Two days later, Mo Fei's car arrived.
His beautiful, magnificent, completely unnecessary BMW M5 Competition.
Mo Fei stood outside his building with the key in his hand, staring at the car like a proud father meeting his firstborn.
Black, sleek, aggressive and beautiful.
He slowly ran a hand across the bonnet. "My baby."
The delivery representative pretended not to hear him.
Mo Fei opened the driver's door and sank into the seat. The leather, steering wheel and dashboard.
He inhaled deeply.
Money really could buy happiness. Anyone who said otherwise simply had not spent enough.
The engine roared to life and Mo Fei's entire face lit up.
"Ouu lalalala…" He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "We're going to commit so many traffic violations together."
The delivery representative looked alarmed.
Mo Fei flashed him a grin. "Joking. Joking."
Mostly.
Without wasting another second, he pulled away. His first destination was obvious.
Chen Yu's restaurant.
Unfortunately, when Mo Fei arrived, Chen Yu was still working. So instead of immediately taking his best friend out to speed-run the BMW Competition, Mo Fei found himself abandoned in the restaurant's private VIP lounge.
Waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
He had already scrolled through his phone. Checked his messages. Checked himself in the dark reflection of the window.
Twice.
Taken several pictures of his car from upstairs.
Sent one to Chen Yu.
Then another, then a third, with a text:
Hurry up. She misses you.
Chen Yu replied: I have a job.
Mo Fei sent back: Pathetic. Work faster.
He collapsed dramatically across the sofa. Boredom was a disease and he was dying.
The door finally opened.
Mo Fei shot upright. "Finally—"
Chen Yu walked in and he was not alone. Sima Li followed behind him.
Mo Fei's excitement vanished. "What's he doing here?"
Sima Li stopped. "What are you doing here, shawty?"
Chen Yu walked straight past both of them. "I told you I was busy."
"And I told you I was hungry," Sima Li replied, dropping into the seat opposite Mo Fei.
"This is a restaurant. Congratulations on understanding its purpose." Chen Yu pulled out a small notepad. "What do you want?"
Sima Li immediately straightened. "First, the braised beef, but tell them not to make it too oily. Then steamed fish. Actually, make that two. Chilli prawns, crispy duck, fried rice—no, wait, seafood fried rice—and that soup you made last time. Oh, and—"
Chen Yu's pen stopped.
Sima Li continued. " ...dumplings. Two portions. Maybe three. And—"
Smack.
"Ow!" Sima Li grabbed the back of his head.
Chen Yu lowered the notepad. "You'll have one bottle of lukewarm water."
"What?"
"It suits you. You're a singer. Protect your throat."
Sima Li stared at him. "I just ordered an entire meal!"
"Cancelled."
"You can't cancel my food!"
"My restaurant." Chen Yu tucked the notepad into his pocket. "My rules. Lukewarm water."
Sima Li slumped into his chair. "This world is cruel."
Nobody responded. "I give people music. I bring joy to millions. I dedicate my beautiful voice to society, and this is how society repays me."
Chen Yu headed for the door. "Room-temperature water."
"You heartless bastard!"
Mo Fei heard none of it. He was staring through the window at his BMW downstairs. His beautiful baby.
Perhaps he should buy custom floor mats.
No. Carbon-fibre trim.
Wait.
Did it need—
"Mo Fei." Sima Li leaned across the table.
"Hm?"
"Have you seen Louis recently?"
That got his attention. Mo Fei turned. "No. Why?"
Chen Yu, who had almost reached the door, stopped and casually destroyed Sima Li's life. "He has a crush on Louis."
Mo Fei gasped. Sima Li's face went red.
Mo Fei slowly turned towards him. "No way."
Sima Li shifted in his seat. "Yes way."
"Who's Louis?"
Sima Li and Chen Yu gave him a nasty look.
Mo Fei blinked and his eyes widened. "Wait... My Louis?"
Sima Li frowned. "What do you mean, your Louis?"
"My poor manager." Mo Fei placed a hand over his chest. "With you?" His face fell into genuine mourning. "How unfortunate for him."
Something inside Sima Li shattered. "You—"
Chen Yu burst out laughing and had to turn away. Sima Li looked betrayed by friendship itself.
Mo Fei leaned forward. "Wait. Does Louis like you too?"
Sima Li went quiet.
Mo Fei looked between him and Chen Yu. "And when did this happen? How do I not know about this?"
Chen Yu folded his arms. "You were busy sulking through emotional turmoil."
Mo Fei waved him off dismissively. "So? What happened with Louis?"
Sima Li sank deeper into his chair. "He won't give me the time of day."
Mo Fei considered this. "Meh. Move on, then."
Sima Li turned towards Chen Yu. "Why am I friends with him?"
"Poor judgement."
Sima Li stared at both of them before dropping his forehead onto the table. "What am I supposed to do?"
Mo Fei leaned back. "Why are you asking me?"
"Because you know Louis."
"He manages my career." Mo Fei picked up his drink. "Of course I'm close to him."
"Then tell me what he likes." Sima Li clasped both hands together in front of him.
Mo Fei shrugged. "I have no experience with men."
Sima Li slowly raised his head.
Mo Fei continued, completely shameless. "I like my women soft."
Chen Yu's expression changed.
Mo Fei cupped both hands vaguely in front of his chest. "With boobies. Like Xiao Mei."
Chen Yu, "..."
Sima Li, "..."
Mo Fei remained completely unbothered.
Chen Yu grimaced. "Why did you need the hand gesture?"
"For visual communication." A faint flush crept across Mo Fei's cheeks.
Sima Li rubbed his temples. "I asked for romantic advice, not your boobs preferences."
"Same department." Mo Fei took another sip. "Fine. You want Louis?"
"Yes."
"You're serious?"
The irritation left Sima Li's face. "Yes."
Mo Fei studied him for a moment and glanced at Chen Yu.
Chen Yu understood immediately. Both men turned towards Sima Li.
Sima Li looked between them. "…Why are you looking at me like that?"
Mo Fei leaned forward. "First problem. Cash or bank transfer?"
Sima Li, "..."
Chen Yu nodded gravely. "We accept cheques too."
"Second problem," Mo Fei continued. "I want two front-row tickets to your next show."
Chen Yu pointed at Sima Li. "Make it four and you have a deal."
Sima Li recoiled. "You're charging me to help me?"
Both men nodded.
Sima Li looked at them. His dear friends. His loyal companions. His pillars of support...
He pulled out his black Amex card and dropped it onto the table.
Chen Yu snatched it up instantly. He and Mo Fei leaned over it like archaeologists discovering a lost civilisation.
Sima Li looked disgusted. "You're both top celebrities and you resort to such lowly methods. Ptooey"
"Blah, blah, blah." Mo Fei waved him off. "You want our help or not?"
Sima Li pointed at Chen Yu. "Mo Fei I can understand, but you? You're the fucking heir to Chen Restaurants. What do you need money for?"
Chen Yu tapped the card against his palm. "You can never have enough."
Sima Li slapped a hand on the table. "Can you two actually help me?"
"We are helping," Mo Fei said. "By identifying your defects."
"I have no defects."
Mo Fei and Chen Yu exchanged a look.
Sima Li immediately amended it. "…Few defects."
Mo Fei shifted closer. "Okay. If Louis already knows you like him, stop throwing yourself at him every five seconds."
Sima Li frowned. "But how will he know I'm serious?"
"He knows." Chen Yu pulled out the chair beside them and sat. "You can't hide your face around him. I've seen you, Sima."
Sima Li ignored that. "So what do I do?"
Mo Fei tapped his fingers against the table, thinking. "Louis likes competence. Peace, responsibility. People who make his life easier." He paused. "Unfortunately, I possess none of those qualities."
Chen Yu lifted a finger. "Neither does he."
Sima Li frowned at them. Very helpful.
Mo Fei snapped his fingers. "Give him money."
Sima Li groaned. "I already sent him tons of gifts. He refuses them."
"Give him more," Chen Yu added.
Sima Li looked from one to the other. "Do neither of you have experience with healthy relationships?"
Mo Fei suddenly found his cup fascinating. Chen Yu looked up and began counting the light bulbs on the chandelier.
"Chen Yu," Sima Li said slowly. "You're in a committed relationship with Nil, aren't you? Come on, buddy."
Chen Yu coughed into his fist. "Ahem. Well… if you put it like that—"
"Oh, come on."
"Nil loves me, and I love him." Chen Yu's ears coloured faintly. "Our relationship didn't exactly start on the right foot. You already know how much my dad dislikes him, but…" His voice softened. "He makes me happy. In his own way."
Mo Fei's teasing expression eased.
Chen Yu continued, "I fell harder for him because he's nice to me. He takes care of me. I'm happy when I'm around him. Neither of us is perfect, and we messed up plenty in the beginning, but we're still here."
Mo Fei pressed a hand to his chest. "Haa… how sweet."
Sima Li glared at him.
Mo Fei ignored it. "Relationships go both ways, Sima Li. You have to give the other person space to like you too. You can't force it."
Sima Li looked between them. "So after robbing me, your grand advice is 'be nice and don't force him'?"
Mo Fei nodded. "Excellent summary."
"Give me my card back, you worthless pieces of shit."
Chen Yu recoiled, clutching the card. "What? No."
Mo Fei immediately grabbed the other side. "You'll pry it from my cold, dead hands."
"Gladly." Sima Li lunged.
Several chaotic minutes later, the scuffle ended only because Chen Yu threatened to ban everyone from his restaurant.
Sima Li collapsed back into his chair, breathing hard, he noticed Mo Fei had already gone quiet. He was staring out the window again.
Sima Li followed his gaze. "…Is that yours?"
Mo Fei immediately brightened. "Yes."
Sima Li stared down at the car. "You bought an M5 Competition?"
Mo Fei grinned. "Want to see how fast it goes?"
Sima Li's romantic crisis vanished. "I thought you'd never ask."