"Tianwei, are you crazy—" Before Fang Tianzhuo could finish, Gao Tianwei kicked him hard in the stomach, eyes blazing as if he'd keep going until Fang was on the ground.
The pain lit a fire in Fang Tianzhuo. As Tianwei lunged to grab his collar, Fang headbutted him square in the nose, then slugged him in the left cheek. Tianwei stumbled, blood gushing from his nose.
The fight knocked the rage out of Tianwei. Fang Tianzhuo roared, "What the hell's wrong with you?"
Tianwei yelled back, "You're the bastard! You're the crazy one!"
Then, to Fang's shock, the tough ex-soldier burst into tears—loud, gut-wrenching sobs.
"Tianwei? What's going on?" Fang softened, fighting down his own anger.
"Fang Tianzhuo, you're a no-good, backstabbing bastard! You call this friendship?"
Confusion clouded Fang's mind. "What are you talking about?"
"You know I've always loved Li Xiaochan! Why'd you steal her? When'd you start eyeing her? How could you do this to me? To Xu Yanran?" He wept harder.
Ah. So that's it. Tianwei knew—but how? Had Xiaochan told him? Clearly, he didn't know about Yanran.
"Tianwei, it's not like that. Calm down, please." Guilt pricked at Fang.
"Calm? I'm being calm! If I wasn't, you'd be dead!" Tianwei's voice cracked, but he spoke the truth.
Fang stared at his friend, heart heavy, unable to find words.
"What? Cat got your tongue, you guilty bastard?" Tianwei pressed.
"Tianwei, we've known each other twenty years. I'm not the kind of guy who steals someone's girl. I like Xiaochan, sure—but I've never wanted to chase her. We're just friends. That's it." He needed Tianwei to believe him.
"Good. Because if you did, Yanran and I would never forgive you." Tianwei's tone was fierce.
"Yanran and I broke up. A while ago." Fang said it quietly.
"What? You broke up? No wonder Xiaochan said she wanted to be with you—told me to find someone else. Now you've got a shot with her?" Tianwei tensed, panic edging his voice.
Fang shot him a withering look. Tianwei fell silent. They sat on the ground, smoking, lost in thought.
"C'mon. Let's get a drink. My treat—for your broken heart." Tianwei managed a weak smile.
"Fuck you. Like you're any better? She still shot you down." Fang's irritation flared, but it was warm, familiar.
"Fine, fine—just don't steal her. Let's go." Tianwei's mood lightened.
"Get in my car."
"Please. Saw that clunker earlier. It's a five-minute walk—quit showing off." Tianwei joked.
Fang laughed. They locked eyes, then burst into loud guffaws, as if the fight had never happened.
That's what real friends do—bury the hatchet with a smile.
They stumbled back after midnight, Fang drunk and dizzy. The tiny apartment felt suffocating, a weight of frustration and inferiority pressing on his chest. He staggered to the bathroom, retching, tears mixing with the bile—release for the pain of Yanran's silent goodbye. He cried, something he'd done too many times since she left. Admitting it hurt: he was weak when it came to love, eaten up by insecurity.
This place was a shoebox—a rented single room with a kitchenette and bathroom. How could he ever keep someone like Yanran here? People complained about being "house slaves," but he wasn't even worthy of the chains.
His phone rang. Li Xiaochan. It was too early for her to be off work. Dread coiled in him—talking to her always made him uneasy.
"Tianzhuo? Are you asleep?" Her voice was soft.
"Nope. Just got back from drinking with Tianwei." Regret hit instantly. Why mention Tianwei? The alcohol was talking.
"What? Tianwei? Did he see you? Did something happen?" Her concern spiked. So that's why Tianwei had flipped—Xiaochan must've told him something.
"Nah. Just drank. A lot." He kept it simple.
"Really? Nothing else?" She pressed.
"Just drinking." Did she know? Could she read minds?
"Did he say anything?" She sounded desperate.
"Nope. Just that he'll never give up on you. You know that, right?" Fang figured he'd throw Tianwei a bone.
"What are you talking about? You're so drunk." She sounded flustered.
"Drunk or not, we meant it." His words slurred.
"You're definitely wasted. Don't go anywhere. I'm coming over." She hung up.
Coming over? Fang froze. Had he said something wrong?
His feelings for Xiaochan were a tangled mess. Ignoring her beauty, her drive—building a career alone, no handouts—earned her respect. Her pride, her grit, her quiet devotion… they haunted him, made him ache. He cared for her—more than "like." And right now, he needed someone.
But Tianwei. Always Tianwei.
He paced, mind racing. What do I do when she gets here?
Knocking—urgent, insistent. He knew it was her. His feet felt glued to the floor.
The knocking grew louder. He hesitated, then opened the door. Her beautiful face appeared, worried.
"What took so long? Something wrong?" She stepped in, scanning the tiny room.
"Drunk. Fell asleep. Didn't hear." He blushed, lying.
"Who let you drink so much? I thought you had a woman hidden in here." She smiled, playful, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Oh! Your face—your lip's bleeding!" Her shriek startled him.
"Told you I was drunk. Tripped on the stairs coming back." Shame burned—lying to someone who cared.
"It's Tianwei's fault, making you drink! Next time, call me. I'll drink him under the table." Her eyes glistened, tears threatening.
"I'm fine. Just need rest." He tried to reassure her.
"Not fine. You'll be swollen tomorrow—no one'll recognize you. " She rummaged for antiseptic and ice.
Fang scoffed. Tianwei was a soldier, but he hadn't beaten him that bad.
The apartment was a disaster—no fridge, no first-aid kit. Since Yanran left, he'd let it rot: clothes strewn, trash piling up, nothing but a bed.
Xiaochan's lower lip trembled. Tears spilled over.
"Tianzhuo, stay in bed. I'll be right back." She grabbed his keys and left.
Minutes later, she returned, breathless, carrying plastic bags—medicine, ice, snacks. A 24-hour convenience store had opened nearby, run by a hardworking couple.
She wrapped ice in a handkerchief, dabbing gently at his bruises. The cold soothed him, no pain at all. He lay half-propped, watching her—her soft touch, her worried frown, her perfect features, her full chest. Heat rushed to his face. She caught him staring, blushing.
"Stop that. Even hurt, you're a pervert." She feigned anger.
He straightened up, chagrined. Tianwei's tears flashed in his mind. What a bastard I am. Guilt gnawed at him.