Xie An’yu wasn’t sure if Yu Feng had drunk too much to suddenly call him that. The term was a bit embarrassing, yet it made his ears tingle and his heart soften.
“Are you already drunk?” Xie An’yu asked softly.
Yu Feng replied, “No.”
Xie An’yu recalled that Yu Feng had mentioned earlier that they had been dating for a while and could change how they addressed each other.
The term ‘baby’ was very intimate, and perhaps Yu Feng really liked it too.
Xie An’yu sat on the bay window, gazing at the brightly lit buildings outside the window, and replied: “I’ll wait for you to come home, Baby.”
Yu Feng was taken aback for a moment, then heard Xie An’yu say, “Goodbye, Baby.”
Yu Feng chuckled. “Now you’re turning the tables.” He hummed in agreement and replied, “Goodbye, Baby.”
When he returned to the private room, about half of the hostesses had left, with only two or three remaining, already seated next to the single men who had requested their company.
These were strictly professional hostesses—their only job was to accompany guests while drinking, and they didn’t offer any other services. Li Xiu wouldn’t compromise his reputation in such matters, so the women he hired were all exceptionally attractive. He even thoughtfully asked the only two single women present if they had any such needs, offering to call a couple of handsome, muscular men for them. Both women shook their heads in unison, declining the offer.
A good-looking young man had joined the room. As Yu Feng sat down to drink, Li Xiu gestured for the young man to come over.
Li Xiu patted Yu Feng’s thigh. “I picked this one for you. What do you think? Pretty good-looking, right?”
Yu Feng didn’t even lift his eyelids. “You’re faster than lightning. Send him away. I don’t need anyone. I have a partner.”
Everyone in the room turned to look at him in unison. Liu Xinyun also turned to stare at him, her expression somewhat stunned.
Although there had been rumors back in school that Yu Feng liked men, he had never personally confirmed or denied them. As a result, many people were only half-convinced by the gossip, including his classmates. At the time, with the college entrance exams approaching, everyone was too preoccupied with their own concerns to dwell on others’ sexual orientations. Any rumors were heard and quickly forgotten.
By bringing it up now, Yu Feng had effectively confirmed the old rumors.
Someone asked, “Yu Feng, your partner… is a man?”
Yu Feng hummed in affirmation.
“…So you really do like men. I thought those rumors back then were just made up.”
Li Xiu leaned in close to his ear. Having drunk too much, he spoke without filtering himself: “The guy I got for you is so handsome. You won’t even glance at him? It’s just a partner, you’re not married. Having a handsome guy keep you company for a couple of drinks isn’t a big deal.”
Having spent a few years abroad, Li Xiu was accustomed to a more open environment, where the gay scene was often chaotic. Monogamy was rare, and casual relationships were the norm. His preconceptions had now extended to Yu Feng.
Yu Feng glanced at the young man and said to Li Xiu, “My partner is better-looking than him.”
Zhou Yi, who had been listening nearby, found this amusing. He held his glass and laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
“I can vouch for that,” Zhou Yi said. “His partner’s looks are genuinely hard for most people to compete with.”
Moreover, the young man Li Xiu had brought was fair-skinned and delicate, with slender arms and legs—completely different from Xie An’yu’s type. He also lacked Xie An’yu’s unique aura, making it clear he wasn’t Yu Feng’s type at all.
Li Xiu looked at Zhou Yi. “You’ve met him?”
“Of course. What kind of relationship do Teacher Yu and I have?”
A female colleague joked, “Sure enough, handsome guys really do end up dating other handsome guys.”
Li Xiu let the young male escort leave, then picked up his glass and glanced at Yu Feng before turning to Zhou Yi: “He’s already taken, so what about you? Don’t tell me you’re gay too.”
Zhou Yi took a sip of his drink and said, “I just love one person, why do you care so much?”
Though he said this, he felt a bit guilty inside. If he truly loved one person, he wouldn’t be running off to Shi Wuyang’s house every other day. Right now, he was probably in a half-bent, half-straight state.
Yu Feng stayed for half an hour before preparing to leave. In that half hour, he didn’t sing a single song but drank quite a bit. He said goodbye to his old classmates present, but Li Xiu wouldn’t let him go.
“You’re not allowed to leave early. Everyone else is still here, why are you the exception?”
Yu Feng brought up his ‘baby’ as an excuse: “My boyfriend is waiting for me at home.”
Li Xiu clicked his tongue twice and teased, “Don’t tell me you have a curfew at home too?”
“Not really, it’s just me being eager to get back.”
Li Xiu laughed, “Never thought you’d turn out to be such a love-struck fool. Your current image is quite different from how you were in high school. Alright, for the sake of your significant other, I’ll grant you early leave.”
Yu Feng bid farewell to everyone: “I’ll head off then, you all have fun.”
Yu Feng waited for his designated driver at the entrance. Not long after, Liu Xinyun also came out.
Yu Feng glanced at her: “Leaving too?”
Liu Xinyun nodded: “I’m not really used to places like this, it’s a bit noisy. I have to get up early for work tomorrow, so I want to go back and sleep soon.”
“How are you getting back?”
“I’ll take a taxi. You?”
“I called a designated driver.”
Liu Xinyun let out an ‘oh’, her gaze lingering on Yu Feng’s face for a second—Yu Feng had changed to new glasses.
“When… did you get a boyfriend?” Liu Xinyun asked Yu Feng.
“A while ago.”
“That was pretty quick. Last time I saw you, you didn’t have one.”
“The last time you saw me was three months ago.”
Liu Xinyun smiled: “True. Is it that guy from last time? The one who came back with you.”
Yu Feng hummed in affirmation.
Liu Xinyun remembered Xie An’yu because he was genuinely handsome—handsome enough to leave a lasting impression. Standing next to Yu Feng, they shared the same aesthetic, looking very well-matched.
Liu Xinyun nodded and said, “He is quite handsome.”
A taxi arrived. Liu Xinyun stepped forward and opened the door, turning back to Yu Feng: “I’m off now. See you when there’s a chance.”
“Mm, see you.”
***
Yu Feng’s alcohol tolerance was average, and he felt he might have had a bit too much to drink today. His finger wavered slightly as he pressed the fingerprint scanner.
The living room lights were off, but the TV was on, paused on a scene from Calabash Brothers where the brothers were rescuing their grandfather.
Yu Feng changed into slippers and walked into the living room for a look. Xie An’yu was asleep on the sofa, wearing his tattered T-shirt, lying on his side with his hand hanging down in front of him.
Yu Feng walked over to the sofa, leaned down, and kissed his forehead. Xie An’yu had already showered and smelled fragrant.
Xie An’yu was a light sleeper and woke up as soon as Yu Feng touched him.
Yu Feng rubbed his nose against Xie An’yu’s cheek and said in a husky voice, “Go sleep in the bedroom.”
Yu Feng’s breath was warm and carried a hint of alcohol. His gaze was unfocused—he must have drunk quite a bit.
Xie An’yu touched his forehead: “I told you not to drink too much.”
“I didn’t drink much, I just have low tolerance,” Yu Feng said.
Yu Feng’s face was burning hot, and his neck was flushed red.
Xie An’yu sat up. “I’ll make you some honey water.”
Yu Feng sat down on the sofa, grabbed Xie An’yu’s arm, and pulled him into his embrace. Xie An’yu stumbled and landed on Yu Feng’s lap, his knee bumping against the edge of the coffee table.
Yu Feng rubbed his knee and apologized, “Sorry, did it hurt?”
Xie An’yu shook his head and turned to look at him.
Yu Feng’s eyes were hidden behind his glasses, not as bright as usual, his gaze somewhat hazy. He gently massaged Xie An’yu’s knee, his palm warm.
Xie An’yu pressed Yu Feng’s hand and called out, “Brother.”
Yu Feng responded, “Mm.”
“Want to do it?”
Yu Feng paused. Xie An’yu had only asked four words, but they instantly ignited the desire already amplified by alcohol.
After Xie Li left, she sent Xie An’yu a long message on WeChat. Every single word was meant to tell Xie An’yu that he was still young, his future was vast, he and Yu Feng might not last forever, and he didn’t necessarily have to choose Yu Feng.
Xie An’yu turned his head slightly and asked again: “Do you want to?”
Yu Feng curled his fingers and scraped his knee, asking, “Are you drunk, or am I drunk?”
“We’ve been together for so long.”
“Have you really thought this through?”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Don’t you want to?”
“What do you think?” Yu Feng’s breathing was heavy as he tightly wrapped his arms around Xie An’yu’s waist, pulling him closer and closer. He pressed his nose against Xie An’yu’s hair and took a deep breath.
Xie An’yu asked him, “Are you the top?”
Yu Feng hummed in affirmation. “Can you accept that?”
Xie An’yu thought for a moment and asked, “If I can’t accept it, can I be the top?”
“No. If you can’t accept it, we’ll just have to help each other out until we’re old.”
Yu Feng truly couldn’t accept being the bottom, and his words at this moment came from the heart.
But this was Xie An’yu.
Yu Feng stared at Xie An’yu for a moment, sighed silently in his heart, and said, “Just kidding. If you want to be on top, then be on top. I’m fine with either.”
Xie An’yu was the one who was actually fine with either, and he could tell that Yu Feng wasn’t truly ‘fine with either’.
“Really fine with either?” Xie An’yu asked.
“Before I change my mind.” Yu Feng patted his leg. “Go to the bedroom. I’ll take a shower first.”
Xie An’yu chuckled. “You do it.”
“Mm?”
“I’m fine with either.”
“Have you thought it through? After today, there won’t be another chance.” Yu Feng said, “I definitely won’t let you be the top in the future.”
“So you’re only planning to let me be the top once?”
Yu Feng leaned close to his ear and said, “Yes.”
“Then why did you make it sound so nice earlier?”
“Since you’re backing down, of course I’ll seize the opportunity and push my luck.”
Yu Feng finished his shower quickly and entered the room with semi-dry hair, sitting down by the bed.
Xie An’yu lay on his side on the bed, motionless.
“Are you asleep?” Yu Feng touched his back over the blanket and felt a wave of warmth.
Xie An’yu turned over. “No.”
Yu Feng turned off the main light, took condoms and lubricant from the bedside table drawer, climbed onto the bed, and pinned Xie An’yu beneath him, placing a hand over his heart.
Xie An’yu’s heart was beating very fast.
Yu Feng’s drunkenness hadn’t faded much after the shower. He leaned down and licked Xie An’yu’s ear, whispering, “What to do? Your heart might beat even faster later.”
Xie An’yu closed his eyes, his breathing growing somewhat erratic. Yu Feng captured his lips, entwining their tongues, sending a numbing sensation through his bones and softening his body.
[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 75″]
半信半疑 (bàn xìn bàn yí): half-believing, half-doubting; not quite convinced; dubious; skeptical; uncertain;； in doubt; with reservations; expresses uncertainty about the truth or falsehood of a matter.自顧不暇 (zì gù bù xiá): to have too much on one’s plate; to have trouble even in dealing with one’s own affairs, let alone taking care of others’; be busy enough with one’s own affairs; be unable even to fend for oneself (much less look after others); no longer have the strength to take care of others.
歸心似箭 (guī xīn sì jiàn): to have one’s heart set on returning home; to have an urge to return home; with one’s heart set on speeding home (idiom); anxious to return; wish to have wings to fly home; eager to return home; one’s longing to return home is as swift as an arrow shot from a bow, describing an intense desire to go home.
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