No One Else Will Do But You - Chapter 73

On the second day after his return, Zhang Feiyang treated Shu Luo to a night out. They headed to a newly opened lounge called ‘Goodnight,’ or GN for short.

“What brought on this sudden urge to buy me a drink?” Shu Luo asked.

“Don’t be a killjoy. You didn’t even tell me when you were leaving two years ago,” Zhang Feiyang grumbled.

The two sat at a corner table. It was just after 9:00 PM, and the lounge wasn’t too crowded yet. The heating was on high, so they hung their heavy coats over the backs of their chairs, sitting comfortably in their sweaters as they drank.

Zhang Feiyang remembered Shu Luo as someone who couldn’t hold his liquor, but the change in him over the last two years was striking. Not only was he in better physical shape, but his personality seemed more open—and he could actually drink now.

“Since when could you handle alcohol? You used to be a ‘one-cup-wonder,'” Zhang Feiyang joked.

Shu Luo raised his glass and took a small sip, then began recounting his experiences in Canada.

University life abroad was vibrant—full of parties and gatherings where people chased excitement and lived for the moment. Naturally, having arrived as a non-drinker, he had suffered through many embarrassing nights of being wasted. Over time, however, his tolerance increased. As long as he didn’t go too fast, he could handle a casual drink for pleasure.

Studying alone was dry work. Although his medical studies consumed most of his life, he forced himself to find time for self-improvement—partly to distract himself from the fact that Jiang Mu wasn’t by his side.

When you depend on someone for a long time, it becomes a habit that feels impossible to break. He had to force himself to adapt. He also felt that, as two men, they couldn’t exactly act like a traditional couple where one acts spoiled and the other whispers sweet nothings; that just wasn’t their style.

When he missed Jiang Mu, they would video call, but every call only intensified the longing. He had wanted to return last year, but the pressure of his thesis had forced him to stay behind, spending a somewhat pathetic New Year with Chen Cheng.

There had been plenty of “fail” moments too. Because he was thin and lacked stamina when he first arrived, he had fainted during a few practical anatomy labs, which earned him a long period of teasing from his classmates—some of it good-natured, some of it mocking. Being a person of strong pride, he had channeled that into a obsession with the gym.

Then there was the time he crashed his instructor’s car during a driving lesson and had to pay a fortune in damages.

It was a rich tapestry of experiences, none of which included Jiang Mu—yet these stories became the very things they discussed for hours, keeping their relationship fresh despite their separate lives.

“The injury on my head… it left some aftereffects,” Shu Luo mentioned casually.

Zhang Feiyang frowned. “It didn’t heal properly? Have you seen a doctor?”

When Zhang Feiyang first heard about the kidnapping, he had nearly stormed the police station to beat the culprit himself. He couldn’t believe Shu Luo was still suffering from it.

Shu Luo toyed with his glass. “It’s not a major issue, really. I just get headaches easily if I stay up late. And you know, students abroad love to party. If I hear that heavy DJ bass for too long, I can’t sleep at night. Sometimes I play too hard without thinking of the consequences, and I’m the one who pays for it the next day. Anyway, it’s just a chronic headache. Don’t go telling anyone; I’ve only told you.”

“Don’t think just because you went abroad that you’re some invincible superman now,” Zhang Feiyang said, pulling Shu Luo into a sympathetic half-hug and taking a large gulp of his drink. “In my eyes, you’re still that little squirt. Don’t go wrecking your body.”

Shu Luo laughed and gave him a playful punch to the chest. “Enough. You’ve become so sentimental. Have you been with Zhong Qing so long that you’re ready to publish a book of ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’?”

“Your sister-in-law has quite the temper lately. I have to serve her carefully and nourish her soul with gentle words.”

Seeing the way Zhang Feiyang beamed when talking about Zhong Qing, Shu Luo grew curious. “Are the ‘good days’ approaching?”

“Pretty much. Both sets of parents have met. We graduate next year, and I’m currently working under my dad. Once I hit my performance targets, I’m going to propose.”

Hearing the sweetness in his friend’s voice, Shu Luo couldn’t help but feel a pang of melancholy. Life was so unpredictable; the two people least likely to end up together were now planning a wedding.

And what about me and Jiang Mu?

A trace of bitterness spread through his chest. He downed half a glass of whiskey in one go, trying to suppress the feeling.

Zhang Feiyang immediately grabbed his hand. “What are you doing? Don’t get drunk yet! We’ve only been here an hour; I don’t want the party to end so soon!”

Shu Luo waved him off. “I’m fine. A couple more glasses won’t hurt. Don’t underestimate me; I can still drive home.”

“To hell with that! You want to get arrested? I have no desire to bring you meals in prison.” Zhang Feiyang snatched the glass away.

Shu Luo leaned his head back against the sofa. From the side, he looked like a man with a lot on his mind. “Shu Luo, if something’s wrong, don’t bottle it up.”

Shu Luo smiled thinly. “What could be wrong? Don’t overthink it.”

That smile is so bitter, Zhang Feiyang thought. “Come on, I know you. Is it because of Jiang Mu?”

He knew Jiang Mu’s net worth was on a different level now. He wasn’t just a business newcomer anymore; he was a titan of industry—the king of e-commerce and real estate. His presence was everywhere. A man that successful and young was naturally a target for countless women. For these two to make it, it would require immense courage.

Shu Luo stared at the lights above, his vision blurring. The flickering glow seemed to be sketching a phantom image. The lounge’s music featured a deep, baritone voice singing a tender English song, sounding like a lover’s whisper in his ear.

“Yeah,” Shu Luo admitted softly. “I’m scared.”

Zhang Feiyang sighed, looking at Shu Luo’s exquisite profile. “You could always reconsider. You’re still young, after all.”

Shu Luo wasn’t considering letting go; he just wanted them to be a normal couple, to receive blessings and walk together in the sunlight.

“I’m not considering a breakup. I’m just worried… what if people find out?”

Jiang Mu was the heir to an Earldom, wasn’t he? He was a pivotal figure in the business world. Every move he made was under a microscope. Shu Luo sighed—he was starting to sound like a resentful housewife.

Zhang Feiyang patted his cool cheek. “Look at you. If he’s got the guts, let him chase you. You just stay in Canada; if he’s sincere, he’ll keep at it. If not, end it early.”

“I’m in the middle of a struggle here, don’t mess up my ‘brainstorming,'” Shu Luo snapped, glaring at him.

Zhang Feiyang blinked, startled by the sharp, upward tilt of Shu Luo’s eyes. “Shu Luo, you’re something else. You’re really turning into a little demon.”

“Sir, a gentleman over there has sent you a Corona.”

A faint scent of lemon wafted from the glass, fresh and light. Shu Luo looked in the direction the waiter pointed, puzzled.

Standing there in a dark blue T-shirt that highlighted a disciplined, lean physique, was none other than He Zeming.

“Shu Luo,” Zhang Feiyang whispered, “A man sending you a Corona… that’s a drink usually sent to women. And the meaning behind it…”

Shu Luo raised a hand to stop him. “I know. He’s an acquaintance.”

“An acquaintance?”

He Zeming walked over. He wasn’t classically “handsome,” but he was remarkably striking and rugged, with the disciplined air of a soldier. At nearly 1.9 meters tall, he was roughly the same height as Jiang Mu.

However, he felt different now—carrying a faint, almost “bloody” aura, if such a thing could be described.

“Shu Luo, long time no see,” He Zeming said with a smile.

Shu Luo gestured for him to sit. “Indeed. Long time no see.”

Zhang Feiyang watched the way this man looked at Shu Luo. Oh boy, he thought, my eyes aren’t playing tricks on me. He had developed a keen sense for these things.

But what is with this guy? The way he looks at Shu Luo… that is definitely not how you look at a ‘normal’ man. Tsk, tsk… Jiang Mu, it looks like a real rival has appeared!