The nightclub lights flickered, the thumping music reverberated, and a faint veil of smoke drifted lazily through the air.
Wei Yu Chen sat on the VIP sofa, surrounded by a few old friends — and Jiang Fan, his ever-loyal companion who never strayed far from his side.
The glass in his hand had been refilled more times than he could count, yet his expression remained calm — that cool, untouchable look that never seemed to fade.
Laughter erupted when one of them raised a phone, flashing a viral video across the screen.
"Hahaha… look at this! The Fire Extinguisher Girl! I still can't believe you actually listened to her, Yu Chen. Usually, you're the one people obey!"
Wei Yu Chen only gave a faint smile, swirling the glass in his hand.
"Sometimes," he murmured, "a wild wind is harder to control than a storm."
His tone was even, composed — yet a glint flickered faintly in his eyes.
Sensing the tension, Jiang Fan quickly interjected, his voice light.
"Ge, there's a new film offer. From a major director. They'll send the script next week — they said the lead role suits you perfectly."
"A film, huh?" Wei Yu Chen tilted the glass and finished the last of his drink.
For a moment, his thoughts drifted far away — to Li Yuan Bo.
The name still lingered like a pale shadow in the corner of his heart — an old wound that had never truly healed.
The chatter around him continued: rumors, market shares, gossip — fragments of noise blending with the music.
But amid the chaos, Wei Yu Chen's mind buzzed restlessly.
The image of that Fire Extinguisher Girl shouting at the airport stairs replayed itself. Her eyes, her sharp words.
Then another face followed — Li Yuan Bo, once so close, now a name laced with pain.
He drew a deep breath, then smiled faintly.
"I'll look at the script first. If it's worth it, I'll take it."
He lit a cigarette. The smoke curled upward, mingling with the restless dance of the club's lights.
From the outside, he was still the same — cold, composed, in control.
But inside him, two names circled endlessly, refusing to leave.
---
It was past midnight when the black car pulled up before a luxurious penthouse.
Jiang Fan stepped out first, then half-dragged the tall, drunken actor who somehow still managed to look dignified despite the staggering steps.
"Gege… you really are a handful," Jiang Fan muttered, supporting his shoulder.
"So tall, so heavy. Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look when you're drunk like this?"
Yu Chen only let out a faint chuckle, his head drooping against Jiang Fan's shoulder.
The scent of alcohol mixed with his signature cologne — a sharp, intoxicating blend that clung to the air.
With effort, they made their way through the private elevator hall and into the vast penthouse.
The lights turned on automatically, revealing sleek interiors framed by floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the city.
Jiang Fan grumbled again as he guided him toward the bedroom.
"Honestly, Ge. When you're drunk, you're like a baby. So heavy… come on, just one more step."
Finally, with a tired huff, Jiang Fan let the actor collapse onto the oversized bed covered in pristine white sheets.
He wiped his face, breath ragged.
"Good grief… if it weren't for me, you'd still be passed out on that sofa at the bar."
Wei Yu Chen lay there, half-sunken into the mattress, eyes barely open.
In his haze, his lips moved slightly, his voice little more than a broken whisper—
"Li Yuan Bo… damn it… don't you… miss me…"
Jiang Fan froze mid-step. His hand hovered over the light switch. Slowly, he turned, his gaze falling upon his gege — eyes soft yet heavy with something unspoken.
Silence blanketed the room.
Only Wei Yu Chen's breathing filled the air, deep and uneven, laced with the faint scent of alcohol — the ghost of last night's indulgence.
Jiang Fan stood by the bed, emotions tangled in his chest.
"Gege…" he whispered, almost scolding under his breath, "why do you have to say his name again…"
He knew better than anyone — the secret that never crossed the walls of this penthouse.
A forbidden relationship. An old wound. And the name Li Yuan Bo, carved deep into Wei Yu Chen's heart.
As a manager, Jiang Fan had become his shield — covering traces, polishing images, crafting sweet lies for the world to believe.
But as a younger brother, he could only swallow the ache each time he saw his gege like this: cold-faced, yet breaking inside.
He exhaled softly and sat on the edge of the bed.
"You always look so strong in front of everyone, Wei Yu Chen," he murmured. "But I know — beneath all that, you're still human… still capable of breaking."
His gaze drifted to the ring on Yu Chen's middle finger, spinning loosely as his hand twitched.
That ring — the symbol of a past he had never let go.
Jiang Fan rubbed his face, fatigue catching up to him.
Then he slumped into the chair near the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
If only I could take Li Yuan Bo's name out of your heart, gege… maybe your life would finally be lighter.
But he knew it was impossible. The wound had sunk too deep.
And now, the presence of that Fire Extinguisher Girl — somehow, she was starting to stir the calm that once remained.
"I just hope," he whispered, eyes drifting shut, "she's not a new problem for you."
The night stretched on in silence, until dawn began to breathe through the thin curtains.
---
Soft sunlight spilled into the room, brushing against the clean lines of the interior.
The faint scent of alcohol still lingered, mingling with the crisp linen and quiet air of morning.
Wei Yu Chen opened his eyes slowly. His head throbbed, his temples pulsing with fine needles of pain.
He pushed himself up, leaning back against the headboard.
On the bedside table, a glass of water and a packet of painkillers waited.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Jiang Fan…" he murmured.
Sure enough — there he was.
Curled in the chair near the bed, Jiang Fan slept deeply, his shirt wrinkled, his expression tired but peaceful — as if he hadn't moved an inch all night.
Wei Yu Chen reached for the glass, sipping slowly.
The sound of the glass against wood stirred Jiang Fan awake.
He rubbed his eyes, frowning in sleepy irritation.
"Gege, you really are impossible," he grumbled. "Tall, heavy, and when you're drunk — it's like dragging a bag of rice that talks."
Wei Yu Chen let out a low chuckle, voice still rough.
"You exaggerate. I'm fine."
Jiang Fan sighed, pressing his palm to his forehead.
"If I weren't here, who knows where you'd have slept last night. Honestly, Ge, you're like a baby when you're drunk."
Wei Yu Chen didn't reply.
His gaze wandered toward the bright sky beyond the glass wall.
But inside, last night's fragments flickered again — the slip of a name from his own lips.
Li Yuan Bo.
A small, uncertain smile crossed his face — part bitter, part tender.
His thumb brushed the ring on his finger as he whispered softly, almost inaudibly,
"Sometimes… even sleep can't erase the past."
Jiang Fan watched quietly from the side, chest rising with a deep, weary sigh.
He knew exactly who still lingered inside his gege's heart —
and that truth alone was what scared him the most.