CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 91: CHILDHOOD FRIEND

After hanging up the call with Zhang He, Ruan Xingwen looked at Wang Xiaoyuan sitting across the dining table with eager anticipation and nodded.

"Yeah! I can finally meet God Ze! The girls in the chat group will be so jealous of me! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"

Is it really that exciting? Ruan Xingwen didn’t understand the mindset of star chasers, just like his uncle.

Every time he watched a Yu Xiaozhe movie, he’d scream excitedly, not at all like a 36-year-old big-time gallery owner, more like an eighteen or nineteen-year-old youth.

Ruan Xingwen watched Wang Xiaoyuan’s excitement for a while before reminding, "Even if you’re excited, you still need to eat, right? Quick, order your meal, and I’ll take you to check in after you finish."

Wang Xiaoyuan’s face flushed roundly as she proudly declared, "Sister is happy today! Order anything you like! It’s on me!"

Ruan Xingwen chuckled, shaking his head. If anyone didn’t know, they’d think they were about to eat some delicacy when it’s actually just two bowls of spicy hot pot.

"What? Look down on Sister? Let me tell you, Xingxing! Today you can eat anything you want; no calorie restrictions!"

"Thank you, Sister Xiao Yuan!"

Ruan Xingwen, however, knew the unsaid half of Wang Xiaoyuan’s sentence: "Just double the exercise tomorrow～"

The food came quickly, and soon they were eating a warm meal of spicy hot pot.

In the cooling weather at the end of October, nothing beats a warm bowl of spicy hot pot.

After dinner, they strolled towards the hotel.

Wang Xiaoyuan watched the passersby on the roadside and suddenly remarked, "Xingxing, do you think everyone has to experience farewells in life?"

Ruan Xingwen also looked up at the already darkened sky and replied, "Yeah, partings in life and death."

For a moment, they were silent, walking quietly forward.

Wang Xiaoyuan rubbed her chilly hands vigorously, exhaled a breath, and suddenly slapped Ruan Xingwen’s back hard, "Cheer up! Ruan Xingwen! You’re on the upswing now; following you is definitely the right choice!"

The slap was so forceful that Ruan Xingwen staggered, showing how strong Wang Xiaoyuan’s slap was.

"Wang Xiaoyuan the hero, one more hit like that and we’ll be talking about a ’dead farewell’ here too!"

Wang Xiaoyuan laughed, covering her mouth, with a cheeky expression that said, "I was wrong, but I’d do it again."

Ruan Xingwen helplessly accepted it, knowing Wang Xiaoyuan just didn’t want him lingering in past emotions.

But who knew, he wasn’t caught up in the past; he just happened to spot a familiar license plate number on the street.

With Wang Xiaoyuan’s interruption, that car was gone, swept away by the traffic.

Ruan Xingwen refocused his thoughts, leading Wang Xiaoyuan into the hotel.

The current owner of this hotel was Ruan Xingwen’s childhood friend — Andy.

"Ding-a-ling ding-a-ling ding-a-ling"

The bell on the door rang melodically.

The young man behind the hotel bar looked up from the sound, his face initially cheerful, then suddenly showing a shocked expression.

"Ah Wen!"

"Long time no see! Anan～"

Even Wang Xiaoyuan was a bit surprised. She had seen Ruan Xingwen surprised, angry, happy, sad, and playful... many emotions, but it was the first time she’d seen Ruan Xingwen showing a slight dependency.

These past few years, Ruan Xingwen had always maintained a gentle smile as if everything was indifferent.

But in truth, he felt alone. The parents leaving, childhood friends leaving, even a cat he used to have had all left him.

Sometimes Ruan Xingwen wondered if he truly was a "lone star of doom," otherwise why was he always left alone?

But thankfully, he still had uncles, Wang Xiaoyuan, neighbors, and recently added two little cuties.

Ruan Xingwen never expected that while helping Xiao Yuan find accommodation, he’d actually meet a childhood friend.

"Weren’t you abroad? How come you suddenly came back?" Ruan Xingwen felt a bit strange.

He remembered Andy’s determined stance that year, swearing to chase after his Prince Charming.

Andy indeed did so. The Prince Charming rode off, and Andy chased him abroad, declaring he’d never return without his prize!

And just like that, Ruan Xingwen’s only childhood friend left abruptly and pursued love overseas.

They had always stayed in touch a bit, but not much, due to time zone differences and their own busy lives.

The occasional contact was about recent happenings and sharing fun stories. Neither talked about their struggles, avoiding worry for each other, something nurtured in childhood as an unspoken understanding.

The most recent contact was half a month ago when Andy was close to victory; who knew half a month later, he’d be back in the country.

So what exactly happened?

"He got married, to the daughter of an Earl."

In one sentence, Andy summarized the cause and effect, revealing a decade of heartache.

Wang Xiaoyuan noticed they clearly had much to discuss, so she quickly stated her and Ruan Xingwen’s purpose for being there.

"Hello, boss, get me a room first, then you two can chat as much as you like～"

"Haha, let me guess～" Andy sized up Wang Xiaoyuan, then spat out a name, "Wang Xiaoyuan. Right?"

Wang Xiaoyuan’s eyes widened instantly, "How did you know? Has Xingxing talked about me?"

"Yes, he’s always saying how cute, kind, and likable his assistant Miss is, how..."

"Alright, alright, hurry up with business and don’t talk nonsense." Ruan Xingwen couldn’t take it anymore; after several years abroad, Andy’s words were all out of tune.

"Yes, sir."

Andy swiftly completed Wang Xiaoyuan’s check-in process, grabbing the room key to lead her to her room.

Wang Xiaoyuan took the key card from Andy, "Thanks, Anan, I’ll go myself. You two surely have lots to catch up on, so I won’t disturb you."

With that, she wheeled her suitcase and headed to the room.

Ruan Xingwen watched Wang Xiaoyuan’s back and said with a smile, "Can the shop manage without you? Let’s find a place to chat?"

Andy took out his phone, rattled off a string of foreign words; Ruan Xingwen didn’t catch it all, but the gist was to call someone to watch the shop as he had somewhere to be.

"OK then, let’s not go anywhere else, just go to your place, still the same old apartment?" Andy hung up and decided the chatting venue.

Ruan Xingwen nodded, "Still the old place, don’t you know me? I wouldn’t bear to leave."

They exchanged glances and smiled.

Yes, it’s been over a decade. Ruan Xingwen was still here, and Andy had returned.

After all, this place was their home.

"Ding-a-ling ding-a-ling ding-a-ling"

Again, the bell rang, along with someone’s imperfect complaint,

"I finally went out to have fun, and you’re calling me back this quickly!"

Andy corrected her, "Baby, the word is ’suddenly.’"

"Aiya, I don’t care. You have to treat me to something delicious! Otherwise, I won’t help you!"

Andy couldn’t argue, surrendering, "Alright, alright, I’ll treat you to something good! Let me introduce someone to you."

The blonde beauty finally noticed the boy still standing behind the bar.

A boy who looked as angelic as a handsome angel!