I can't help you.

The next morning, Qi Shuo was woken up by his cell phone ringing. The headache from the hangover felt like a dull knife, repeatedly cutting into his temples.

He frowned, fumbled for his phone on the bedside table, and squinted at the screen—Lin Ye.

Forest?

Qi Shuo's mind was still in a daze, and he didn't immediately realize why Lin Ye would call him at this time.

He glanced out the window instinctively—it was just dawn, and the morning light streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a grayish-blue halo over the room.

He answered the phone, his voice a little hoarse from just waking up: "Hello?"

"Brother Shuo." Lin Ye's voice came through the receiver, tinged with anxiety and unease, "Is my brother... is he with you?"

Qi Shuo was stunned, and his mind instantly cleared up.

He turned to look at Xiao Jue, who was still fast asleep on the other bed—he had been completely drunk last night and was now wrapped in a blanket, sleeping in a disheveled state, his hair a mess like a bird's nest, and there was a suspicious trace of drool at the corner of his mouth.

"Uh..." Qi Shuo's brain raced, trying to concoct a plausible lie, "He's not here."

"Did he contact you last night?" Lin Ye's voice became more urgent, with a hint of barely perceptible disappointment. "I called him all night, but he didn't answer. He didn't reply to my messages either. I... I'm a little worried."

Qi Shuo touched his nose and forced himself to continue lying: "No, no. He didn't contact me last night."

"Alright...alright then." Lin Ye's voice lowered, filled with obvious disappointment. "Sorry to bother you, Brother Shuo."

Just as Qi Shuo was about to breathe a sigh of relief and hang up the phone—

"Qi Shuo, can you please be quiet this early in the morning? You're disturbing me!"

Xiao Jue suddenly turned over, muttering something irritably. His voice was hoarse from a hangover, but it was clear enough in the quiet room to be as if it were on speakerphone.

Qi Shuo: "..."

Lin Ye: "..."

A deathly silence fell on the other end of the phone. Qi Shuo could even hear his own heart pounding.

He stiffly turned his head to look at Xiao Jue—who seemed completely unaware of what he had just said, smacked his lips, turned over, and continued sleeping.

"Brother Shuo." Lin Ye's voice rang out again, this time with an eerie calm, like the calm before a storm. "Whose voice is that?"

Qi Shuo remained silent.

He really wanted to drag Xiao Jue out of bed and beat him up. Why the hell did you have to wake up now of all times?! And to say something like that?!

"Brother Shuo," Lin Ye's voice was even colder, "Where are you now?"

Qi Shuo took a deep breath and decided to go all out: "Hotel...hotel."

He regretted it as soon as he said it.

No, why is he acting so guilty?! He and Xiao Jue are completely innocent, nothing happened! They just had a drink and slept together—separately! Each in their own bed! They didn't even take off their clothes!

"A hotel?" Lin Ye's voice suddenly rose, filled with disbelief and shock. "You...you..."

"It's not what you think!" Qi Shuo quickly explained, "We just had a drink, and then—"

"Brother Shuo." Lin Ye interrupted him, his voice suddenly becoming unusually calm, even with a hint of a smile, "Could you please send me the address? I'm going to pick up my brother now."

Qi Shuo: "..."

He sensed the danger in Lin Ye's tone. The undercurrent beneath the calm was like a volcano about to erupt.

But what could he say? Could he refuse? Could he continue lying?

"Okay." Qi Shuo finally gave in, his voice hoarse. "I'll send it to you later."

"Thank you, Brother Shuo." Lin Ye's voice regained its usual gentleness. "Thank you for your trouble."

The call ended. Qi Shuo sat on the bed, staring at his phone screen, motionless for a long time.

He really wanted to drag Xiao Jue out of bed and tell him "you're finished," but looking at how soundly the other was sleeping, he thought... never mind, let him sleep a little longer. After all, this might be the last time he could get a good night's sleep.

Qi Shuo sighed and got up to wash up. The cold water splashed on his face, easing the hangover a little. He looked at himself in the mirror; his dark circles were obvious, his face was pale, and he looked like he had overindulged in excessive sexual activity—even though nothing had actually happened.

He quickly packed his things, got dressed, glanced at Xiao Jue who was still fast asleep, hesitated for a moment, then went over and gently nudged him: "Xiao Jue, wake up."

Xiao Jue frowned, mumbled something, turned over, and didn't wake up.

Qi Shuo: "..."

He took a deep breath and increased his pressure: "Xiao Jue! Wake up! Lin Ye is coming!"

"Hmm...?" Xiao Jue opened his eyes groggily, his gaze unfocused, clearly not fully awake yet. "Who...who's coming?"

"Lin Ye," Qi Shuo said, emphasizing each word, "He just called me and asked where you were. I said you weren't there, but then you suddenly woke up and said, 'Qi Shuo, you disturbed me.' Now that he knows we're together, he's coming to pick you up right away."

Xiao Jue: "..."

He blinked, seemingly processing the information. Then, his eyes widened abruptly, his pupils contracted sharply, and he sprang from the bed as if electrocuted: "What?!"

"I said," Qi Shuo repeated expressionlessly, "Lin Ye is coming to pick you up soon."

Xiao Jue's face turned deathly pale. He scratched his head, his voice trembling, "He...he knew we were at the hotel?"

"Um."

"He knows we... drank together last night?"

"Um."

"He knows that...nothing happened to us?"

"..." Qi Shuo paused for a moment, "I didn't say."

Xiao Jue: "..."

The two looked at each other and saw despair in each other's eyes.

"Qi Shuo." Xiao Jue's voice was choked with sobs, "I'm finished."

"I know." Qi Shuo patted his shoulder. "So, I've decided to go first."

"What?!" Xiao Jue grabbed his arm suddenly. "You're going to leave me?!"

"Brother," Qi Shuo said earnestly, "you have to walk the road ahead on your own. I can't help you."

"Qi Shuo! Are you even human?!" Xiao Jue cried out in despair, "You were the one who said you'd drink with me last night! And now you're abandoning me?!"

"You were drunk and let it slip," Qi Shuo calmly pointed out. "Besides, I drank with you until dawn last night. That's more than enough."

"Qi Shuo!" Xiao Jue gripped his arm tightly, his eyes filled with "You can't do this to me."

Qi Shuo felt a pang of tenderness when he saw him like this, but then hardened his heart again.

He knew Lin Ye too well. That kid seemed docile and obedient, but he was actually as stubborn as a mule. Once he made up his mind, nothing could sway him. Right now, Lin Ye was in a bad mood, and if he stayed, he might be treated as a "love rival" and dealt with along with him.

“Xiao Jue,” Qi Shuo said seriously, “the matter between you and Lin Ye is something you two have to resolve yourselves. My presence will only complicate things further.”

Xiao Jue fell silent. He knew Qi Shuo was right. But he was just... just afraid.

I'm afraid to face Lin Ye, afraid to see those disappointed eyes, afraid... that I don't know how to respond to that feeling.

"I've already sent him the address." Qi Shuo glanced at his phone. "He'll be here in about ten minutes. You... think carefully about how to explain this to him later."

After saying that, he picked up his backpack and walked towards the door. When he reached the door, he stopped, turned back to look at Xiao Jue, who was still sitting on the bed with a blank expression, and sighed: "Xiao Jue, stop running away. Some things you have to face sooner or later."

Xiao Jue raised his head and looked at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Qi Shuo didn't say anything more, pushed open the door and walked out. The moment the door closed, he heard a suppressed, devastating wail coming from inside.

He stood outside the door, took a deep breath, and looked up at the gradually brightening morning light at the end of the corridor.

Keep it up, bro.

Qi Shuo sighed, strode towards the elevator, and pressed the down button. The elevator doors opened, he stepped inside, and pressed the first floor button. The elevator slowly descended, but his heart was unusually heavy.

Hopefully, Xiao Jue can hold on.

As for himself...

He touched his nose, recalling the question Xiao Jue had asked him last night—"Your feelings for Tan Huaiyu are definitely more than just 'sympathy'."

Really... is it more than just sympathy?

The elevator reached the first floor, and the doors slowly opened. Qi Shuo stepped out of the hotel, took a deep breath, and felt the cool morning breeze.

Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore.

Go to work now.

As Qi Shuo stepped out of the hotel, a cool morning breeze blew in his face, carrying the city's unique smells, a mixture of car exhaust and the aromas of breakfast stalls.

He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the headache and fatigue from his hangover. He had been drinking with Xiao Jue until the early hours of the morning last night, and his head was still buzzing, with a throbbing pain in his temples.

He took out his car keys, preparing to go to the parking lot to get his car, when suddenly a taxi slowly stopped in front of him. The door opened, and a familiar figure stepped out.

Qi Shuo: "..."

Lin Ye was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, his hair was a little messy, probably because he had rushed out without having time to tidy it up. He didn't look well, with obvious dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept all night.

Seeing Qi Shuo standing at the hotel entrance, Lin Ye was visibly taken aback for a moment, then forced a smile and greeted him, "Good morning, Brother Shuo."

Qi Shuo: "..."

It's over.

He stood frozen in place, feeling as if he were nailed to the spot.

Lin Ye's smile appeared gentle, but the temperature in his eyes was frighteningly cold, like the calm before a storm. Qi Shuo could even feel an invisible pressure emanating from Lin Ye, making it difficult for him to breathe.

"Good morning, Ono." Qi Shuo replied dryly, his voice a little tight. "Aren't you going to pick up your brother? He's upstairs. Go quickly."

It had been a while since they last met. Lin Ye had grown quite a bit taller, almost catching up to Qin Zhou. His features had also matured, shedding the childishness of his youth and gaining more of a man's sharper angles. But at this moment, his face was filled with weariness and some emotion that Qi Shuo couldn't decipher.

"Mm." Lin Ye nodded, his gaze sweeping over Qi Shuo, then looking at the hotel entrance behind him, his smile deepening. "Brother Shuo, you should go to work soon too, have a safe trip."

Qi Shuo felt a chill run down his spine. Lin Ye's tone was calm, even with a hint of concern, but for some reason, he just felt...terrified.

The feeling was like being watched by a wild beast poised to pounce and bite his throat at any moment.

"Okay, okay." Qi Shuo chuckled twice, quickly turned around and walked towards the parking lot. "Then I'll be going now."

He practically fled, his steps as fast as if he were running for his life. Behind him, Lin Ye's voice drifted lightly: "Brother Shuo, be careful on the road."

Qi Shuo stumbled and almost fell.

He steadied himself, waved without turning his head, and quickened his pace towards the parking lot. He found his car, opened the door, got in, and started the engine—all in one smooth motion.

As the car drove out of the parking lot, he glanced at Lin Ye through the rearview mirror—Lin Ye was still standing there, quietly watching the direction he had left, a faint smile on his lips.

Qi Shuo shivered, slammed on the gas pedal, and the car shot off like an arrow.

Oh my god, that's terrifying.

He never wanted to get involved in the affairs between Xiao Jue and Lin Ye again in his life.

The car entered the main road and merged into the morning rush hour traffic. Qi Shuo's tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

He glanced at the time; he still had half an hour before work, enough time to go to the breakfast stalls near the restaurant to buy something to eat and calm himself down after being so frightened.

Upon arriving at the restaurant and parking his car, Qi Shuo went into the kitchen and greeted his colleagues who were preparing ingredients. Manager Chen saw him and asked with a smile, "Why are you here so early today? Didn't you take half a day off?"

"Something came up, so I came over." Qi Shuo mumbled a reply, found a corner to sit down, and let out a long sigh of relief.

We're finally safe.

He took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, and then sent Xiao Jue a message: [Lin Ye has arrived.]

After sending it, he stared at the screen for a few seconds, then added: [Good luck.]

Then, he decisively silenced his phone and put it back in his pocket.

Qi Shuo stood up, went to the changing room to change into his work clothes, and prepared to start his day's work. As for what would happen to Xiao Jue and Lin Ye... he didn't want to know at all.

real.

a little.

I don't want to.