This was progressing fast. Zhang Yuwen hadn’t expected Huo Sichen to be so proactive in kissing him, but then again, it made sense; guys tended to be proactive when they were in a relationship, as long as it was with the right person. Zhang Yuwen himself typically wanted to confirm their relationship on the first day and sleep together on the second. No, scratch that: They could sleep together on the first day too, after they had dinner. On the second day, they could bring in the moving van.
That was the ideal scenario, anyway. In reality, there were a lot of misgivings and friction in life, so taking things slowly and making sure to understand each other was probably the better move. Guys were often driven by sexual desire, though, and when raging hormones collided, good sense went out the window, just like it had with Huo Sichen’s sudden kiss. Even now, Zhang Yuwen could still feel the soft, warm touch of Huo Sichen’s lips on his own. It had been too long since his last kiss, and being partially pinned down and ravished—being dominated like that—felt novel and exciting.
It was a totally different experience to be kissed by a top compared to a bottom. A bottom’s lips were soft and fragrant, and once the kiss started, they stayed obediently still and let Zhang Yuwen tantalize them as he pleased. But the kiss of a top was firm, powerful, and protective, making Zhang Yuwen want to rise to the occasion himself…
Without meaning to, Zhang Yuwen licked his lips. He changed his shoes in the foyer and entered to find the living room brightly illuminated. All his roommates were sitting at the dining table, looking at him.
Chen Hong asked the obvious: “Where did you go?”
“Out for a meal,” Zhang Yuwen said. “I just got back.”
“With who?” Chang Jinxing pressed, grinning. He was hanging up a photo of the five of them hanging out. Zheng Weize was arranging the flowers Huo Sichen gave Zhang Yuwen, while Yan Jun sat at the table, watching.
“Huo Sichen,” Zhang Yuwen replied. “Who else?”
“Are you two together now?”
“Not yet, but I want to try.”
His roommates were shocked. “I thought he was straight?!” exclaimed Zheng Weize.
“Straight, my ass!” Chang Jinxing laughed. “Didn’t you see how hard he swallowed that day on the hiking trip when Yuwen was changing his clothes?”
Everyone burst into laughter. Zhang Yuwen wouldn’t have expected Chang Jinxing to remember a detail like that so clearly. Yan Jun laughed too, but he said nothing.
Chen Hong looked at the paper bag in Zhang Yuwen’s hands. “What’s that? A Christmas gift?”
“Uh…” Zhang Yuwen trailed off. “I haven’t opened it yet.”
“Gimme, gimme!” Chang Jinxing said. “I’m confiscating it!”
“Wait!” Zhang Yuwen protested, but they caught him off guard and snatched his gift away. He wasn’t worried, though; he let them have it. “Where’s Xiao-Qi?”
“Sleeping,” Yan Jun said.
“Keep your voices down, guys!” Zhang Yuwen said. “Don’t wake the little princess.”
“Wow…”
“Quiet!” Zhang Yuwen hissed through gritted teeth.
Yan Jun sat up and looked at the bag. “Let me see. What is it?”
“A mobile phone!” Chang Jinxing said. “US version! Top of the line! Must have cost over ten thousand!”
Zhang Yuwen picked it up to take a look, hummed in acknowledgment, and placed it back on the dining table. Zheng Weize reached out for it, so Zhang Yuwen handed it over for him to play with.
Chen Hong was astounded at his reaction. “Aren’t you touched?”
“Oh, yeah.” Zhang Yuwen grinned. “So very touched.”
Just then, Zhang Yuwen’s new phone received a message. Everyone looked at it, but to avoid prying eyes, Zhang Yuwen refrained from opening the chat. Moments later, the phone vibrated, and the caller ID displayed, The Fisherman.
Zhang Yuwen didn’t answer it, refusing to satisfy his roommates’ lust for gossip. “Okay,” he said instead, “what are you guys all doing here? Aren’t you going to shower and sleep?”
Chen Hong said, “We were waiting for you. It’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow. What plans have you made?” He squinted at Zhang Yuwen. “You did plan something, didn’t you? Or were you so busy with your dates that you forgot all about it?”
“I didn’t forget! I promised to make plans. Don’t worry.” He went to the cabinet in the dining room and took out the stack of vouchers. “See? We’re going to a hot spring resort tomorrow for three days and two nights.”
This whipped them all up into a frenzy. “Wow!”
“Thank you, Mr. Zhang!” Chang Jinxing exclaimed. “Oh shit, meals are included too!”
“Shhh. Keep your voices down…” Zhang Yuwen couldn’t handle this troop of monkeys.
“Papa!” It was Xiao-Qi’s voice. Sure enough, they’d woken her. Yan Jun rushed back to the room, and her cries gradually tapered off into quiet sobs.
Zhang Yuwen shooed everyone off to bed, then cleared the coffee mugs from the dining table and sat down to reply to the messages.
Huo Sichen: Too expensive. Whered u get it?
Zhang Yuwen had known Huo Sichen would say that. He pictured Huo Sichen leaving Riverbay Road, driving for a while, and then, unable to resist any longer, pulling over by the curb to open the gift. If it weren’t such an inconvenience to get out of the car, he might have even opened the trunk and taken out the clothes to look at each article in turn.
That was, in fact, what happened. As soon as Huo Sichen opened the package and saw the orange box, he messaged Zhang Yuwen. When he received no reply, he tried calling twice.
Huo Sichen: This is at least 20–30k. Too expensive.
Zhang Yuwen: I won it at the publisher’s annual dinner. It’s not as expensive as u think.
Huo Sichen: U sure?
Zhang Yuwen: With my salary, I couldn’t afford it even if I scrimp n save every penny. Relax.
The “Typing…” indicator appeared. Huo Sichen still had more to say. Zhang Yuwen added, Didnt u buy me a phone?
Huo Sichen deleted what he’d been typing and replied, All right, but dont buy such expensive gifts nxt time.
Zhang Yuwen replied with a smile. There wont b anything expensive nxt time.
Huo Sichen had always felt inferior to Zhang Yuwen. He was handsome and had a great body, while Huo Sichen’s only advantage was his financial status. He planned to sweep him off his feet, partially with his own charm and partially by buying his happiness. This was the most effective technique Huo Sichen knew. He’d never expected that flaunting his money would just get him one-upped by Zhang Yuwen, and he had conflicting feelings about it.
The wallet Zhang Yuwen gave him was a limited-edition men’s item. Even at the specialty store, it went for at least ¥28,000 before tax. It was brand new, too, and looked like it was just recently purchased. It couldn’t have been something someone else gave him… Huo Sichen recalled what Chen Hong had told him: Other than his dates with Huo Sichen, Zhang Yuwen hardly left the house. It was unlikely that he was two-timing Huo Sichen with a rich side piece.