Chapter 4
THE THIRD TENANT was a busy-looking guy named Chen Hong, a twenty-nine-year-old fitness trainer who was currently standing at a crossroads in his life. He was practically glued to his phone, sending voice memos on his instant messaging app throughout his entire conversation with Zhang Yuwen about renting a room.
One moment it was, “Okay, okay, I got it. Just go there and look for him…”
The next, it was, “I’ve seen your BMI. It’s a little high, but I can come up with a detailed plan for you…”
Then it was, “Okay, okay, sure. I got you. It’s fine, no worries. Let’s take it slow…”
The frequency at which Zhang Yuwen’s speech was interrupted by the notification alerts from Chen Hong’s two cell phones turned their conversation into a sampling of Chen Hong’s busy and exciting work life.
“Sorry,” Chen Hong said again. “¥4,000, right?”
“Yeah,” Zhang Yuwen said earnestly. “There are three rooms left. The one downstairs costs ¥4,000, while the ones upstairs are ¥3,300 and ¥3,600. The ¥4,000 room also comes with a bathroom.”
“I run a fitness studio,” said Chen Hong, “and there’s a promotion right now, so there’s a lot going on—” Then both of Chen Hong’s phones chimed at once, and he hurriedly responded to the messages.
Zhang Yuwen nodded in understanding. Chen Hong looked up, still distracted, and asked, “Do you usually work out? It’s important to keep yourself in shape.”
“I occasionally do some cardio,” Zhang Yuwen replied. “Would you like to see the house?”
“Oh! The house! Right, right! I was just thinking about that. Riverbay Road is a great location!”
Chen Hong had very short hair, strong facial features, and a well-built physique. He wasn’t shy about showing off his muscles—a common trait among fitness trainers. Even in autumn, he still wore gym tank tops. He picked up his gym bag and followed Zhang Yuwen out of Sunny Days Cat Café to the villa next door. Along the way, he introduced Zhang Yuwen to his business: He had started a fitness studio in the Jiangbei area and employed several people, and business was booming. Many high-profile clients went to the trouble of traveling long distances to his studio every day to get in shape, and his clientele included multi-million-dollar businessmen, influential political figures, and movie superstars.
Zhang Yuwen nodded with sincerity, having gathered a lot of interesting gossip. He also spotted at least fifty plot holes in these stories. “You can’t bring clients here to work out,” Zhang Yuwen reminded him.
“Yes, yes, of course,” Chen Hong said. “I want to keep work and personal life separate too. Eh… This is your house? W-T-F?! It’s so big?!”
“Of course not.” Following his prepared script, Zhang Yuwen stressed to Chen Hong that he was only a sub-landlord, and a broke one at that—a hint that he wouldn’t be buying a gym membership.
Chen Hong was shocked. Such a wonderful place for only ¥4,000 in rent? He only took one glance at the room before deciding: “I’m renting it.”
“Okay.” Zhang Yuwen was already used to these kinds of astonished expressions and decisive attitudes from prospective tenants. He was a little concerned about renting to this fitness trainer, but he still had basic trust in the promises made between people. He added, “There’s a simple fitness room here. You can watch TV while you work out or play games in the entertainment room.”
“I’ll give you lessons, free of charge,” Chen Hong offered.
Zhang Yuwen laughed. “Let’s talk about it again after you move in.”
Chen Hong’s phone chimed again. “I have to go,” he said quickly. “There’s a members’ salon this afternoon. Wanna come along?”
“No thanks.”
“Come on. I’ll introduce you to some friends.”
Zhang Yuwen did his best to fend Chen Hong off from grabbing his wrist, tactfully refusing this overzealous fitness trainer. “I’ll send you the contract now,” he said as he saw him out the door.
“It’s fine!” Chen Hong called for a ride at the entrance. “I’ll move in as soon as I can. Let’s work out together tomorrow?”
Zhang Yuwen didn’t dare answer. Four minutes later, the car arrived, and Chen Hong waved at him and got in, on the phone all the while. Zhang Yuwen decided to go back and highlight the breach-of-contract terms for emphasis. Any ideas Chen Hong might have about entertaining members at No. 7 Riverbay Road needed to be nipped in the bud.
While Zhang Yuwen revised the contract at the café, the fourth tenant arrived as scheduled. He felt like an HR rep, interviewing two tenants on the same day.
The fourth tenant carried a camera bag. About six foot one, he was stylishly dressed and had meticulously coiffed hair. Of the four tenants, he was the most handsome, with a high nose bridge, fair skin, thick brows, and large eyes.
“Hi, my name is Chang Jinxing,” the young man said.
Zhang Yuwen shook his hand. Despite Chang Jinxing’s outstanding looks, he seemed weary, and his lips were so dry they were peeling. He also kept yawning, as if he’d just woken up. He sat down across from Zhang Yuwen, snapped his fingers for the waiter, ordered himself a sandwich, and dug in.
“Where’s the house you’re renting out?” Chang Jinxing asked. “Can I go for a viewing later?”
“It’s right next door,” Zhang Yuwen replied. “Are you a photographer?”
“Yeah, I graduated from Jiangliu University’s Department of Photography and I have my own photography studio. Sometimes I help film crews with promotional stills.”
“Oh—?” Zhang Yuwen was surprised. “How old are you again?”
“Twenty-seven,” Chang Jinxing replied. “You?”
Zhang Yuwen gave him a puzzled look. Realizing that Chang Jinxing was looking at him, he quickly explained, “I’m the same age as you.”
The Department of Photography had been right next to Zhang Yuwen’s department, the Department of Drama Studies. In his second year of university, students in his program had to take several classes with the Department of Photography for courses like storyboarding and set design, so he knew a lot of students from the Department of Photography. He was sure he’d never seen this guy before.
“What did you study?” Chang Jinxing asked.
“I went to school in the countryside,” Zhang Yuwen said, “and now I’m working as a proofreader for a publisher.”
Chang Jinxing nodded, cracked his knuckles, yawned, and stood up, having already finished his sandwich. Zhang Yuwen went to foot the bill, but Chang Jinxing stopped him. “Let me. It’s our first meeting. I can’t let you pay for me. I still haven’t decided if I’m going to rent the place.”
“It’s fine,” Zhang Yuwen said breezily. “Consider us friends.”
Chang Jinxing hesitated, but the words “consider us friends” won him over in no time. He smiled, dispelling the hint of gloom lingering around him from all those late nights.
This photographer had such great looks that Zhang Yuwen was sure he would have been the department hottie even at the film academy. There was no way he could have been a senior—Zhang Yuwen would have at least heard of him.
“Wow!” Entering No. 7 Riverbay Road, Chang Jinxing couldn’t resist taking out his camera, placing his fair, slender finger on the shutter. “Can I take a couple shots?”
“For the common areas, yes.”
“Such a great house going for such low rent?” Everyone had the same question. Zhang Yuwen explained it again, and Chang Jinxing grinned. “I see. So does that mean you won’t bring anyone home either?”
“Of course.”
“Wouldn’t your partner want to come over?”
“I’m single,” said Zhang Yuwen. “I don’t have a boyfriend. And even if I did, I wouldn’t bring him back to stay for the night.”
“You? Single? How’s that possible for someone of your caliber? You a top?”