Everyone was getting on well.

Zhao Ming couldn't remember the last time he had eaten with this many people. Joke by joke, he was soon part of the little circle.

When everyone had more or less finished, Xu Ye got up to settle the bill.

But Zhao Ming seemed to have guessed what he was doing. He put out a hand to stop him. "Where are you going?"

"To pay."

"Don't rush. I'll get it in a minute."

Xu Ye laughed. "We agreed this one was on me."

Zhao Ming wouldn't let it go. "Don't argue with me. The money you put into the film hasn't come back yet, so you can't have much right now. Once the film money lands in the account, then you can buy dinner."

He wasn't wrong. Most of the ten-odd million Xu Ye had started with was out the door. Five million was in the film and hadn't come back, another five million had just gone into Yingke, and on top of that he had to transfer Pei Youwei a sum for the expansion any day now. There really wasn't much left at his disposal.

"You should have said. If I'd known you were paying I'd have ordered a few more expensive things."

Zhao Ming pointed at him and laughed in exasperation. "Is he this shameless the whole time he's around you?"

"He's always like this."

Xu Ye waved a hand. "All right. Everybody's about done. Get your things together, we're heading back."

Zhao Ming was enjoying the conversation and wasn't quite ready to leave. But seeing everyone at the table start picking up phones and bags, he got up and went with Xu Ye to the counter to settle up.

Once Zhao Ming had scanned the code and paid, he put an arm around Xu Ye's shoulders and steered him toward the restroom.

They were taking a leak.

Zhao Ming turned his head. "Anything else going on tonight?"

"No."

"Want to go on somewhere after?"

Xu Ye thought about it. "Next time. They're in dorms, and the dorms lock up at night."

Zhao…