On his way back to his seat, Rachel thoughtfully narrated the entire conversation that had just unfolded in his absence. With every word, Ephraim's smile grew more and more vicious—sweet on the outside, sinister underneath—like the classic little green tea.
By the time he sat back down across from Shen Yizhou, the other man gave him a calm and measured glance, and asked in that polite, mature tone of his,
"Little Yu, you did follow proper human etiquette while conducting your civil, human conversation… right?"
[Ephraim: …What does this man even think I am? A stray dog?]
[Rachel: I don't know about Shen Yizhou, but Xu Jinyao did mutter under his breath earlier when he first saw you, a very distinct and confident, 'Oh. She must be a stalker.']
[Ephraim: Excuse me? The audacity. I was here first. He's the one who walked in late. Shouldn't I be the one calling him a stalker?]
Rachel chuckled lightly in his ear.
[Rachel: Don't mind it, apple pie. Let's move on. Seems like Xu Jinyao still hasn't given up on Wang Jianyuan.]
[Ephraim: Obviously. He's been a walking love brain since the moment I laid eyes on him. Honestly, I would've been shocked if he had given up.]
With a long, dramatic sigh, Ephraim tilted his head up, only to catch Shen Yizhou staring rather intently at Xu Jinyao's table, as though trying to piece together why the atmosphere over there had taken such a sudden, gloomy turn. For some reason, both men were suspiciously quiet.
Shen Yizhou's gaze returned to him. "Little Yu… You really didn't cause trouble?"
Ephraim placed a hand over his chest, all innocence and stars in his eyes.
"I swear, Mister Shen. I just said hello. I even gave them compliments. Very polite ones."
Shen Yizhou nodded slowly. "I only ask because... if Wang Jianyuan gave you trouble, I'd like to be more efficient in protecting you."
Ephraim blinked. Then his whole face lit up as he leaned forward with mock sincerity.
"Even if I was the one who annoyed them first?"
Shen Yizhou's expression remained perfectly flat.
"…So you did annoy them."
"…" Ephraim narrowed his eyes at this sly, gentle-faced wolf."That was just a hypothetical scenario. I am my sister's brother. A very, very kind and peace-loving person at heart. Trust."
Shen Yizhou gave a quiet nod, then picked up a napkin and delicately wiped away a small dessert stain from Ephraim's fingertip, as if it were the most natural thing in the world."I would still protect you."
Ephraim giggled, mood instantly brightening as he leaned forward and hummed in delight."Thanks, Mister Shen~ Since we're chatting… I am a bit curious about something."
He tilted his head, lips curling into a thoughtful grin."You're such a powerful man. I assume you know all kinds of successful people, right? Do you, perhaps, know someone who's well-versed in the entertainment industry but isn't directly involved in it? Likes faces like mine or Xu Jinyao's? Has an unreasonably nosy personality, sticks his head into other people's business like it's his job, acts like a fangirl on occasion, has a deep appreciation for music and talent… and is very, very invested in romantic matters?"
He shook his head with a soft laugh, amused at his own words."Because honestly, that's the only type of guy I think my dear, poor friend would ever fall for. Certainly more than that dunce he's currently wasting his time on."
"…The dunce being Wang Jianyuan?"
"I'm not naming names, Mister Shen. You're too clever. If I say anything, you might accuse me of trying to be a homewrecker."
Shen Yizhou paused. "You want to be a homewrecker?"
"…Is that bad?"
"Yes."
"…Are you disappointed in me?"
"No."
Ephraim blinked. His head tilted slightly, eyes full of curiosity."But you just said it's a bad thing?"
"In general… yes. But I trust you, Little Yu," Shen Yizhou said, voice low and steady. "You've been trying to help the boy sitting next to Wang Jianyuan since the moment you arrived. You're a good boy. I'm sure you have your reasons."
Ephraim blinked. "I'm… a good boy?"
Shen Yizhou nodded without hesitation. "Mm. A very good boy."
Ephraim's brain went blissfully blank for several seconds.
Then, as the words sank in, he looked down at his lap, fingers scratching awkwardly at the embroidery on his clothes. His lips twitched, trembling at the edges as he struggled to hold back a ridiculously giddy smile.
[Ephraim: Heh heh heh. Rachel. He called me a good boy.]
[Rachel: You liked that, huh?]
[Ephraim: Yeshhhh. I might turn into a puddle of goo.]
[Rachel: Oh my. Then I should call you that often too, hm?]
[Ephraim: Yes, please.]
[Rachel: My dear good boy~ What a precious one. Now, be polite. Go on, thank Shen Yizhou. He's been a sweetheart, hasn't he? What a walking green flag.]
Ephraim's voice was soft when he looked up. "Thank you, Mister Shen. You're a good boy too."
Shen Yizhou, by now well-acquainted with Ephraim's odd little quirks, simply gave a gentle nod, his expression calm. "Thank you, Little Yu."
"Anyway…" Ephraim suddenly reached out, catching Shen Yizhou's hand before he could pull away. He fiddled with the man's fingers playfully, his mood visibly brighter. "I was actually just joking. I don't need that specific guy I described earlier to protect Xu Jinyao. I mean, come on. No one like that really exists-"
"I know someone."
"…Pardon?"
Shen Yizhou's fingers curled around his without hesitation, intertwining them as naturally as breathing. His thumb brushed along Ephraim's knuckles subconsciously.
"I know someone," he said again, voice soft but sure. "Someone who matches that description… perfectly."
Ephraim let out a low whistle, visibly impressed.
"Wow, Mister Shen. So you are a social butterfly. I never took you for the 'I know a guy' kind of guy."
He grinned, clearly teasing, then added in a casual sing-song tone, "Well, it's fine. I really was joking. But—just saying—if I ever do end up needing that mister's help, you'll help me reach him, won't you?"
Shen Yizhou didn't miss a beat.
"Of course. He will help you."
Far away, in a peaceful apartment tucked inside a quiet residential block, Zhou Gao was curled up in a thick blanket, scrolling through his feed. His brows knitted into a frown as he read about the news Ling Xiaoying allegedly beating people up to protect her "younger brother."
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
He rubbed his arms, trying to shake the goosebumps that had popped up out of nowhere.
"…Weird. Is someone talking about me?" he mumbled, entirely unaware of the fate brewing behind his back.
By the time Shen Yizhou and Ephraim were preparing to leave the restaurant, Xu Jinyao abruptly stood from his seat and strode past them without a word. His face was pale and tight with emotion.
Behind him, Wang Jianyuan sat frozen, expression cold and frustrated. A nearby waiter stood awkwardly between the tension, unsure of whether to clear the plates or retreat.
For someone as soft-spoken and refined as Xu Jinyao, walking out on a date like this, especially in a high-end place, was wildly out of character.
Ephraim glanced at Wang Jianyuan from the corner of his eye, a flicker of disdain passing through his gaze.
"What did that dunce say now…"
[Rachel: He said he wasn't sure if he could honestly say he liked any of the traits Xu Jinyao mentioned. Claimed it was the first time he'd even heard of them. Very plainly, he told that poor sweetheart, word for word-'I don't know the person you're describing. When did you change so much?']
[Ephraim: …Wow. He still thinks Xu Jinyao just changed out of nowhere? And he doesn't question himself even a little? Didn't Xu Jinyao literally say he did everything to make Wang Jianyuan happy? And this man… he just thinks that was Xu Jinyao being himself? What kind of fantasyland is this guy living in? Are we sure he's not high?]
[Rachel: Absolutely sure. Clean. Clear. Sober. Unfortunately.]
Ephraim exhaled slowly, fingers curling at his side.
At that moment, all eyes turned toward Wang Jianyuan, who had suddenly called out. His expression was a strange tangle of hesitation and confusion as he stammered,"I'll… I'll try to listen. To your new interests and… and whatever else. I'll hear them out…"
Xu Jinyao paused in his steps, shoulders stiff. For a brief second, it looked like he might respond. But instead, he let out a quiet sigh, rubbed a hand over his face, and walked away without turning back.
Now it wasn't just Ephraim who gave Wang Jianyuan the stank eye. Even Shen Yizhou, always composed and restrained, sent him a look—cool and cutting in its subtlety. It might have been missed entirely if one wasn't paying close attention.
Shen Yizhou spoke calmly, "Did Mister Wang think that shouting out in the middle of a public place would magically move that gentleman's heart? I wonder… is he truly sober?"
Ephraim nodded sagely, full of exaggerated understanding, right before he caught Wang Jianyuan glaring at him with eyes full of venom. The stare lasted just a second before the man turned away.
[Ephraim: Wow. I've seen my fair share of sore losers, but this guy? He's on a whole other level. It's not like I snatched Xu Jinyao away. Why's he looking at me like that when it was his own dumb words that put him in this situation?]
Rachel was quiet for a beat, her voice soft and even when it came.
[Rachel: He'll be causing you trouble soon, love. I can feel it.]
[Ephraim: Yeah… I can tell too.][Ephraim: Not much I can do about it now though. We'll see how it goes. But hey, at least he made my job easier.]
Ephraim's eyes flicked toward the door Xu Jinyao had just exited through, full of thought.
[Ephraim: Turning Xu Jinyao away from him will be so much easier now. He only needs a few more gentle pushes and a bit of good publicity. If he stays determined, he can build a solid life of his own. Just like he said he wanted.]
Ephraim didn't spare Wang Jianyuan another thought.
As Shen Yizhou escorted him out of the restaurant, Ephraim's attention shifted entirely—where it belonged—to his own man. Wang Jianyuan had proven to be far more disappointing than anticipated, and thus, thoroughly undeserving of any real estate in his mind.
The rest of the evening was spent in the most productive way Ephraim knew: shamelessly flirting with Shen Yizhou, who, regrettably, seemed just as reluctant to let go.
It wasn't until Old Wu forcibly separated the two that Ephraim was peeled away, pouting as he was dragged off to change out of his tight designer dress and finally rest. After all, it was getting late, and Ling Jialei had issued strict instructions to keep her brother on a healthy routine.
More importantly, Shen Yizhou still had unfinished work waiting. He had deliberately set aside everything for the sake of this "date" and would now have to stay up into the night making up for lost time.
With Ephraim around, one could only wonder whether anything productive could ever be done at all.
But none of that ended up mattering.
Because the very next morning-
The media went wild.
One scandal after another erupted like dominoes falling. The entertainment world, always hungry for gossip, had a feast laid before them, and right in the center of the chaos was none other than Ephraim himself.
Or more precisely: Ling Xiaoying.
The night before, however, Ephraim had been entirely occupied coaxing his stunned sister over the phone the moment he stepped foot into his room—doing everything in his power to sell her on the greatness of the man she had, entirely by accident, managed to set him up with.