Original subtitles

[Love Between Lines]

[Episode 13]

[Sold] [See you]

Take care.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

He's here again?

Seems like he's got other things in mind.

Maybe I'm overthinking it.

Five iced Americanos, three specialty drinks.

Trying to make me even busier, huh?

It's the weekend. Why did you come here

instead of resting at home?

Because I have an uncanny knack for foresight.

I knew it would be busy

in the café this evening.

I've noticed you're pretty well informed

about Qin Xiaoyi from Group A these days.

He comes back and you show up here right away.

What,

your boss isn't hounding you to draw plans on weekends anymore?

My project is finished,

so I deserve a break.

Besides, he's doing a side job himself.

That intense?

Even the boss has to take on a side hustle?

He really should learn a thing or two from Mr. Pei.

Pei Zhen?

Didn't the Qian Jinxin matter wrap up already?

What's up with him now?

He went to play over across the street.

Where?

At the murder mystery game place across the street.

When?

About 10 minutes ago.

You and that Mr. Pei, you two...

Where are you going?

I'll talk to you later.

Always so jumpy.

No need to run.

Their session has already started.

Qin Xiaoyi is in Group A for this session, right?

Yes.

He was on leave before.

Today is his first day back performing.

Well, it hasn't been going on for long.

Could you get me a ticket?

Please.

You've played so many times,

so you should know the rules.

We don't admit latecomers here.

I'm practically a regular player now.

Can't you make an exception?

I'll take any role, as long as I can get in.

There's really nothing I can do.

This session's already full.

Besides, it's against our rules.

Thanks.

Where does this corridor lead?

To the lobby.

It's one of the fire exits.

Hello,

this is ME Murder Mystery Game Club.

Is the signal bad?

Hello,

may I ask

if you know the way to the casino?

I think it's up ahead.

Yes, right up ahead.

That way, right?

Yes.

Just go straight and turn right.

That's right.

Thank you.

I didn't know I had to make money here.

You want to make money, right?

Go find that guy—

that guy

in a suit.

He can help you.

He's the son of a gambling tycoon.

At the casino,

he never loses.

You can ask him for help.

Are you a staff member

or playing some character?

I'm a...

Time traveler.

A-A hidden character.

I know there's a map in your bag.

It's something he needs.

Make sure to ask him to help you.

There really is.

Thank you, time traveler.

Sir!

Excuse me, sir!

I heard you're the son of a gambling tycoon,

who makes a lot of money at the casino.

You must've got the wrong person.

Please take me along to make money.

No, no.

I... I...

I have to go. I've got things to do over there.

Please. Let's go.

Don't drag me.

Take me along to make money.

Let's go.

Excuse me,

do you have a ticket?

I-I'm here to find someone.

I'll be going then.

Hold on!

Control center,

someone without a ticket has entered the game.

Do you copy, control center?

Someone without a ticket has entered the game!

[CCTV Room]

Fei.

Pull up the CCTV footage for me.

Let's see who's snuck in without a ticket.

How brazen.

Got it, Boss.

Boss, she's here.

Zoom in. Zoom in.

It's her.

Boss,

I remember she's a regular player.

What is she doing?

Looks like he's searching for Qin Xiaoyi.

Boss.

She didn't change into costume.

It won't be good if other players see her like this.

Zheng Qi. Zheng Qi.

Do you copy? Please respond.

Yes, you've reached Freckled Li.

There's a female player who didn't change into costume

heading your way.

Stop her and bring her out.

Copy that.

I think it should be here.

Excuse me,

you have to leave now.

Freckled Li,

give me some time.

I'll leave as soon as I see Qin Xiaoyi.

No can do.

Boss said

you have to leave now.

What you're doing is against the rules, you know?

As soon as I see Qin Xiaoyi,

I'll say just one thing

and leave right away.

How about this? You can follow me.

I promise I won't cause any trouble, okay?

No.

You're already causing trouble just by being here.

Leave. Leave now.

Come here, guys!

Freckled Li is handing out a new mission!

H-He's handing out a new mission!

You've got a new mission?

Right, talk to him.

What mission is it?

There's no mission.

I've got no clues here.

No clues at all.

I've finally found you.

Why are you here?

Commander Qin.

I've got important matters to discuss with you.

Come with me for a bit.

Excuse me.

So you're here, my contact up the chain,

Qin Xiaoyi.

Why did you barge in here?

I'm sorry.

May I ask

when Qin Xiaoyi will come out?

Mr. Pei.

A murder mystery game here

lasts at least 4 hours,

and Qin Xiaoyi is the one with the highest win rate.

I don't think you're so idle

as to wait until this game's over, right?

Ms. Hu, you know this place so well.

Sounds like you come here often.

Since Zhuling lost the Design Competition,

I've indeed got plenty of time to spare.

I can afford to wait

this little bit of time.

Alright, let's do that.

Why did you come out here as well?

The game isn't over yet.

I lost.

So fast?

You didn't deliberately lose

to get out early, did you?

My professional integrity wouldn't allow me to do that.

S-So you...

I got distracted.

You, oh you.

Just put your mind at ease.

What could I possibly do to Hu Xiu?

I wasn't talking about you.

What business do you have with Qin Xiaoyi?

I...

You'd better be honest.

I saw everything just now.

This is my fault.

I think it was probably because of me

that Ms. Hu barged in here.

Because of you?

Was it because of you or Qin Xiaoyi?

Ms. Hu

probably didn't want me to recognize

this NPC here.

I also just found out myself

that he works here.

Let me introduce.

Qin Xiaoyi here...

He's my younger brother.

Younger brother?

Ms. Hu, are you waiting for me?

Why did you suddenly come to this murder mystery game place?

Zhiyu didn't tell us

that he works here.

I only found out by chance.

I was curious, so I wanted

to come and confirm it myself.

Don't worry,

I won't make things difficult for my own brother.

Mr. Pei, when you deliberately leaked news

of Zhuling's cooperation with Yueheng

on the lane hotel project ahead of time,

you didn't care that Mr. Xiao was your brother, did you?

So this is what you've been upset about all along.

There are so many lanes in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area—

it's nothing unusual.

If the ideas happened to overlap,

we can only say it was a coincidence.

Besides,

it was business competition to begin with—

it's every man for himself.

Do you understand?

A coincidence?

Fine, if you say it was a coincidence, let's say it was.

He won anyway.

So in your opinion, Ms. Hu,

I acted improperly

and lacked ability,

so I deserved to lose?

But do you really know Xiao Zhiyu well?

Is he really so upright and proper himself?

He's just a thief

who, at the age of 12,

dared to sneak into my father's study

and try cracking the safe's code.

A thief?

What did he steal?

What do you think was in the safe?

How would I know what he wanted to steal?

As a child, he dared to steal from our home;

and ever since he grew up, he's been doing everything possible

to humiliate the Pei family

and Zhuling.

Between him and me,

it's never been as simple as business competition.

But what disappoints me most

is that such a smart person

as you, Ms. Hu,

actually chose him.

Let's go.

Let's have lunch together tomorrow.

To celebrate you securing Lyman's new project.

You know perfectly well

whose idea it was.

I was helping

at Regard

when I accidentally found out

that Pei Zhen joined the murder mystery game.

I remember you said

that only in murder mystery games

could you not have to be Xiao Zhiyu.

Although I don't know

why you don't want to be Xiao Zhiyu,

I'll make sure to preserve

this sanctuary for you.

It's just I didn't expect

that he would still find out.

Is he really your elder brother?

No.

Not by blood.

I figured.

You have different surnames

and don't look alike at all.

A blended family?

It was a long time ago.

I'm here to collect coffee.

No need to check.

I placed all these orders.

I had no idea that you, Mr. Gong,

loves

Regard's coffee this much.

I'm just getting it for a young guy who works at our club.

I only drink whiskey.

Is that Pei Zhen

really Xiao Zhiyu's brother?

If it weren't for what happened yesterday,

who would have known

that his stepfather is

such a renowned figure in the construction industry?

So why is he still working so hard?

Haven't you known Mr. Xiao for a long time?

I have,

but you know his temperament.

It's not like he reports everything to me, right?

The two of us met

when we were in college in America.

In the college, apart from

second-generation immigrants and rich kids,

there were only struggling students supported by their entire families.

Since he didn't bring up

his family affairs himself,

I wasn't in the right place to pry.

So,

what was he like back in America?

Well, he...

He was indeed quite unusual.

His family

never came to visit him in college,

and he didn't socialize with any of us classmates, either.

Besides attending classes,

he just worked part-time outside.

He lived completely in his own world.

We only met his mother

on graduation day.

But their relationship

seemed...

How did it seem?

Well...

They seemed

very distant

and awkward.

Mom.

Zhiyu, you're here.

Come on, have a seat.

Zhiyu.

It's been ages. Why do I feel like

you've lost even more weight?

Come on, have a seat.

You're here, Zhiyu.

No drinks for me.

Alright, sir.

Zhiyu.

Good boy.

It's only been a few years,

and you've turned an unknown small studio

into what it is today.

Your prospects are limitless.

Zhiyu.

Uncle Pei is complimenting you.

You're too kind.

You must all be hungry.

Let's eat.

Yeah.

It's rare for our whole family to be together.

Let's start eating.

Wanyue.

I've ordered

all your favorite dishes.

Zhiyu.

I specially ordered this fish for you.

I forgot to ask them to remove the green onions.

Let me remove them for you.

Mom,

I can

eat green onions now.

But when you were little...

That was all in the past.

Mom.

I remember you used to

really love these sweet and sour lotus root slices.

Please have more.

Mrs. Xiao,

your blood sugar has been high these past few years.

I specifically ordered many vegetarian dishes for you.

Please eat more of those.

Zhen, you still remember that?

Zhiyu.

I packed some food for you.

You didn't eat anything just now.

Work is important, but you need to take care of yourself too.

This is the restaurant's signature snack,

called...

Crab shell pastry.

Right, crab shell pastry.

You've been in Shanghai for years.

You must've tried it before, right?

Mom.

I didn't know your blood sugar had been high these years.

It's nothing. Just a minor issue.

I'm leaving.

I've grown up.

I make my own choice.

As for the money,

I'll figure something out myself.

This isn't about money.

Why do you have to study architecture?

And you had to choose a college

so far away from me.

What are you standing there for?

Come and help.

Come on.

Here comes help.

Thank you.

You pull that way, I'll pull this way.

♪ Under the streetlight, I grow increasingly weary ♪

♪ A few specks of dust drift by in the wind ♪

Granny's back isn't in good shape,

so she can't do the wringing.

♪ The girl who once basked in the sunlight ♪

Here.

Good thing you're back.

♪ Where did she go to play? ♪

♪ I don't understand either ♪

♪ Flicking through old chat logs ♪

♪ I just realized the replies were somewhat delayed ♪

♪ At the crossroads of choices, amidst the bustling crowd ♪

♪ Who hasn't paid the price and still fallen short? ♪

♪ Stand with me tonight, look at the starlight ♪

♪ Even if we're always pushed aside by reality ♪

♪ I know how hard it is to push forward ♪

Thank you both so much.

♪ But there are always people in this world trying again like me ♪

I made

some sweet soup

I'll bring it over for you in a bit.

Thank you then.

No need to bring it upstairs.

Just leave it on the rack on the first floor.

♪ Stand with me tonight, look at the starlight ♪

♪ Even if the plot is changed dramatically by fate again ♪

♪ I know the dark clouds will still come ♪

♪ But in this world, there will always be someone ♪

There're some pastries in that bag. Help yourself.

♪ Who looks forward with the same hope as me ♪

Crab shell pastry?

You bought this?

Someone gave it to me.

That's a lot.

Here.

This is to warm your hands.

It's okay.

I'll just apply some hand cream on it.

What are you doing with this?

Here.

Put your hand in it.

If you want to protect your hands,

this method is very effective.

Mr. Xiao, I didn't know you had this kind of knowledge.

Back when I worked part-time abroad,

washing dishes in the cold

would make sores break out on my hands.

Later, a coworker taught me this trick.

You...

What?

I just never expected

that someone like you,

a golden boy,

would do such hard labor.

I'm no golden boy.

He's just a thief,

who, at the age of 12,

dared to sneak into my father's study

and try cracking the safe's code.

How did it seem?

They seemed

very distant

and awkward.

How come?

I only happened to hear about it later

that

his biological father passed away early,

and his mother remarried soon after.

He

didn't want to spend his stepfather's money,

so he became independent at an early age

and left that home.

Did you

have a really hard life back then?

I'm going upstairs.

Remember to apply it yourself, too.

Wang also wanted to come,

but he really couldn't make it.

Guangming really pushes himself.

There's no other choice.

He's running back and forth between two sides right now,

and the pressure's huge.

Yeah.

If you need any help,

just let me know.

What's on your mind?

So,

that Qin Xiaoyi from Group A

is your boss?

And that fengshui master

is Gong Huaicong?

I didn't say anything at first

because I was worried my boss would silence me.

Because in their club,

except for Mr. Gong,

no one knows about his second identity.

What about later?

Later, it was out of my own selfish motive.

Well,

I just think

he really enjoys playing the murder mystery game.

You didn't want anyone to spoil his fun.

That's why you rushed over to stop Mr. Pei that day, right?

Xiu.

I think

you've got other feelings

for Xiao Zhiyu.

Look,

if you only saw him as your boss,

you'd only care about

the rent bills

and the results of the games, things like that.

But now, you care about his feelings

and you want him to be happy.

I...

Also,

I think his feelings for you

aren't so simple either.

He's living at your place,

supposedly for the project.

But the fact that he agreed to be your roommate—

roommates of all things—

that's a bit hard to make sense of.

A man and a woman living together, you know?

Xiu.

I think your spring is just around the corner.

Let's move to another place.

Waiter, check please.

I'll pay.

-I know you spoil me the most, Xiu. -This is the receipt.

It's 380 yuan in total.

We're celebrating our restaurant's second anniversary lately.

Here's a customized gift for you.

Thank you.

Today, we received

Lyman's authorization letter for the design intent.

This project

is finally secured.

There have been quite a few issues recently.

This result is thanks to everyone's hard work.

You'll definitely get your project bonuses.

Excellent!

Today,

Mr. Wu from Huasheng Materials is also here with us.

Thank you, Mr. Wu,

for taking time to attend our celebration banquet.

We also hope

you'll continue to support us, Mr. Wu.

Don't mention it.

It's our honor

to collaborate with D Studio.

Come on,

let's all raise a toast to Mr. Wu.

Come on.

Alright, to Mr. Wu!

Here's to the smooth progress of our project.

Cheers.

Don't drink too much.

Just a little bit.

Don't be like last time.

Cheers. To you, Mr. Wu.

Hu Xiu,

congratulations on passing probation.

Passing probation?

Aren't there still 2 months left?

It's been moved up.

Mr. Xiao already informed me.

As expected from someone I spotted from the beginning.

Dong Qi.

Weren't you looking for the restroom?

I found it.

Come on, I'll show you the way.

Let's go.

-Mr. Wu. -Ms. Hu.

No more drinks.

Mr. Xiao said

you couldn't

hold your liquor, Ms. Hu.

Better listen to Mr. Xiao, right?

Ms. Hu.

I heard from your colleagues

that you used to work at a real estate company.

Yes.

From real estate

to architectural design—

it must've been hard for you, Ms. Hu.

This industry is quite demanding.

If you want to achieve something,

you have to sacrifice a lot.

Compared to rough guys like us,

it's even harder for you young ladies.

However,

with Mr. Xiao's support,

Ms. Hu,

you're much luckier than most people.

Especially the fact that Mr. Xiao

is such a talented young man.

A man with such potential

is rare to come by.

This mushroom

tastes a bit strange.

Just like I find

what you just said quite strange too.

You misunderstood.

I didn't mean anything negative about you.

I just thought

if there are suitable projects in the future,

we could collaborate more.

Mr. Wu,

I'm not the one who can decide on collaborations.

I understand.

I spoke out of turn.

Mr. Xiao, you've finished your business?

Ms. Hu and I were having a nice chat.

Hu Xiu.

There's a conference call in 5 minutes.

Come with me.

Mr. Xiao.

What conference call?

What did Mr. Wu say to you just now?

Nothing.

Then why are you upset?

I'm not.

You weren't even there just now.

How could you know I'm upset?

Actions speak louder than words.

Do you know

that you've always had a habit?

Whenever you're upset,

you fidget with your fingers.

I'm okay.

I just tripped accidentally.

Mr. Xiao, you seem to enjoy observing your subordinates a lot.

Can you tell me now?

What happened just now?

He underestimated me.

But it doesn't matter what he thinks of me.

As long as his 3D spatial construction technology

can help our studio, that's all that matters.

Stop.

Mr. Xiao,

please stop observing me.

I couldn't care less about you.

Mr. Xiao.

Why didn't you wake me up

when we arrived?

I've got nothing urgent to do.

Get off.

You did that on purpose, didn't you?

Mr. Xiao.

I couldn't get any strength.

I just

couldn't open this.

Cut it out.

I've used this trick before.

Get off.

I'm okay.

Well then.

Snow?

It's snowing.

Mr. Xiao,

it's really snowing.

Look.

Hu Xiu,

are you hallucinating?

I

think

there are flower petals falling too.

♪ Close your eyes for me ♪

♪ Don't rush to wake up ♪

♪ Before the night ends ♪

Mr. Xiao, look.

These are real flower petals.

♪ Will you stay with me? ♪

♪ I won't search for ♪

♪ The reason we met ♪

♪ The city gradually turns pale outside the window ♪

♪ The stars twinkle ♪

♪ I've quieted down ♪

Qin Xiaoyi.

What did you just call me?

♪ What kind of story will you like? ♪

♪ Would you join me? ♪

♪ To make a long, romantic dream ♪

♪ Just you and me ♪

♪ Briefly, beyond the clamor ♪

♪ Carefully drawing close to you ♪

♪ Clinging to that trace of unknown joy ♪

♪ Oh, special night ♪

♪ I need you maybe ♪

♪ The crowds are gone ♪

♪ My thoughts have sunk to the bottom ♪

♪ Maybe you never noticed me at all ♪

There's something

♪ Yet you're in my view ♪

I've always wanted to tell you—

you've got

♪ Escape the world ♪

a really good-looking face.

♪ Forget all things ♪

♪ And fall down a long, romantic dream ♪

♪ Just you and me ♪

♪ Under moonlight ♪

♪ Briefly, beyond the clamor ♪

♪ Getting closer to you secretly ♪

♪ Clinging to that trace of unknown joy ♪

♪ Oh, special night ♪