WBAI Chapter 80

Zheng Qing came over to flirt casually. Yu Feng had originally intended to subtly hint that he was already taken, but Xie An’yu was incredibly cool—he immediately made his identity clear. That little expression of his, both aloof and handsome, was utterly endearing.

Zheng Qing chuckled. “I wasn’t entirely sure before, but it turns out you really are family.” He glanced at Yu Feng. “Your family member looks quite young.”

At the end of the day, Xie An’yu really was still young. Though he had a steady temperament, whenever it came to matters involving Yu Feng, he reverted to behaving like a typical guy his age—passionate, temperamental, and wearing his displeasure plainly on his face.

People often say youth is reckless, and the recklessness of the young manifests in many ways.

Yu Feng adored that quiet, fierce intensity in Xie An’yu, especially since it flared up because of him. It was the kind of thing that could easily make a person feel proud.

And right now, Yu Feng was feeling a little proud.

“Is there anything else you need from me?” Yu Feng looked at Zheng Qing. “If not, I’m going now.”

Zheng Qing asked him, “Going where? Leaving after just a few words?”

Since Xie An’yu had already introduced himself, Yu Feng saw no need to hide their relationship any longer. “I need to accompany my family member.”

Zheng Qing smiled and nodded. “Alright, go ahead and accompany him.”

Yu Feng walked over to Xie An’yu and asked, “Are you hungry? Want to grab something to eat over there?”

Xie An’yu glanced past Yu Feng at Zheng Qing, who gave him a faint smile before turning away with a cigarette in his mouth.

Yu Feng snapped his fingers in front of Xie An’yu. “Stop looking at him, look at me.”

Xie An’yu shifted his gaze back to Yu Feng’s face.

“Did you hear what he said just now?” Yu Feng asked him.

Xie An’yu nodded.

“How much did you hear?”

Xie An’yu summarized the key point. “He said you were to his liking.”

Yu Feng laughed. “Don’t take it to heart. He’s always been like that—never knows how to talk properly.”

“Are you two close?”

“Not really. I’ve taken a few photos for him before.”

“Does he like you?”

Yu Feng glanced at him and replied, “Not really.”

He hadn’t really liked him before, let alone now.

Fang Peiming, who had spotted Xie An’yu returning from a distance, immediately came over.

“Hello, Mr. Xie,” Fang Peiming extended his hand to Xie An’yu.

Uncertain of the situation, Xie An’yu glanced at Yu Feng, who introduced, “This is Chief Fang from Yuqian Entertainment.”

Xie An’yu shook hands with Fang Peiming. It was the first time someone had addressed him so formally as ‘Mr. Xie’, and he felt inexplicably awkward.

Fang Peiming smiled politely. “It’s been so many days since the magazine came out, and I’m only meeting you in person today. I have to say, Chief Irene has a sharp eye.”

Fang Peiming was full of polite, formal pleasantries, and Xie An’yu clearly wasn’t very adept at handling such situations—his expression was a bit stiff. Yu Feng cut straight to the point and explained Fang Peiming’s purpose: “He wants to sign you.”

Fang Peiming looked at Yu Feng and laughed. “Now you’re quick to speak. Before, you wouldn’t even give me his contact info.”

It was obvious Xie An’yu wouldn’t pursue a career as an entertainer. Logically, Yu Feng could have directly turned Fang Peiming down on his behalf, but since this was Xie An’yu’s own matter, it was more appropriate for him to handle it himself.

Fang Peiming said to Xie An’yu, “Since Teacher Yu has already spoken for me, I won’t ramble on. If you’re interested, we can schedule a time to discuss it properly.”

Xie An’yu politely declined. “Thank you, Chief Fang, but I’m not interested.”

Fang Peiming was quite surprised. He paused for a moment before smiling gently, “Whatever Irene can offer you, I can provide as well—perhaps even more. Don’t rush your decision; take some time to reconsider.”

Xie An’yu was too straightforward, and it took him a moment to grasp the underlying meaning in Fang Peiming’s words. Without offering much explanation, he simply said, “I have no interest in this industry.”

Fang Peiming glanced at Yu Feng, who remained aloof, as if completely detached from the matter. It was clear the situation was hopeless. Fang Peiming couldn’t help but wonder about this young man’s background—he had appeared on a magazine cover once and then vanished, seemingly uninterested in fame or money, as if it were all just a whim. Fang Peiming didn’t believe for a second that Xie An’yu had no connection to Irene and Yu Feng. But none of that mattered now; the other party’s stance was so firm, it seemed he truly had no intention of entering the industry.

“Understood,” Fang Peiming nodded, handing Xie An’yu a business card. “If you change your mind in the future, feel free to contact me anytime.”

Out of courtesy, Xie An’yu accepted the card.

Fang Peiming smiled. “Take your time chatting.”

Xie An’yu tucked the card into his pocket and looked up to see Fang Peiming walking over to Zheng Qing, engaging him in a familiar, casual conversation.

Yu Feng followed his gaze. Xie An’yu turned to him and asked, “Does that Chief Fang know the person you were talking to earlier?”

Yu Feng chuckled. “Of course he does. Zheng Qing is one of his artists.”

Xie An’yu let out an ‘Oh’, thinking to himself, So he’s a celebrity—no wonder he stood out so strikingly at first glance.

Yu Feng looked at Xie An’yu.

Xie An’yu’s face was impassive, his gaze calm, but his emotions were hidden just beneath the surface.

It was obvious he had taken Zheng Qing’s earlier teasing to heart and was likely feeling bothered by it.

If he didn’t carefully explain Zheng Qing’s personality to Xie An’yu, he probably wouldn’t be able to let it go.

“Let’s go find a quiet spot,” Yu Feng said abruptly.

Xie An’yu looked puzzled.

Yu Feng leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Let me coax you.”

Xie An’yu was silent for a moment. He understood what Yu Feng meant and turned to glance at him. “I don’t like it here. Can we wait until we get home?”

Yu Feng couldn’t help but laugh softly, his warm breath lingering near Xie An’yu’s ear. “Sure.”

The two found an empty table and sat down to eat. Tang Shu and Irene, holding their wine glasses, made their way over while mingling and finally reached them.

Yu Feng had just returned with a plate of food and set it in front of Xie An’yu. Tang Shu grinned at him and remarked, “So considerate, what a good boyfriend who embodies all 24 virtues of filial piety[mfn]二十四孝好男友 (èr shí sì xiào hǎo nán yǒu): an alternative to 二十四孝好老公 (èr shí sì xiào hǎo lǎo gōng), a good husband who embodies all 24 virtues of filial piety. In Chinese culture, the “Twenty-four Filial Exemplars” (二十四孝), also translated as The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety, are a set of stories that exemplify the Confucian virtue of filial piety, emphasizing the importance of respecting and caring for one’s parents and family. Therefore, when someone is referred to as a “二十四孝好老公”, it means that they are being praised as an exceptionally caring, respectful, and devoted husband who embodies the virtues of filial piety in their behavior and actions.[/mfn].”

Yu Feng nodded. “It’s only natural.”

Tang Shu was amused by his response. Yu Feng picked up his wine glass and clinked it with theirs. “Happy anniversary. May your partnership last long.”

“Thanks.”

Irene took a sip of her wine and glanced at Xie An’yu. “Xiao Xie, have you decided against joining the modeling industry?”

Xie An’yu looked at her.

“Jiang Ting said you turned her down,” Irene added, watching him.

“Mm…” Regardless, Xie An’yu was genuinely grateful for Irene’s recognition. If nothing else, he had genuinely earned a substantial sum from their collaboration. He picked up his glass and stood up, his expression sincere. “Thank you, Chief Irene.”

Irene was charmed by his earnestness and smiled, clinking her glass with his. “No need to thank me. We were simply in a cooperative relationship—each getting what we needed.”

Although Xie An’yu hadn’t been signed to the company, the revenue he generated for the magazine this time was undeniable. Irene’s perspective wasn’t so narrow-minded—having Xie An’yu on the cover wasn’t solely to test his potential commercial value. The magazine’s sales were her primary consideration, and the results proved her judgment correct. Under Yu Feng’s lens, Xie An’yu’s physical appeal was showcased to its fullest.

Truthfully, this cover still carried a heavy commercial vibe. After the theme was decided, she had discussed it with Yu Feng. With his sensitivity, he couldn’t have been unaware that Xie An’yu was better suited for a more narrative-driven theme—his face inherently carried a sense of story.

“He’s already burdened with enough stories; I don’t want to exploit them,” Yu Feng had told her at the time.

This so-called sense of story was a product of his reality, a quality built upon hardship, and he had no desire to exploit it.

Nor did he want to fabricate a sense of story—Xie An’yu wasn’t suited for that approach.

Yu Feng was both sensitive and clear-headed: “Magazine covers are inherently commercial; it’s impossible to completely strip away that aspect. Since we’re shooting it, let’s capture what he doesn’t have.”

He truly was remarkable—unwilling to exploit Xie An’yu’s ‘sense of story’, yet he managed to unearth traits from Xie An’yu that were completely contrary to his actual personality.

There were clear reasons for him reaching his current height of success.

Irene clinked glasses with Yu Feng: “If you ever think about jumping ship, remember to give me a heads-up. A salary raise is negotiable.”

Yu Feng was baffled: “What?”

Irene smiled: “Nothing, just afraid you’ll run off.”

***

By the time the party ended, fireworks were rising over the sea, and the cruise ship slowly docked at the shore.

The designated driver Yu Feng had booked was already waiting by the car. He handed the keys over and got into the back seat with Xie An’yu.

Yu Feng glanced at Xie An’yu: “If you’re tired, take a nap. I’ll wake you when we’re home.”

Xie An’yu said, “I’m not tired.”

Yu Feng grabbed his fingers and gave them a squeeze: “Youthful energy really is something.”

It was agreed that the coaxing would happen at home, so Yu Feng barely spoke to Xie An’yu in the car. With the hired driver sitting upfront, it was inconvenient to talk about anything personal. Both valued their privacy and disliked discussing intimate matters in front of strangers. They were quiet the entire trip, acting almost like two people who weren’t acquainted.

Once they arrived home, Yu Feng told Xie An’yu to take a shower first.

Xie An’yu looked at him.

“I want to do it today,” Yu Feng walked over and touched the side of his neck.

Xie An’yu asked, “Do you remember what you said on the boat earlier?”

Yu Feng teased him deliberately: “I said quite a bit. Which part are you referring to?”

“Coax me when we get home.”

“I’ll coax you while we do it,” Yu Feng began his coaxing right then and there, a mix of soothing and teasing, gently rubbing his earlobe. “Go take a shower first.”

After his shower, Xie An’yu entered the bedroom. Yu Feng was sitting on the bay window with one leg drawn up, reading a book, and glanced up at the sound. He set the book down and called Xie An’yu over.

Xie An’yu walked to Yu Feng, who took his hand and pulled him closer. Turning sideways, Yu Feng lifted Xie An’yu’s shirt and lowered his head, kissing his abdomen, his navel, trailing kisses down along his waistline, sucking and biting, leaving faint marks.

Yu Feng had been drinking, his movements somewhat rushed, his breathing ragged and hot.

Xie An’yu arched his neck back, hands gripping the windowsill, his Adam’s apple trembling slightly.

Yu Feng stopped his movements, lifted his head, and placed his hand on Xie An’yu’s waist, tracing a finger along the groove of his spine. “This is my apology. Does it show enough sincerity?”

Xie An’yu was so overwhelmed with pleasure that his gaze grew unfocused, his lips slightly parted as he struggled to speak.

Yu Feng still had the taste of Xie An’yu lingering in his mouth. He wiped the corner of his lips with his thumb and said, “Zheng Qing and I have no relationship whatsoever. Even if you say he likes me, it’s not really the case.”

Zheng Qing was quite well-known in the industry—popular, skilled in acting, and had won several prestigious film and television awards. He was a serious actor, not an idol. He didn’t rely on maintaining a public persona to keep fans, so aside from promoting his dramas, he rarely appeared on screen. For an artist like him, who focused solely on acting without engaging in promotional activities, even with high visibility, his private life didn’t attract much attention. The fact that he was gay had never been a topic of discussion in the industry.

Yu Feng had photographed him a few times and had known he was gay since the first time they met—they were similar people, and it was easy to tell.

During their second collaboration, Zheng Qing had asked him out for a meal and later started messaging him on WeChat.

“Did you go out to eat with him?” Xie An’yu asked.

“No,” Yu Feng said. “If I went, things would get complicated.”

“But that means he likes you, doesn’t it?”

“He was looking for a hookup.”

Xie An’yu was startled.

“Do you understand what ‘hooking up’ means?” Yu Feng suspected Xie An’yu might not really know and explained, “It means arranging to sleep together.”

When Xie An’yu felt jealous, he showed a hint of childishness, his words tinged with subtle acidity: “He’s quite handsome.”

Yu Feng glanced at him. “He’s not my type.”

Zheng Qing was simply looking for a bed partner. He had hinted at it a few times, but Yu Feng had turned him down. Yu Feng didn’t know much about Zheng Qing’s private life, but from their interactions, he hadn’t noticed any issues with his character—he was professional, highly emotionally intelligent, and handled people and situations with ease. His public image was also very upright, with no scandals or controversies.

Looking for a bed partner was a normal thing, so Yu Feng’s impression of him was still fairly positive.

“Then what is your type?” Xie An’yu asked Yu Feng.

“My type was still underage at the time.”

Xie An’yu gently touched the veins on Yu Feng’s arm. Yu Feng gripped his waist and said, “The coaxing is over. Let’s move to the bed.”

The two shifted to the bed, where Yu Feng had Xie An’yu lie on his stomach and leaned over him, and pressed against him, whispering from behind, “We’ll do it from behind today.”

He kissed Xie An’yu’s ear and added, “Next time, we’ll try a different locations—right where we were just now.”

Xie An’yu paused for a moment and glanced toward the bay window.

Yu Feng pinched his chin and turned his face back. “Focus.”

[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 80″]
自報家門 (zì bào jiā mén): (theater, of an actor) to introduce their character; (figuratively) to give a self-introduction; to introduce oneself; self-introduction; announce one’s family background; declare one’s identity; reveal one’s origins. Originally, it referred to the traditional practice of opera actors introducing the identity and background of their characters to the audience through lyrics or recitation. Now, it generally refers to the act of taking the initiative to introduce oneself.

置身事外 (zhì shēn shì wài): to stand back; to not care and be indifferent about a matter; stay aloof from the affair; keep oneself out of the business; refuse to get involved into the matter; not to get involved; to stay out of it; to put oneself outside of something and not care about it at all.

實實在在 (shí shí zài zài): real; true; genuine; down-to-earth; in the name of goodness; on the level; real and tangible; solid and reliable; substantial; earnest; sincere; describes something that is real and not exaggerated.

待人接物 (dài rén jiē wù): getting along with others; dealing with people; the way one treats people; way one conducts oneself in relation to others; way one gets along with people; to deal with things and to have contact with others.

面面俱到 (miàn miàn jù dào): (idiom) take care of everything; handle everything; attending to each and every aspect of a matter; thorough; reach every aspect of a matter; comprehensive; covering all aspects; exhaustive; well rounded; cover all the bases; touches all the bases; to take care of everything and handle things properly.
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