GT chapter 9

They drank for hours. When Luo Jin started getting tipsy, his eyes always turned slightly red at the corners. Lu Zhiyan knew this about him, so he called it a night before things went too far.

After watching Luo Jin get into the car, Lu Zhiyan put his arm around Pei Xinan’s waist and headed for the parking lot. The designated driver he’d booked in advance was already waiting by the car.

Pei Xinan leaned back in the seat, stretching lazily. They’d been fooling around all day, then went out to dinner — he was so tired his eyes could barely stay open, and even his voice was sluggish. “Jin-ge’s straight, right?”

Lu Zhiyan glanced at him, resting his hand on Pei’s head, pressing it to his shoulder. “Yeah.”

“That young Master Duan isn’t.”

“Hm?”

“He’s like us.”

Lu Zhiyan looked a little surprised and pinched Pei Xinan’s earlobe. “How do you know that?”

“I just happened to hear it once. I was at one of their family’s parties — he looked really good, so I took a few extra glances. We weren’t far apart, so I overheard him talking to a friend. His friend said, ‘With so many men around, not a single one can catch your eye?’ The Duan family only has one son in this generation, right? So it must’ve been him.”

Lu Zhiyan immediately caught the most crucial part of that whole story. “You took a few extra glances?”

He tightened his pinch on the earlobe, and Pei Xinan quickly pleaded softly, “Back then, you and I were still enemies, weren’t we? Looking at a handsome guy was totally normal, gege.”

Lu Zhiyan snorted and kissed the lips that came up to meet him.

Pei Xinan teased, “Jin-ge’s like, the gay scene’s universally acknowledged dream guy. Hope that young master doesn’t end up turning him gay.”

Lu Zhiyan just smiled without replying.

…..

When Luo Jin got back to the hotel, he loosened his tie and threw it onto the bed, then fell face-first after it. His face felt hot from the alcohol, so he pressed the back of his hand to it. Pulling out his phone to check the time, he saw two missed calls from Duan Xingchi.

He instantly sat up, the little bit of drunkenness left in him completely gone.

During the day, Luo Jin was usually out working, so Duan Xingchi didn’t feel too bored. But come evening — after work — without Luo Jin around, he didn’t even have anyone to talk to. The big villa felt silent and empty.

Dinner was all his favorite dishes, and Luo Jin had clearly made sure the driver passed on instructions before leaving. Still, without Luo Jin there, the food just didn’t taste as good, and he didn’t have much of an appetite.

He made a video call to his parents, but as usual, the topics were always the same — how was he doing in China, and a few familiar bits of parental advice he could already recite by heart.

He thought about calling Jiang Yiming, but the guy was too nosy — just imagining it gave him a headache.

With drooping eyes, he ruffled his hair. If Luo Jin were there, he’d probably tease, “Who’s upset our little young master again?”

The thought of Luo Jin made him even more annoyed. Why hadn’t that guy called him?

Duan Xingchi stared at their chat window. Maybe he should call him first?

…No, forget it. It hadn’t even been that long since he left — calling now would seem too eager.

He opened Brokeback Mountain, watched it at double speed — twice — and still found himself bored out of his mind.

His phone screen still sat open on their chat. After glancing at the time and hesitating for a long while, he finally tapped to start a video call.

As the phone rang, he tried to come up with a topic that wouldn’t make the conversation awkward — this was, after all, his first time calling Luo Jin just to chat.

But after several dozen seconds of ringing, the call ended automatically.

“?” Duan Xingchi stared at the words No answer in disbelief. Didn’t Luo Jin say to call whenever he needed something? And now he wasn’t picking up?

Was he still working this late?

Duan Xingchi didn’t know what Luo Jin’s business trip was about, and he didn’t want to bother him if he was busy.

Still, as he watched the clock tick slowly — every second feeling like a full minute — he finally called again after half an hour.

This time, when it rang out again, his expression darkened. But he stubbornly waited until it automatically disconnected once more.

He threw the phone down; it landed on the carpet with a dull thud. His face was cold and tense — frustration peaking.

The poor pillow next to him became the victim of his anger. After one hard punch that left a dent, it slowly puffed back into shape.

Chest rising and falling, Duan Xingchi tried to calm himself down, convincing himself maybe Luo Jin really didn’t have time.

He didn’t know how long he sat there. Just when he’d decided to go to bed sulking, his phone suddenly rang again — muffled by the carpet, the sound half-absorbed.

He scrambled to grab it, fumbling twice before finally picking it up.

Seeing Luo Jin’s name on the screen, most of his bad mood vanished at once. Still, he deliberately let the phone ring for a few seconds before answering, trying not to seem too eager.

Luo Jin honestly hadn’t heard the earlier calls at the bar. Now that he was back, he wanted to quickly return Duan Xingchi’s call — it was almost midnight. So he grabbed a waterproof phone pouch from the hotel drawer, sealed his phone inside, and brought it into the bathroom. Might as well make good use of the time.

Water poured down from the showerhead, instantly soaking his hair until it clung damply to the top of his head. Luo Jin scooped a handful of water and splashed it onto his face.

“Ge—”

Duan Xingchi froze the moment he spoke. He’d expected Luo Jin to be lying on the bed or sitting on the sofa — not in the shower. Were they already at the point of being this unreserved?

The camera happened to catch Luo Jin from his chin to his shoulders. Water ran down the curve of his neck and disappeared from view.

Duan Xingchi Adam’s apple bobbed. He coughed lightly, looking down to compose himself.

The sound reminded Luo Jin of something. He turned his head. “Eh? Why’s this a video call? I must’ve pressed the wrong button.”

Even from that awkward upward angle, Duan Xingchi’s face looked good. Adjusting his own camera, Luo Jin explained before the other could ask, “I went out with some friends tonight and had a few drinks. Didn’t hear the phone.”

“You drank too much?”

“No. I was a bit tipsy when I left, but after getting some fresh air I sobered up.”

“You went out into the wind after drinking?”

“Just for a bit. I got into the car right after.”

Duan Xingchi frowned, looking at the clear glass wall behind him — bright, without a trace of fog. “You’re using cold water?”

“Hm?”

Luo Jin hadn’t caught that. Duan Xingchi raised his voice. “Are you showering in cold water?”

“Yeah. I have to wait a while for the hot water.”

“Then wait. Use hot water.”

Duan Xingchi’s tone was short and firm, leaving no room for argument. Luo Jin chuckled, realizing the young master was just worried about him. He obediently turned the faucet toward the hot side and leaned against the glass, waiting for the temperature to rise.

He played with the stream of water, letting it spill through his fingers, while listening to Duan Xingchi’s nagging voice in his ear.

“How can you still be so careless at your age? Drinking, then going out in the cold wind — fine. But now a cold shower too? You know that’s bad for your body, right?”

It was the first time the young master had talked so much at once, and Luo Jin found it amusing. He couldn’t help teasing, “Got it, my little young master. You sure talk a lot now — when we first met, you barely said a word.”

“That’s because I’m slow to warm up. Once I get used to someone, I talk more.”

“So we’re close now, huh, Xiao Chi?”

Duan Xingchi’s tone was a little impatient, but Luo Jin heard the smile in his voice. “Obviously.”

The water had turned hot, and fog began to mist the glass. Luo Jin stood beneath the shower, and as he leaned back, Duan Xingchi’s view widened — revealing more.

Last time, when Luo Jin had asked him to fetch a towel and underwear, he’d almost seen everything. Now, Luo Jin didn’t seem to mind at all — nothing important was showing, after all.

Once he’d rinsed off the alcohol’s scent, he started lathering body wash. The sound of water filled the air, and neither of them spoke. The video call turned into Duan Xingchi quietly watching Luo Jin shower.

Luo Jin wasn’t heavily built, but his muscles were defined in all the right places — firm, proportionate. With his body wet and a bit of his chest exposed, there was an unmistakable sensuality about him. Duan Xingchi stared for several seconds before sharply inhaling and bending his knees.

He was young and full of energy — not entirely in control of himself.

He couldn’t keep watching.

“Ge, you finish your shower first. I’ve got something to do — I’ll call you later.”

Luo Jin was massaging shampoo into his hair, answering with a muffled “Okay.”

Duan Xingchi hung up and went upstairs two steps at a time. He’d just scolded Luo Jin for taking a cold shower — yet now, he himself needed one.

He turned the cold water all the way up. When the icy stream hit his skin, it almost stung. Water ran down his face, into his eyes. He blinked a few times and leaned against the wall, letting it happen.

It had been a long time since he’d reacted like this — and it lasted longer than usual. By the time he was completely chilled, he wrapped a towel loosely around his waist and left the bathroom.

The towel clung to his hipbones, tied loosely enough that it slipped off as he walked to the bedroom.

He grabbed the blanket and covered his lower body, hesitating about whether to call Luo Jin again. It was already past eleven. Based on Luo Jin’s old habits, he’d probably be getting ready to sleep. Maybe he shouldn’t call.

He lay there staring blankly at the ceiling. At midnight, right on the dot, he sent a message: [Good night.]

The moment the green bubble appeared, a white one popped up beneath it — the exact same two words.

Duan Xingchi couldn’t help but smile. He long-pressed the messages, merged, and forwarded them to himself — noticing even the timestamps were identical, down to the second. That small coincidence made him absurdly happy.

Then his phone vibrated again. Luo Jin, clearly fighting sleep, sent, [Sleep, sleep. Xiao Chi, go to bed early too.]

[Okay, ge.]

That night, having exchanged goodnights, sleep came easier than usual. Hugging his pillow, Duan Xingchi drifted off — his dreams replaying the sight of Luo Jin in the shower.