Chapter 18 #2
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?”
Zheng Weize glanced at Zhang Yuwen with a slightly pitiful look in his eyes. “I don’t have any plans for Christmas yet. What about you guys?”
“I have a job on Christmas,” Chang Jinxing said. “An outdoor shoot. But I’ll be back before the new year.” He’d gotten a big job: a four-day, three-night cruise, taking photos for the cruise guests.
Oh, so that’s why, Zhang Yuwen thought. No wonder Zheng Weize looked disappointed.
“I’m going back to my hometown to see my parents,” Chen Hong said. “My clients don’t have classes during the holidays anyway.”
“Okay, go ahead,” Zhang Yuwen said. “How about you, Yan Jun?”
“I’ll be at home with Xiao-Qi.”
“Will you spend the time with us, Yuwen?” Zheng Weize asked lazily.
“Yeah,” said Zhang Yuwen.
“Not spending it with the straight guy?”
“Nah,” Zhang Yuwen replied simply. “Are we spending the new year together? Let me organize it. All the rent has been paid, and I promised to treat everyone.”
“Whoa!” Everyone perked up at the mention of a treat, so Zhang Yuwen made plans with everyone to get together again on New Year’s Eve.
He wanted to organize an outing for everyone and invite Huo Sichen along, but where to?
The next day, Zhang Yuwen paid a visit to a film production company that he’d collaborated with before. The production company had prepared New Year’s gifts to send to Riverbay Road, but Zhang Yuwen stopped them and made a trip down in person.
“I remember you sent me complimentary vouchers for a hot spring hotel, right?” Zhang Yuwen rarely had to be thick-skinned enough to ask for things like this. “Can you give me a few more?”
The vice president was flattered. “You really want them?! I’ll get them for you. Now! As many as you want!”
“Oh, you’re too kind!” Zhang Yuwen smiled, feeling relieved.
“Not at all, not at all. We should thank you for supporting us all this time.” The vice president found a huge stack of vouchers, bowed, and handed it to Zhang Yuwen.
These were vouchers that the production company used to entertain their guests.
They had shares in a hot spring hotel where they’d once shot a drama.
One of their investors owned the hotel, so they often invited their partners to visit by handing out vouchers, but Zhang Yuwen had never thought of going before.
His vacation time was precious, and he would rather pay out of his own pocket to travel.
“This is too many!” Zhang Yuwen exclaimed. “I’m just going with a few friends. Six is enough. Kids under two stay for free, right?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right. And it’s not that many at all. I’ll reserve a family room for you. How many kids are going?” Embarrassed, Zhang Yuwen watched as the vice president stamped each voucher. “How many days are you staying?”
“Uh, is one voucher only good for one night?” Zhang Yuwen asked.
“You can stay as long as you want,” the vice president said. “Or I can call and make a reservation for you, and then you can just go there with your friends.”
“No, no. I’ll use the vouchers. I…need these vouchers. I’ll make the reservations myself. Speaking of which, are there any rooms available for reservation now?”
“You can try making the reservation first. If there are no rooms, I’ll make a call for you! Here are the meal vouchers. Just bring them along and use them for dinner. Breakfast is free of charge.”
“Three days and two nights it is, then,” Zhang Yuwen said. “Thank you so much, and sorry for the trouble.”
Zhang Yuwen was always careful not to inconvenience anyone else, and because of this, companies often struggled to find opportunities to connect with him.
Their last collaboration had been a pleasant one, and the production company was eager to find more opportunities for collaboration.
Zhang Yuwen coming in person to ask for a favor was a rare sight, so they quickly brought out a full set of Tiffany china, made coffee for him, and offered him snacks.
Zhang Yuwen accepted twelve accommodation vouchers and twelve meal vouchers, placed them in an envelope, and thanked the vice president profusely.
The vice president was even more delighted than Zhang Yuwen.
Carrying a luxurious year-end gift hamper in his arms, he politely escorted Zhang Yuwen to the door and put the fruit basket in his trunk.
Then he complimented Zhang Yuwen’s car, admiring his good taste.
Next, Zhang Yuwen went to another film production company to pick up his year-end gifts. He’d politely declined gifts from other companies, but as he had a favor to ask of these two companies, he had to make a trip in person.
The person who received him was the company owner, a young director in whom Zhang Yuwen had previously invested.
“President Wang is busy at the moment—”
“What could he possibly be busy with?” Zhang Yuwen interrupted the assistant and entered the office without even knocking on the door.
The director had gone on to become a producer and company president, and he’d been raking in the dough for the past few years.
A man with a domineering presence in public, he came with his own personal whirlwind and lighting effects wherever he went.
He was known in the industry as the Demon Director, and now the demon was on the phone in his office, furiously rebuking the producer for going over budget.
Zhang Yuwen’s sudden entry startled him.
“Yuwen-ge?!” The president quickly said into the phone, “That’s all for now! My ge is here. Ge! What brings you here?!”
“Hey!” Zhang Yuwen was happy to see him too. This was his junior, after all. Zhang Yuwen went over and gave him a hug.
The young president called for someone to bring over snacks and quickly went off to personally make Zhang Yuwen coffee. Zhang Yuwen had eaten a lot at the last production company, though, and he really couldn’t stomach any more.
“This mug’s pretty,” Zhang Yuwen complimented as he accepted the coffee. “Your taste is getting better.”
“They bought Hermès mugs for clients as PR gifts last time. I thought they looked nice, so I kept a few. I have more here…” He started to climb the bookshelf to get the box.
“No, no, it’s okay!” Zhang Yuwen was afraid he would inundate him with mugs. “I have some at home too. Keep them for your girlfriend.”
“What have you been busy with lately?” asked the high-powered, domineering president, looking like a little rabbit.
“Nothing much. I’m writing a book.”
“Can I read it?”
“It’s really awful. I’m not even satisfied with it myself, but if it gets published, I’ll give you a copy.” He sat at the president’s desk and started rummaging through his stuff.
“I want an autographed copy! What are you looking for?”
“Where’s the script for your new movie?” asked Zhang Yuwen. He knew the guy was getting ready to shoot a new movie. Sure enough, the president pulled out a book.
“Here you go. Take it home and read it!”