Chapter 18
CHEN HONG WAS FACED with a dilemma.
He hadn’t wanted to introduce Zhang Yuwen to Huo Sichen. He didn’t want to see them develop a romantic relationship, either, especially when Huo Sichen was playing this exciting little romantic game—Chen Hong was certain that, provided Zhang Yuwen was amenable, the two of them would very quickly become a couple.
Chen Hong had really thought that Huo Sichen was straight. He didn’t know why Huo Sichen had taken a sudden fancy to Zhang Yuwen.
It came out of nowhere. Thinking back, the biggest change had come after their last mountain hike, when Huo Sichen suddenly booked a home training session with Chen Hong and asked if Chen Hong could reintroduce him to Zhang Yuwen.
“Why don’t you just explain it to him yourself?” Chen Hong couldn’t understand Huo Sichen’s thought process at all.
“I can’t bring myself to say it.” Huo Sichen strained to speak as he did his final plank. “Just tell him you’re introducing him to… a prospective match… Okay?”
Unable to hold on anymore, he rolled over and exhaled, perspiring profusely. He sat down to take a break.
“I’d like to reacquaint myself with him as a gay man,” Huo Sichen explained expectantly, bewildering Chen Hong. Huo Sichen briefly outlined his plan. “Just do as I say.”
“He’ll get angry,” Chen Hong said.
“He won’t.”
“Bro, do you like him? Have you turned gay?” Chen Hong hadn’t talked much to him about their sexual orientations, but he knew Huo Sichen could probably tell from hanging out with them that they were all gay.
Huo Sichen glanced at Chen Hong, then averted his gaze with a hint of a shy smile. Grabbing a towel, he scurried away to mop up his sweat and shower. Chen Hong sat on the workout bench nearby and heaved a sigh.
“A-Chen.” Chen Hong didn’t care if Huo Sichen could hear it or not. “A piece of advice from me. This isn’t an easy road to take.”
If he had the choice, Chen Hong would prefer to be straight. Liking men inevitably made life a little harder.
Huo Sichen finished his shower quickly and emerged with a towel draped around his neck. He sat beside Chen Hong, fixated on the messages he was sending on his phone. Chen Hong glanced over and recognized Zhang Yuwen’s profile picture.
“Right,” Chen Hong said. “You’re rich. It’s not a problem.” An elite like Huo Sichen probably didn’t face the same challenges as he did.
“Then I’m counting on you,” Huo Sichen said earnestly.
Now here Chen Hong was, dealing with a complex mix of emotions topped off with a twinge of jealousy. He’d thought he was more or less on the same level as Zhang Yuwen. To think that Huo Sichen would like him… Huo Sichen drove a luxury car, had a respectable job, and was courteous and manly. No matter how you sliced it, he was excellent husband material.
As Zhang Yuwen’s friend, Chen Hong knew he shouldn’t be jealous, and he still hoped Zhang Yuwen would find happiness. He didn’t want his buddy to suffer; he just also envied his good fortune. Given a choice, he’d prefer to set Zhang Yuwen up with Yan Jun. As a friend, Chen Hong sympathized with Yan Jun, a young man with unwavering determination. Chen Hong quite liked him. In his opinion, Yan Jun and Zhang Yuwen were on the same social stratum and thus more compatible.
Huo Sichen was in a different league, and he and Zhang Yuwen might not necessarily be happy together.
A worry nagged at Chen Hong, too: Huo Sichen wouldn’t deceive Zhang Yuwen, would he? Chen Hong knew almost nothing about him beyond their trainer-trainee relationship. Huo Sichen rarely mentioned his job, his love life, or his family. He wasn’t curious about other people’s private lives, nor did he talk about his own. Their interactions were usually limited to the training sessions themselves. Because of that, Chen Hong didn’t think that Huo Sichen saw him as a friend. Even when they did things together outdoors, be it hiking or playing laser tag, Huo Sichen hadn’t acted chummy with him. Most of the time, he stayed close to Zhang Yuwen.
He couldn’t be a playboy, could he? Or have some other character flaw?
Chen Hong pondered this, feeling like he had let Yan Jun down. He didn’t want to offend Huo Sichen, though; he still needed to make money from him. After his gym closed down, a few major clients had become his primary source of income. He retained fewer than ten high-quality clients —wealthy gold-collar professionals with time to spare and the willingness to buy his training sessions. He just had to give them one class every week, and he’d earn enough to cover his basic living expenses instead of being reduced to sleeping under a bridge.
In the end, he resolved his dilemma by betraying Yan Jun.
Just as Huo Sichen predicted, after receiving a hammering from Zhang Yuwen, Chen Hong came to the realization that Zhang Yuwen also liked Huo Sichen. They had just been testing each other.
Those were the rules of adulthood: weigh the pros and cons, search for a reason, make plans, and draw deductions. Dating was less a revelry and more a cautious, cooperative advancement as each person tried to get what they needed—emotional value, economic strengths, social status, networking connections, and sex.
After his beating was complete, Chen Hong asked unwisely, “Aren’t you both tops?”
“It’s not that big a deal,” said Zhang Yuwen. “Don’t you think keeping me in the dark is a bigger problem than that?”
“Sorry, sorry!” Chen Hong held his hands up to plead for mercy.
Zhang Yuwen finally let him off the hook, and Chen Hong opened the takeout bag and dug into the exquisite food. “Honestly, I don’t know him all that well.” His words were both a reminder to Zhang Yuwen and an abdication of responsibility.
“It’s fine,” Zhang Yuwen said. “I’m an adult. I’ll take responsibility for my actions.”
“Then what will you do when you’re both tops?” Chen Hong was more curious about this than anything else.
“Talk it over, I guess… No, wait! I’m not planning to sleep with him just yet!”
Chen Hong finally showed his hand. “So you’re okay with being the bottom?”
“Haven’t done it before, but I don’t mind trying. Why? Do I need to get a certificate to prove that I qualify to bottom?”
Chen Hong was amused. Zhang Yuwen actually was curious to try it. He was curious about bottoming. It was just a position, after all, and all that talk of prostate orgasms and full-body tremors sounded both stimulating and sinful to him. It piqued his interest.
As for the roles of top and bottom, Zhang Yuwen saw it more as a division of labor in a relationship. The top would also have moments when he was tired and needed comfort, when the bottom would need to take up responsibility. It wasn’t a relationship where one was dependent and the other was the provider. His relationship with his ex, for example, had been unbalanced. With his new relationship, Zhang Yuwen hoped to try a completely new approach, more like the relationship between good friends.
As for the bedroom, they could always find opportunities to switch around. He was confident in his skills and technique. If Huo Sichen could accept bottoming once or twice, Zhang Yuwen was sure he could fuck him until he was hooked and wanted more.
That night, Zhang Yuwen finally had a good sleep. The next morning, he and Chen Hong kept quiet about the matter; it wasn’t time to make it public just yet.
Dinner tonite? I’ll come pick u up?
After the blind date, Huo Sichen’s invitations became more frequent. Zhang Yuwen wanted to turn him down and wait until the weekend, but on second thought he decided it was be better to be proactive. They both had feelings for each other; there was no need to play hard to get.
Sure, Zhang Yuwen answered. I’ll go 2 u, no need 2 pick me up.
Huo Sichen sent him several restaurant options, but Zhang Yuwen replied, Too expensive. I’ll pick.
It was December, the busiest time on hot pot street in Jiangnan. Zhang Yuwen led Huo Sichen through the dazzling array of lights to a food stall and took a seat. Huo Sichen rarely ate at street food stalls, but Zhang Yuwen was well acquainted with them.
“Do you have any plans for Christmas?” Huo Sichen asked.
Zhang Yuwen thought about it. “Not sure yet.”
“Another dorm group activity?” Huo Sichen had spontaneously started to call No. 7 Riverbay Road a dorm.
“Maybe New Year’s.”
“Okay, can I come?” Huo Sichen was unbothered by Zhang Yuwen saying he planned to spend New Year’s with his roommates. He even asked to join them.
“Let me think about where to go first.” He had promised to treat the guys once he’d collected all the rent, but he was trying to think of a way to do it that didn’t seem too abrupt.
“I have to go away for a while, but I’ll be back after a week since there’s a company meeting at noon on New Year’s Eve,” Huo Sichen said.
“When are you leaving?”
“Next week. I’m thinking of going to Los Angeles to see my parents. It’s been a really long time since I last saw them.”
“Okay.”
Huo Sichen noticed Zhang Yuwen’s expression. “I haven’t booked my ticket…” “No, no!” Zhang Yuwen said promptly. “It’s great to spend more time with your family. You should spend New Year’s with them. I’ll wait for you to come back.”
Zhang Yuwen knew everyone had their own lives to lead. They weren’t NPCs with no families or social connections. That went for his roommates, too.
After their meal, Huo Sichen habitually fished out his wallet to pay the bill. Zhang Yuwen wanted to tell Huo Sichen to let him pay instead, but after a moment’s hesitation, he kept his mouth shut and accepted the gesture.
Am I in a relationship? What a surreal feeling. The situation was a lot like the way he and his ex had interacted, except the roles were now reversed. Back then, he would hurry to his alma mater after work to wait for his ex and take him out for dinner before returning to their rented apartment. Occasionally, his ex cooked for him, and he came home to a piping hot meal.
Just like that, with no prior discussion, Zhang Yuwen inexplicably became the bottom. There was no such thing as “negotiating.” Huo Sichen’s attitude made it all completely natural.
“Would you like a cup of bubble tea?” Zhang Yuwen asked.
“No,” Huo Sichen replied. “Why do you ask? I don’t want bubble tea. I’m already full.”
“No, you want it,” Zhang Yuwen insisted.
Huo Sichen smiled uncertainly. Then it dawned on him, and he said, “You can pay next time. I just think it’s all the same.”
“As long as you’re aware.” Zhang Yuwen smiled, thinking that usually, after a meal, the girl would buy bubble tea for the guy who footed the bill. People should always reciprocate, right?
Huo Sichen grinned at him, and they looked at each other in silence.
In that moment, Zhang Yuwen felt a subtle emotion as natural as the night itself.
The car waiting behind them honked, and Huo Sichen turned the steering wheel, leaving the crowded Jiangnan street behind.
“Good night,” Huo Sichen said to Zhang Yuwen.
“Nighty night,” Zhang Yuwen replied.
He stood at his doorstep, watching Huo Sichen drive away before he entered the house.
Everyone was sitting at the dining table, having some kind of family conference. At the sight of Zhang Yuwen returning, they fell briefly silent.
“Went out with the straight guy?” Chang Jinxing asked.
Zhang Yuwen’s heart skipped a beat. “Uh… Yeah.” They couldn’t be planning to interrogate him, could they? But it didn’t really seem like it.
Yan Jun was feeding Xiao-Qi baby food, Chen Hong was having his gym prep meal, and Zheng Weize was playing around with his phone.
Chen Hong probably hadn’t mentioned the matchmaking session… “What are you talking about?” Zhang Yuwen opened the fridge to get some milk. The hot pot from dinner had been very spicy.
“How we’re spending Christmas and New Year’s,” said Chen Hong.
“Are we gonna hang out together?”
Zheng Weize glanced at Zhang Yuwen with a slightly pitiful look in his eyes. “I don’t have any plans for Christmas yet. What about you guys?”
“I have a job on Christmas,” Chang Jinxing said. “An outdoor shoot.
But I’ll be back before the new year.” He’d gotten a big job: a four-day, three-night cruise, taking photos for the cruise guests.
Oh, so that’s why, Zhang Yuwen thought. No wonder Zheng Weize looked disappointed.
“I’m going back to my hometown to see my parents,” Chen Hong said. “My clients don’t have classes during the holidays anyway.”
“Okay, go ahead,” Zhang Yuwen said. “How about you, Yan Jun?”
“I’ll be at home with Xiao-Qi.”
“Will you spend the time with us, Yuwen?” Zheng Weize asked lazily.
“Yeah,” said Zhang Yuwen.
“Not spending it with the straight guy?”
“Nah,” Zhang Yuwen replied simply. “Are we spending the new year together? Let me organize it. All the rent has been paid, and I promised to treat everyone.”
“Whoa!” Everyone perked up at the mention of a treat, so Zhang Yuwen made plans with everyone to get together again on New Year’s Eve.
He wanted to organize an outing for everyone and invite Huo Sichen along, but where to?
The next day, Zhang Yuwen paid a visit to a film production company that he’d collaborated with before. The production company had prepared New Year’s gifts to send to Riverbay Road, but Zhang Yuwen stopped them and made a trip down in person.
“I remember you sent me complimentary vouchers for a hot spring hotel, right?” Zhang Yuwen rarely had to be thick-skinned enough to ask for things like this. “Can you give me a few more?”
The vice president was flattered. “You really want them?! I’ll get them for you. Now! As many as you want!”
“Oh, you’re too kind!” Zhang Yuwen smiled, feeling relieved.
“Not at all, not at all. We should thank you for supporting us all this time.” The vice president found a huge stack of vouchers, bowed, and handed it to Zhang Yuwen.
These were vouchers that the production company used to entertain their guests. They had shares in a hot spring hotel where they’d once shot a drama. One of their investors owned the hotel, so they often invited their partners to visit by handing out vouchers, but Zhang Yuwen had never thought of going before. His vacation time was precious, and he would rather pay out of his own pocket to travel.
“This is too many!” Zhang Yuwen exclaimed. “I’m just going with a few friends. Six is enough. Kids under two stay for free, right?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right. And it’s not that many at all. I’ll reserve a family room for you. How many kids are going?” Embarrassed, Zhang Yuwen watched as the vice president stamped each voucher. “How many days are you staying?”
“Uh, is one voucher only good for one night?” Zhang Yuwen asked.
“You can stay as long as you want,” the vice president said. “Or I can call and make a reservation for you, and then you can just go there with your friends.”
“No, no. I’ll use the vouchers. I…need these vouchers. I’ll make the reservations myself. Speaking of which, are there any rooms available for reservation now?”
“You can try making the reservation first. If there are no rooms, I’ll make a call for you! Here are the meal vouchers. Just bring them along and use them for dinner. Breakfast is free of charge.”
“Three days and two nights it is, then,” Zhang Yuwen said. “Thank you so much, and sorry for the trouble.”
Zhang Yuwen was always careful not to inconvenience anyone else, and because of this, companies often struggled to find opportunities to connect with him. Their last collaboration had been a pleasant one, and the production company was eager to find more opportunities for collaboration. Zhang Yuwen coming in person to ask for a favor was a rare sight, so they quickly brought out a full set of Tiffany china, made coffee for him, and offered him snacks.
Zhang Yuwen accepted twelve accommodation vouchers and twelve meal vouchers, placed them in an envelope, and thanked the vice president profusely. The vice president was even more delighted than Zhang Yuwen.
Carrying a luxurious year-end gift hamper in his arms, he politely escorted Zhang Yuwen to the door and put the fruit basket in his trunk. Then he complimented Zhang Yuwen’s car, admiring his good taste.
Next, Zhang Yuwen went to another film production company to pick up his year-end gifts. He’d politely declined gifts from other companies, but as he had a favor to ask of these two companies, he had to make a trip in person.
The person who received him was the company owner, a young director in whom Zhang Yuwen had previously invested.
“President Wang is busy at the moment—” “What could he possibly be busy with?” Zhang Yuwen interrupted the assistant and entered the office without even knocking on the door.
The director had gone on to become a producer and company president, and he’d been raking in the dough for the past few years. A man with a domineering presence in public, he came with his own personal whirlwind and lighting effects wherever he went. He was known in the industry as the Demon Director, and now the demon was on the phone in his office, furiously rebuking the producer for going over budget. Zhang Yuwen’s sudden entry startled him.
“Yuwen-ge?!” The president quickly said into the phone, “That’s all for now! My ge is here. Ge! What brings you here?!”
“Hey!” Zhang Yuwen was happy to see him too. This was his junior, after all. Zhang Yuwen went over and gave him a hug.
The young president called for someone to bring over snacks and quickly went off to personally make Zhang Yuwen coffee. Zhang Yuwen had eaten a lot at the last production company, though, and he really couldn’t stomach any more.
“This mug’s pretty,” Zhang Yuwen complimented as he accepted the coffee. “Your taste is getting better.”
“They bought Hermès mugs for clients as PR gifts last time. I thought they looked nice, so I kept a few. I have more here…” He started to climb the bookshelf to get the box.
“No, no, it’s okay!” Zhang Yuwen was afraid he would inundate him with mugs. “I have some at home too. Keep them for your girlfriend.”
“What have you been busy with lately?” asked the high-powered, domineering president, looking like a little rabbit.
“Nothing much. I’m writing a book.”
“Can I read it?”
“It’s really awful. I’m not even satisfied with it myself, but if it gets published, I’ll give you a copy.” He sat at the president’s desk and started rummaging through his stuff.
“I want an autographed copy! What are you looking for?”
“Where’s the script for your new movie?” asked Zhang Yuwen. He knew the guy was getting ready to shoot a new movie. Sure enough, the president pulled out a book.
“Here you go. Take it home and read it!”
“That’s okay.” Zhang Yuwen grabbed a pen and looked over the script for him. He was a little curious. It had been over a year since he last wrote a script, and on top of that, he was interested in this movie specifically. He mumbled to himself as he looked over the script. “Your last movie flopped at the box office, right?” he asked.
“Yeah, but I have a feeling this one will do better,” the young president said quickly.
“It’s fine.” Zhang Yuwen smiled. “You can still live off your past gains for a while. Just do your best filming. Audiences are fickle. Cater to them if you can, but don’t stress yourself out if you can’t.”
“Thank you, ge!” The president was touched. The times when Zhang Yuwen came to visit were the only moments he could truly relax.
Zhang Yuwen circled a few areas on the script and offered some suggestions, and the president turned on his laptop to note them down. “No one can be popular forever,” Zhang Yuwen said. “You have to get used to it. The creation of a work is a gradual process of ups and downs. The important thing is to have a clear conscience.”
“You’re right,” the president said.
“By the way, I have a good friend who studied photography and is currently looking for a job.”
The young president understood immediately. “Is he a junior from our school? I’ll call him once this movie starts shooting! He can be the cinematographer’s assistant!”
“I think he is, but I didn’t really probe. As for being the cinematographer’s assistant… He might not be up to the task. I was just wondering if you could give him a chance to tag along and learn if there are any promotional shoots or something.”a “Got it.” The young president snapped his fingers. “I’ll arrange it now. Does he have a portfolio?”
Zhang Yuwen hesitated. “Just treat him as a newbie.”
“No problem. Give me his number. The production department will call him in the new year.”
Zhang Yuwen smiled. “Awesome! Just a heads-up: He doesn’t know what I do, so don’t mention anything about me. Just take it as a referral from a friend.” The president made an OK gesture and grinned knowingly. Zhang Yuwen knew he must have gotten the wrong idea, but he didn’t correct him. “It’d be a good idea to get a few more people to look over the script. Don’t keep losing your temper every time someone gives you feedback.”
“All right.”
The young president walked him out, carrying the gift for Zhang Yuwen—a huge, extravagant fruit basket with some cigarettes, alcohol, and other items. “Ge, your car’s always so cool,” he said as he helped him put the hamper in his trunk.
Then he opened the trunk and saw the gift from the other company.
“Ge!” The young president blurted. “Why did you go to their company first?!”
Oops, he’s jealous… Zhang Yuwen, who had completely forgotten about the other gift, was quick to placate him. “It was on the way. When I passed by their building, they just stuffed the hamper into my car. I won’t accept it next time. All right now, work hard and make more money next year! Love ya, bye!”
The young president still wanted to throw a little tantrum, but unfortunately, a lot of his employees were standing nearby to see Zhang Yuwen off. Once Zhang Yuwen left, he turned and coughed twice, putting his cool and indifferent expression back into place.
“What are you looking at?! Get back to work! You’re not on vacation yet!”
Next, Zhang Yuwen dragged the two hampers into the publishing house’s elevator and carried them into the deputy editor’s office.
“A…small token of appreciation for everyone,” Zhang Yuwen said with sincerity and humility.
“That’s so kind of you!” the deputy editor said.
“Not at all, not at all.” Zhang Yuwen straightened up, taking on the complete opposite role from the one he’d been playing an hour ago. “I should thank you for all your help. I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused.”
The deputy editor looked at the two extravagant hampers and shook his head in resignation. He sighed. “Then…let’s talk about your manuscript? The quality of the last one you submitted is worrying.”
“Let’s leave it for now. I won’t take up your time. But you’re right!
I have a feeling the next one will be better.” Zhang Yuwen was getting a sense of déjà vu from this conversation.
The deputy editor gave him a meaningful look and pushed his glasses up, flashing a devious glint. In that moment, Zhang Yuwen became the junior listening attentively to a lecture.
“Just do your best and put your heart into it,” said the deputy editor.
“Don’t stress yourself out.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll make you some coffee.” The deputy editor got up, went to the water dispenser for a cup, and brewed instant coffee for him. Zhang Yuwen smiled and accepted it with both hands.
“Then I won’t bother you any longer.”
“I’ll see you out.”
“It’s fine,” Zhang Yuwen said hurriedly. “It’s the end of the year.
You must be very busy.”
“Yeah, man.”
Zhang Yuwen left the office under the watchful eyes of a group of editors.