Chapter 16 #3
Left with no choice, he opened another document to start a new story, writing in fits and starts.
He couldn’t focus, though, and his thoughts drifted to how he should present himself that coming night.
A little more mature? Or younger? Some bottoms liked the gentle, cheery big brother type, but others preferred mature and steady tops…
Huh? Was it already four in the afternoon?
Zhang Yuwen hadn’t taken his lunch except for a mug of coffee, but he wasn’t hungry.
He got up and went to change his clothes, wondering if he should drive to the blind date.
He wouldn’t want to walk to the subway on such a cold day, and he didn’t want to wear too many layers of clothes and end up looking bloated, either.
Chen Hong was back, taking off his shoes in the foyer. “Going out already?”
“Yeah,” said Zhang Yuwen, unsurprised to find Chen Hong there. He’d heard the motorcycle earlier.
“Good luck.” Chen Hong was very calm, as if he had no doubt that Zhang Yuwen would succeed, and his matchmaker fee was already in the bag.
“I didn’t sleep last night,” Zhang Yuwen said tiredly.
“Go now. Don’t be late.”
Zhang Yuwen lingered. He made one last attempt. “At least give me his number, in case something unexpected crops up.”
“That won’t happen,” Chen Hong said. “Go, go. You can call me anytime.”
Zhang Yuwen wore a casual linen suit. When he’d seen Huo Sichen dressed like this, he thought it looked cool, so he emulated the look and topped it off with a scarf.
But all the crowding and jostling on the packed subway during peak hour messed up his carefully curated outfit and his hair, making him look like a tired office worker.
The closer he got to his destination, the more nervous he became. He remembered how amused he’d been to see his ex get flustered in front of him. He was used to being the dominant party in the relationship, even if one relationship was all the experience he had. How had he become the weaker one?
Maybe the other guy is nervous too? Zhang Yuwen thought, calming himself down a little.
He needed to talk to someone, or he couldn’t relax. He thought it over, then sent a message to Huo Sichen. I’m going on a blind date tdy.
Huo Sichen: ?
Zhang Yuwen took a selfie in the subway car and sent it to him.
So handsome, Huo Sichen said. When Zhang Yuwen started ranting about the literally blind date, he noted, It’s normal for Chen Hong not to tell u too much abt his clients.
Zhang Yuwen: He said they’re my ideal type.
Huo Sichen: wats ur ideal type?
Zhang Yuwen: thats not impt. I was 2 nervous last night 2 sleep much.
Huo Sichen: u can do it.
Zhang Yuwen: wat if it doesnt work out?
Huo Sichen: Then u better sit down and finish the meal. Its such an expensive restaurant.
Zhang Yuwen: The other person’s paying.
Huo Sichen: Rly? get me takeout while ur thr.
Zhang Yuwen laughed despite himself.
Huo Sichen: If u do end up tgt, I mean IF, will u introduce ur partner to me?
Hesitating, Zhang Yuwen didn’t reply immediately.
He didn’t quite understand what Huo Sichen meant by that and carefully thought it over.
This “partner” would be a guy, and in introducing him, he would be essentially coming out to Huo Sichen.
Could he do that? Maybe. A moment later, though, it dawned on him that this was Huo Sichen asking about their friendship.
Huo Sichen assumed Zhang Yuwen was straight. When a straight guy introduced his girlfriend to another straight male friend, it came at a risk. The grass was always greener on the other side, and introducing them might increase the odds of being cheated on.
Effectively, Huo Sichen was saying: Zhang Yuwen, we’re buddies, right?
It was a little late by the time Zhang Yuwen worked this out, but he still replied candidly. Ofc, we can hang out together. I swear I wont ditch u even if I’m dating.
Huo Sichen didn’t reply.
Zhang Yuwen exited the subway station and entered the bustling commercial district by the river.
The area was full of upscale shopping malls and office buildings.
The tallest building, Hengxin Tower, was a Jiangdong landmark.
Impeccably dressed pedestrians thronged the streets, their spending limits off the charts.
Lights illuminated the huge store facades of Hermès, LV, and Tiffany spanning three or four floors, making them look like crystals on a crown.
Coming here felt like stepping into a futuristic movie, where skyscrapers intersected, and neon lights flashed through the night.
The restaurant his blind date had booked was on the 105th floor of Hengxin Tower.
He had to go through a security check when he entered the building.
Neon colors glittered on all sides of the lift as it carried him toward the faraway unknown, causing his nervousness to hit through the roof on his way up.
Zhang Yuwen stood before the restaurant reception counter. The waiting area was already packed with people. “Table forty-seven.”
“Please follow me,” said the handsome waiter, politely leading Zhang Yuwen inside. Zhang Yuwen’s nerves reached a crescendo.
Across a quiet table for two in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, he finally saw his blind date:
Huo Sichen.