Like every other morning, Jia Wen sat on his grand chair, leisurely surveying the room. A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he immediately gave permission for whoever it was to enter. A slight curve formed on his lips when he saw the person he had been expecting.
"Well? Did Yuan Qi see you coming here?" Jia Wen asked first, his voice calm but curious as he faced the man who was one of his most trusted aides.
"No, Sir. I came while he was away, just as you instructed," the man replied respectfully.
Never in the history of their friendship had Jia Wen ever kept secrets from Yuan Qi. But this time, he didn't want his friend interfering or making unnecessary comments about his actions.
"Good," Jia Wen responded. "Did you bring what I asked for?" His eyebrow lifted slightly as he glanced at the man's hands, feeling a certainty deep inside that what he wanted was there.
Without delay, the man placed the item—a file folder—on Jia Wen's desk. "Of course, Sir."
Jia Wen smiled in satisfaction. "Well done. You may go now." He waved a hand dismissively, and the man bowed before exiting the room.
Once alone, Jia Wen reached for the folder with slow, deliberate movements, running his fingers across it without immediately opening it.
Inside was information about Shen Han.
Jia Wen wasn't sure what possessed him to commission an investigation into Shen Han's current life. A flicker of regret gnawed at him; it made him feel like some obsessed stalker gathering details about someone he once knew.
"Hey, Boss!" The door burst open without warning, and Yuan Qi entered with a wide grin. Instinctively, Jia Wen shoved the folder under a stack of work documents, trying his best to maintain a calm facade despite the momentary panic flashing through him.
Luckily, Yuan Qi didn't seem to notice or question his odd behavior. "What's up?" Jia Wen asked, his voice steady, thankful he could keep up the act. Pretending to scribble on a piece of paper, he tried to look busy.
"I actually have some good news for you," Yuan Qi said.
Jia Wen raised a brow. "Good news?"
"I met Shen Han last night," Yuan Qi said casually. "We even had dinner together."
The pen halted mid-stroke in Jia Wen's hand.
He stared at Yuan Qi, who still smiled at him like he had no idea he was playing with fire. "Tell me you're just messing with me."
Yuan Qi stayed silent, offering only an even wider grin, confirming that it was no joke.
"You really had dinner with him?! Whose friend are you supposed to be, mine or his?!" Jia Wen snapped, throwing his pen across the desk in frustration.
Yuan Qi sighed tiredly, as if he'd expected this exact reaction. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm neutral?" He stepped closer and perched casually on the edge of Jia Wen's desk.
"I know I'm your friend, and yes, Shen Han hurt you, but it's not fair for me to hate him too when he hasn't done anything to me personally."
Jia Wen hated how right Yuan Qi was. As much as he wanted unconditional support, he couldn't in good conscience demand that Yuan Qi sever ties with Shen Han.
Even if it meant watching Yuan Qi befriend Shen Han right in front of him.
Still, it wasn't easy to accept. "And which part of all that is supposed to be the good news? All you're doing is reminding me that my best friend doesn't have my back," Jia Wen said bitterly.
Yuan Qi patted his shoulder. "It's good news because maybe next time it'll be you having dinner with Shen Han."
In response, Jia Wen grabbed the discarded pen and threw it at Yuan Qi, who easily caught it with a mocking grin and a cheeky stick-out of his tongue.
Jia Wen grimaced at the very thought of it.
"Look, if you're just here to toy with my emotions, you might as well leave. I've got a lot of work to do," Jia Wen said coolly.
Work... like reading all about Shen Han's life from that folder.
Yuan Qi snorted at his cold demeanor but still added, "Oh, and I gave him a ride home afterward." He twirled the pen between his fingers. "It looks like a lot has changed for him over the past three years."
Jia Wen caught the subtle shift in Yuan Qi's expression. "What do you mean?"
"It's... strange. He's not living in the same house anymore. He moved," Yuan Qi explained.
Moving houses didn't seem unusual to Jia Wen. But seeing the odd, unsettled look in Yuan Qi's eyes made him uneasy. "It's hard to explain, but... his place now is very different from before."
Jia Wen narrowed his eyes, waiting for more, but Yuan Qi stayed silent.
"Forget it. Let's just pretend I never mentioned Shen Han," Yuan Qi said, raising both hands as he made his way toward the door. "Focus on your work."
That was the last thing he said before he disappeared behind the door.
Jia Wen let out a breath and immediately retrieved the hidden folder. Carefully, he opened it, reading through each word with laser focus, unwilling to miss a single detail.
His concentration wavered, however, when photo after photo of Shen Han fell into view.
He cursed under his breath. He had asked for information, not a whole album of Shen Han's face.
Still, Jia Wen couldn't deny it—Shen Han hadn't changed much. He was still as he remembered... just a bit simpler, a little humbler.
Shaking his head, Jia Wen slapped his own cheeks lightly. Why was he letting himself get distracted by Shen Han's face?
Taking a gulp of water to compose himself, he continued reading. He even had to cover the photos with papers to keep his focus intact.
And then, a line caught his eye, making him freeze.
"Bankruptcy?" Jia Wen whispered, frowning as he reread the information about Shen Han's family business.
The file explained that Shen Han's father's company had gone bankrupt, forcing them into financial hardship. They'd even had to sell all their valuable assets.
Now it made sense—Yuan Qi's unsettled expression, the different house, the shift in Shen Han's circumstances.
Flipping the page, Jia Wen stared at the photo of the modest house Shen Han now called home. It was a far cry from the grandeur he once knew.
And now, he understood why Shen Han had applied for a job at his company.
As the puzzle pieces fell into place, a cold smile crept onto Jia Wen's face.
Of course Shen Han came crawling back after losing everything. Jia Wen didn't know Shen Han's exact motives, but he was certain it wasn't pure.
If Shen Han thought he could just walk back into Jia Wen's life seeking comfort, he was gravely mistaken.
After what Shen Han had done to him, Jia Wen wasn't about to make things easy.
If Shen Han wanted to play, then Jia Wen would be more than happy to play along.