The tavern space was small, and with the patrons constantly coming and going, it was a mixed crowd; Min Zhuozhou simply went outside to answer the phone.
This place was located right along the river, a bar street in Ningcheng that offered quite a romantic night view. Every evening, the dazzling neon lights of the entire street would sink into the water, and whenever the river breeze brushed past, it drew out a shimmering string of light and shadow.
Min Zhuozhou walked out of the tavern. Not far away on the riverbank, there was a tent-style camping bar with songs, dances, and deafening music. It was extraordinarily lively, but also very noisy.
He had no choice but to walk further toward a more secluded spot, picking an empty bench to sit down. The phone had rung for too long and hung up, so he called back.
Zhuozhou?
The voice coming from the other end of the line was very pleasant, but perhaps because its natural tone was deep and clear, it sounded a bit cold and detached.
Min Zhuozhou pressed the phone close to his ear. Mm, did you go home?
No, I have a social obligation tonight.
Min Zhuozhou listened carefully and vaguely heard the clamorous sound of heavy metal music coming from the other end, though it felt hazy, as if separated by a tide.
Being all too familiar with this kind of sound, he raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise, his voice carrying a bit of banter: Mr. Pei, you’re entertaining at a nightclub?
On the other end, Pei Che was silent for a moment before replying, An old friend returned from abroad, so we agreed to meet there.
He paused briefly, then added with an inscrutable tone: You certainly seem intimately familiar with it.
Min Zhuozhou let out a chuckle: I’m flattered.
Leaning against the riverbank bench, he naturally crossed and stretched out his legs. While blowing in the river breeze, he explained himself in a lazy, casual tone: The music over there is too loud; any normal person could tell.
Pei Che let out a soft mm: Then I’ll switch to another spot.
Min Zhuozhou wanted to say there was no need, but as the music through the receiver gradually quieted down, he estimated that Pei Che had already gotten up, so he didn’t stop him.
Having been engaged for several years, Min Zhuozhou understood his own Mr. Pei quite well. Ever since he was a child, Pei Che was an exemplary student who touched neither cigarettes nor alcohol; after coming of age, he wrapped himself even tighter into the shell of an abstinent elite, probably without even knowing what the door to an entertainment venue looked like.
So he couldn’t help but feel a little curious about just what kind of grand figure had such immense prestige to actually manage to invite Pei Che out.
Min Zhuozhou hesitated for a moment, but did not ask.
His marriage with Pei Che belonged to the most common type of strategic business marriage between wealthy families. Under the broader backdrop where same-sex marriage was legal, a union without the possibility of offspring clearly aligned better with a commercial cooperation model.
And the reason they were able to get along fairly well was precisely that both left enough space for each other,
This kind of freedom, of course, did not mean the two could go out and mess around at will, but apart from matters of principle, they truly kept out of each other’s business.
Pei Che had called him precisely to inform him about his social engagement outside. He had a very strict concept of time and usually returned home at a fixed hour. Although he had a cold personality, he had improved somewhat over the past two years, occasionally remembering to drop Min Zhuozhou a greeting whenever he returned late due to an affair.
The two chatted for a few sentences. Min Zhuozhou could tell that Pei Che was likely growing annoyed sitting in the bar; normally a person of extremely few and concise words, he showed no intention of hanging up the phone at this moment.
Fu Zhen was still waiting for him in the tavern. Min Zhuozhou figured he shouldn’t abandon his friend for a romantic interest, so after chatting with Pei Che for a short while, he said he had something to attend to on his side and hung up.
After ending the call, Min Zhuozhou walked straight back. However, when he passed by that camping bar area once again, his steps suddenly came to a halt.
At this moment, the music coming from the riverbank not far away was no longer the song Min Zhuozhou had heard when he walked over, but he had indeed heard the melody of this exact song earlier, through the telephone receiver.
Now that was a bit too coincidental…
Ningcheng was huge, and this wasn’t the only famous bar street around. But if Pei Che happened to come here to hang out as well, it could be considered a certain kind of tacit understanding.
Min Zhuozhou raised his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping around that row of pointed white tents decorated with colorful lights. Not seeing Pei Che, he didn’t deliberately search for him and lifted his foot, preparing to leave.
Zhuozhou?
Not far away, Pei Che happened to walk over from the opposite side. His line of sight collided directly with Min Zhuozhou’s. Both of them stopped where they were, neither close nor far, neither making a further move.
Min Zhuozhou’s expression turned slightly awkward. He recalled how he had just used the excuse of having business to hang up on Pei Che, only to run straight into the man himself before even walking two hundred meters. Given the scene and situation, it was practically a textbook example of a reality check coming too fast.
After staring at each other for a moment, Min Zhuozhou took the initiative to walk over and break the silence. Curving his lips into a smile, he spoke in a lazy tone: Are you surprised? Earlier on the phone, I felt like you missed me a little, so I transformed myself right over here immediately. Isn’t that very thoughtful?
Pei Che’s dark eyes were ice-cold. The brilliant neon lights struck his jet-black hair tips and well-defined eyebrows, creating a contrasting aura that blended splendor with cold indifference.
He looked at Min Zhuozhou for a long moment, then softly spat out two words: Very thoughtful.
Afterward, Pei Che averted his gaze. No longer paying attention to this man whose mouth was full of sweet talk without a single word of truth, he crossed paths with him without a word.
Great, he got angry.
Min Zhuozhou let out an internal sigh. He reached out and grabbed Pei Che’s neatly ironed business suit. On one hand, he complained internally that this man looked as if a senior official was arriving for an inspection even when coming to a bar; on the other hand, he softened his voice very gently without any temper:
Alright then, it’s my fault. How about I apologize?
Pei Che stopped in his tracks, shot Min Zhuozhou a cold glance, and still remained expressionless.
When going out for a gathering, it’s not very good to keep friends waiting for too long.
Min Zhuozhou was clearly used to soothing the feathers of this marriage partner who was a few years younger than him. His gaze turned soft, and his voice became excessively gentle:
Besides, how cold is the river breeze after autumn sets in? Would you really have the heart to leave my frail, aching body out in the cold to talk with you?
This was not Min Zhuozhou deliberately playing the pity card. Not long ago, he suffered an accident on set while filming, moderately spraining his lower back. All his public engagements were forced to pause, and he even lay in the hospital for a few days, this was also the reason why his manager assigned him a lighthearted variety show featuring kids as a smooth transition back.
Pei Che remained silent for a few seconds. Suddenly, he reached out, grabbed Min Zhuozhou’s arm, and used some force to pull him into his embrace. His hand familiarly slid downward, applying a bit of pressure against Min Zhuozhou’s waist. Maintaining that half-embracing, half-holding posture, he leaned down and leaned close to his ear:
Knowing your back isn’t fully healed, who are you still going out to flirt around for?
No, I think your evaluation of me isn’t quite objective.
Min Zhuozhou wore a smile that held a bit of drunkenness despite not having drunk any alcohol yet. Pulling on Pei Che’s tie, he forced his body even lower, causing their breaths to become almost intertwined:
These past few years, I’ve only flirted with you, Mr. Pei.
Pei Che’s deep, jet-black pupils stared unblinkingly at Min Zhuozhou. The clean and refreshing scent of the orange blossom laundry detergent commonly used at home lingered at the tip of his nose, a taste not yet steeped in alcohol and nightlife, mixed with a hint of rich yet crisp mint tobacco fragrance.
He didn’t drink.
This piece of realization subtly satisfied Pei Che’s obscure and indescribable desire for possession regarding Min Zhuozhou. His complexion softened slightly, and he released the other man in a very gentlemanly manner, straightening his tie back into place:
It’s good that you know.
The man’s voice was extremely cold and detached, as if those intensely oppressive eyes and actions from a moment ago had never existed at all.
Min Zhuozhou smiled helplessly and shook his head. He also felt that his timing was quite an unfortunate coincidence. After all, he was already twenty-nine years old; if it weren’t for Fu Zhen having just been reassigned back to Ningcheng to work and insisting on meeting up, he wouldn’t come to this kind of place when he had nothing else to do, finding it too noisy.
Pei Che asked: Who did you come out with?
Min Zhuozhou answered: Fu Zhen. You should have heard of him, the youngest special researcher at the Pengcheng Research Institute. His research direction seems to be somewhat related to your company’s business… He was just transferred back these past few days. We’ve known each other since childhood, so we agreed to catch up.
Pei Che did indeed know of that Researcher Fu, but he made no comment on Min Zhuozhou’s description of catching up.
Min Zhuozhou opened his lips, pondered for a moment, and decided to ask anyway: What about you? Is it an old friend as well?
Pei Che’s eyes stirred slightly. Just as he was about to speak, a crisp, clear youth’s voice chimed in from not far away.
Ah Che, why have you been gone for so long… Ah, who is this?
Ah Che?
Hearing that excessively intimate form of address, Min Zhuozhou’s dark pupils rolled restrainedly in their sockets. The steady rise and fall of his chest experienced a subtle delay for a split second, but quickly returned to normal.
Min Zhuozhou stood in place with his arms crossed in a very relaxed posture, still maintaining that appearance of not caring much about anything.
He lazily lifted his eyelids and followed the sound to look over, not far away, a very pleasing young man met his gaze.
The youth had delicate features and a clean aura. His pair of eyes was particularly striking and beautiful; his eyelashes were thick and curled, casting shadows that laid a soft-focus filter over his bright pupils. If one stared for too long, they could almost feel a sense of beautiful, suffocating gravity pulling at their soul.
Like a rose, and like a poppy.
It turned out to be… Ji Subai.
Min Zhuozhou’s brow gradually furrowed.