Zhang Yuwen nodded. “I’m not very ambitious, so I can’t really understand the work pressure other people deal with.”
“Not struggling is the best kind of ambition.”
As they joked with each other, a lithe woman in a black dress who’d just walked into the restaurant came over to greet Huo Sichen. “Hi, Mr. Huo, long time no see.”
Huo Sichen looked surprised, not having expected to see an acquaintance here. He quickly put down the teapot he’d been pouring from and nodded at her. “Hello. It’s been a while.”
Zhang Yuwen glanced at the woman but didn’t pry. The woman didn’t linger and left after they exchanged a few pleasantries.
The main course arrived—a large steak. The waiter stood at the side and cut it for them.
“Why is his bigger?” Zhang Yuwen asked the waiter.
“Because I’m obviously the top,” Huo Sichen said to Zhang Yuwen. “Tops have bigger appetites. Bottoms can fill their stomachs with just salad.”
The waiter laughed so hard he could barely hold the knife steady.
The music in the restaurant turned into a lively saxophone melody. “Do you live alone?” Zhang Yuwen asked.
“Yeah,” Huo Sichen replied. “Wanna come over to my place later for some fun?”
“What fun is there at your place?”
“I promise, everything at my place is fun. It all depends on what you wanna play.”
Zhang Yuwen meant to ask him for game recommendations; he hadn’t expected Huo Sichen to be such a consummate flirt. He wanted to ask Huo Sichen about his relationship history, like how many exes he had, but he held himself back. “You don’t have pets?”
“Nope.”
“I always thought you were straight.”
The 180-degree turn in the topic came out of nowhere, but Huo Sichen steered skillfully around it. “That proves that you can be mistaken sometimes.”
“I’m often mistaken, but I think you were definitely straight before.”
“I’m not now, at least,” Huo Sichen said. “What about you? I think you’ve always been gay.”
“Yup. My ex and I broke up the year before last.”
“Who’s the lucky guy? Let me see if he looks like me.”
“Not at all,” Zhang Yuwen said. He scrolled through his phone for a photo to show Huo Sichen. Guys were usually pretty casual about discussing their exes. For a moment, while showing Huo Sichen the photo of his ex, Zhang Yuwen forgot he was on a blind date. He felt like he was just sharing with a friend.
“Indeed,” Huo Sichen said.
Zhang Yuwen looked at Huo Sichen. “Shouldn’t you reciprocate?”
“My ex was a woman. I don’t think you’d be interested. And I’ve deleted all her photos anyway. I’ll show you another day if I can find one.”
There was Zhang Yuwen’s answer. “Oh. Nah, keep it for yourself.” He sized up Huo Sichen again. “You prefer women like the one who was here earlier?”
“She’s my ex’s best friend,” Huo Sichen explained. “We’ve only met a few times.”
“Oh.” Zhang Yuwen nodded.
Huo Sichen’s attention was still on Zhang Yuwen’s past. “The boy in the photo—he’s your type, right?”
“Yeah.”
Dessert was served, a heart-shaped mousse with two spoons. Zhang Yuwen and Huo Sichen each dug into a side, mangling the heart.
“I remember you mentioning your ideal type earlier.” Huo Sichen thought for a moment. “What’s your ideal type like? Exactly like your ex?”
“Not exactly…” Zhang Yuwen was finding the mousse awfully sweet; he wasn’t used to eating overly sweet stuff. “I don’t have a fixed type, or rather, I have several. Like several sets, and if they overlap, even better.”
Huo Sichen finally asked the question. “Am I in any of those sets?”
Zhang Yuwen sized him up again. “I guess? But I can tell you that someone like Chen Hong isn’t in any of them.”
“What? Repeat that first sentence?”
“I can tell you that someone like Chen Hong—”
“No, before that.”
“You heard me.”
“I didn’t. Say it again?”
“I said, I guess!” Zhang Yuwen raised his voice a little.
Huo Sichen turned to the waiter. “Check, please!”
Surprisingly enough, Huo Sichen ordered takeout too. “For your roommates.”
Zhang Yuwen accidentally glanced at the bill: ¥4,760—a month’s rent. He was about to say something when Huo Sichen spoke up. “I get it now. You like two types of guys: the gentle, younger ones, and the mature, older ones. Both are your ideal types.”
Huo Sichen had seen through him. “I guess that’s it,” Zhang Yuwen admitted.
“You also like guys who can act cute, right?” Huo Sichen asked as they entered the elevator. He was carrying the takeout bag.
“Yup.” An idea occurred to him. “Act cute for me?”
“I don’t know how to,” Huo Sichen answered.
“What? How can you be gay if you don’t even know how to act cute?”
“I can learn.”
“Forget it.”
They both burst out laughing simultaneously.
“So, tell me.” Huo Sichen opened the passenger door when they came to the parking lot, placed the takeout bag inside, and gestured politely for Zhang Yuwen to get in. “What’s your reason for putting me in that category?”
Zhang Yuwen buckled his seat belt. When Huo Sichen got in, he answered without hesitation. “You’re rich.”
At a loss for words, Huo Sichen drove the car out of the parking lot and took Zhang Yuwen home.
“You’re rich, and I’m poor,” Zhang Yuwen elaborated. “Freeloading off of you will allow me to improve my quality of life and widen my horizons.”
Huo Sichen sang his praises highly. “Zhang Yuwen, you truly are a sincere person. Out of curiosity, can I ask if there’s something you’re lying to me about?”
“Of course there is,” Zhang Yuwen replied. “What about you?”
“Me too.” Huo Sichen kept his left hand on the steering wheel and waved his right hand to imply that it wasn’t important.
“Mutual deception is one of life’s little pleasures,” said Zhang Yuwen. “I trust that you won’t be angry.”
“Of course not,” said Huo Sichen. “But then again, what we consider important might not have the same significance to someone else.”
“Absolutely,” Zhang Yuwen agreed.
“So…” As they crossed the bridge, Huo Sichen finally asked his last question. “Do you think we…could give it a go? I mean, hang out together more frequently, and if it feels right, start dating?”
In a rare display of nerves, he glanced at Zhang Yuwen. The car stopped in front of No. 7 Riverbay Road.
Zhang Yuwen answered readily. “Sure, I’d love to, but don’t pick such an expensive place next time. Now I need to hurry inside and beat up Chen Hong. I’ll contact you again when I have time. Bye!”
“Don’t forget the takeout.” Huo Sichen handed him the food. “And don’t swing the paper bag at him. It’s not very sturdy.”
Zhang Yuwen skipped to the entrance and leapt up midway to touch a leaf on the roadside tree. Huo Sichen whistled at him and drove away.