“Just wondering. Maybe I can come along with him sometimes and we can hang out afterward.”

“I don’t think your father would appreciate that.”

“I can ask him.”

Yeah, Xiaokai thought, go ahead and do that. He wasn’t going to get a yes no matter how many times he asked. Chen Jun didn’t seem like the type to let his son in on his little appointments.

“If you really want to meet sometime, just call my office and make an appointment. I probably have some time next week.”

“Are you close with my dad?”

“What’s with all the questions about Chen Jun? If you want to know, just ask him.”

“I have asked him. He doesn’t answer.”

Had he figured it out? “We’re business partners.”

“Xiao-Xiao! You didn’t tell me you were part of planning this!”

Shit. Xiaokai very deliberately did not turn around to look at Liu Xingyu as he approached. “Seems like my ge is here. Why don’t you catch up with him?”

“But—”

“You haven’t seen him in a while. I’m going to go into the back—you’ll just get in the way there.”

“Xiao-ge—”

Xingyu had already arrived though, and was slinging an arm around Xiaokai’s shoulder before he could duck out of the way. “Xiao-Xiao. I was looking for you.”

“This is Rang’er,” said Xiaokai. “Chen Jun’s son. Do you remember?”

“Ah—Rang’er! Yes, Chen Jun said you two would be together.”

“I’ve been tagging along with your didi,” said Rang’er unabashedly as greeting, beaming at Xingyu. “He’s very good at what he does.”

Xingyu smiled that smile that Xiaokai knew Liu Baiyan had taught him—wide, friendly, absolutely indiscernible as a fake smile unless you knew precisely what you were looking for. “You were so young when I last saw you. You’ve grown up well.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll leave the two of you together,” said Xiaokai. “I have some things to do.”

Xiaokai made his quick escape and Xingyu tried to make his examination of Rang’er as subtle as possible; he’d retained some of his features from childhood: the sharp, angled eyes, the soft slope of his chin, the dramatically bowed lips that seemed to struggle to close. Was he dating Xiaokai? He certainly seemed like he still adored him. Xiaokai didn’t seem like he felt the same, but Xingyu knew better than anyone how living in the Liu house taught a person to hide their emotions. “What have you been up to, Rang’er?”

“Oh…nothing much.” Rang’er was still gazing wistfully after Xiaokai. “My dad’s been training me to take over the company.”

“Has he?”

“It’s so much work. I’m sure you—” He stopped, and then he looked at Xingyu for the first time. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any offense.”