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?”