhou Jinyan’s dinner party upstairs was also nearing its end. Gu Wenzhi’s partner, Fu Qi, noticed Zhou Jinyan frequently looking out the window and assumed he wanted to leave early but was trapped by the rain.

Fu Qi had brought a long-handled umbrella: “Zhou Jinyan, do you need an umbrella? I can lend you mine.”

Zhou Jinyan listened to the heavy rain: “What about you guys?”

Fu Qi: It’s fine. Gu Wenzhi and I aren’t in a rush to leave, and the rain will stop in a bit anyway. If you have an emergency, take it.

Gu Wenzhi added: Yeah, just remember to return it.

Only then did Zhou Jinyan accept the umbrella: Thanks.

Jiang Yi, standing nearby, laughed. What “emergency” could Zhou Jinyan possibly have?

Jiang Yi sensed there was a show to watch and quickly took a prime viewing seat. Sure enough, a moment later, Zhou Jinyan walked up to Chu Xi, who was waiting at the entrance. It looked like he called out to Chu Xi, because Chu Xi turned around to look at him.

When Chu Xi heard Zhou Jinyan’s voice, he turned around in surprise.

His first thought was: That Cullinan really was Zhou Jinyan’s.

What a coincidence. Zhou Jinyan opened the umbrella, glanced at Chu Xi, and asked casually, Eating alone?

Chu Xi shook his head: No, with a friend.

Chu Xi: He went to bring the car around. I’m waiting for him here.

Zhou Jinyan: “Mm.”

At least he knows not to let Chu Xi get rained on. This guy is okay, I guess.

Chu Xi looked at Zhou Jinyan’s umbrella: “Are you going back to school? If so, can I hitch a ride? It’s on the way.”

Sure. Zhou Jinyan’s heart skipped a beat. “…You’re not going back with your boy—er, friend?”

Chu Xi tilted his head: “No. He’s going back to his studio. The studio and the school aren’t in the same direction.”

Between Song Shiyu and Zhou Jinyan, he would obviously choose Zhou Jinyan.

Zhou Jinyan gripped the umbrella handle and followed Chu Xi’s lead: “Studio?”

Chu Xi moved a little closer under Zhou Jinyan’s umbrella: “Yeah, his photography studio. He invited me to do a photoshoot, and after we finished, we came here to eat.”

The environment here was very atmospheric—a top choice for couples on dates.

Having said that, Chu Xi looked into Zhou Jinyan’s eyes with a hidden motive: “What about you, Brother Zhou?”

The frustration that had been clogging Zhou Jinyan’s chest all evening instantly vanished upon hearing Chu Xi’s words. So Chu Xi and that man are work partners? They aren’t in a boyfriend relationship…

Zhou Jinyan’s expression softened: “Invested in a project. The investor set up a dinner, and it just ended.”

An investment dinner in a place like this? Chu Xi pondered, but then Song Shiyu’s car pulled up in front of them.

Chu Xi walked over, gestured for Song Shiyu to roll down the window, and said somewhat apologetically, “I’m going back with a friend. I won’t trouble you anymore. See you at the film festival opening ceremony!”

Song Shiyu, seeing the unexpected development, immediately agreed: “Okay. Be safe on the road.”

Song Shiyu glanced behind Chu Xi at the tall, somewhat cold-looking man holding an umbrella for him, making sure he didn’t get wet. He raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling quite redundant: “See you at the opening ceremony then. Bye, Xiao Xi.”

Chu Xi: “Bye.”

After saying goodbye to Song Shiyu, the two walked into the rain. The rain had gradually lightened, with thin droplets hitting the black surface of the umbrella.

The umbrella was a bit small, and covering two people was a struggle. As a light drizzle drifted under the umbrella, a few drops caught in the ends of Chu Xi’s hair. Zhou Jinyan unconsciously tilted the umbrella further over him.

Chu Xi sat in the Cullinan’s passenger seat again, waiting for Zhou Jinyan to start the car: “When I arrived, my car was parked right next to yours. I thought then that the car looked just like yours, and wondered if you might be here too.”

The car music was the same song that had been forcibly turned off earlier, but because the driver’s mood had changed, Zhou Jinyan found the song incredibly pleasant to the ear now.

Zhou Jinyan: “I thought it was a coincidence when I came out and saw you.”

Chu Xi: Yeah.

It’s simply an arrangement from heaven. Chu Xi couldn’t help but let his eyes crinkle into a smile. Could this be “those who keep yearning will eventually receive an echo”? He was thinking of Zhou Jinyan, and his wish actually came true.

The Cullinan’s wipers worked rhythmically up and down, clearing the droplets from the glass.

Zhou Jinyan hit the left turn signal and made a U-turn at the intersection: “By the way, that film festival you and your friend mentioned… which one is it?”

Upon hearing this, alarm bells rang in Chu Xi’s head. He still remembered that the entertainment industry was a minefield for Zhou Jinyan!

But film was the world’s Seventh Art! Something with such an artistic aura was completely different from the “messy” entertainment circle, right? It should be fine to say, right?

After a moment of internal conflict, Chu Xi said, The Jiangshang Film Festival. it starts at the beginning of next month.

Thinking of his father’s work, Chu Xi asked Zhou Jinyan with some curiosity: Zhou Jinyan, do you like watching movies?