My Arranged Marriage Partner Has Two Faces 45

Chapter 45

“Yes, yes, it’s a perfect match.”

After Zhong Yuxiao left, Xi Shi didn’t stay long either, and they left almost at the same time, causing widespread speculation. Many people guessed that they had gone to a hotel.

That night, the group chats were exploding. Everyone was guessing who was the top and who was the bottom.

Xu Linfeng, lurking in the group chats, snorted. “Superficial.”

If they were really going to a hotel, would they have left separately?

And with Zhong Yuxiao’s exhausted state from his assignments, would he even have the energy to do anything?

There was only one truth.

[Night, are you back?]

[Mm.]

He knew it.

Xu Linfeng tried to get some gossip about him and Xi Shi, but Zhong Yuxiao seemed to have anticipated it and turned off his phone after replying.

Time to sleep.

He had a good night’s sleep.

After making up for sleep, Zhong Yuxiao woke up after nine in the morning.

The heavy blackout curtains blocked all the sunlight, and the room was dark. As soon as Zhong Yuxiao turned on his phone, he saw more than a dozen missed calls, five or six from Xu Linfeng, and the rest were unknown numbers.

Besides that, his inbox was almost overflowing with messages.

Zhong Yuxiao was a bit surprised. Based on the usual frequency, he shouldn’t be getting this many messages. Had the world entered mating season without him knowing?

After opening a few messages, Zhong Yuxiao understood.

It wasn’t mating season, but a curiosity explosion. Ninety percent of the messages were gossip about whether he and Xi Shi had had sex last night, and who was the top.

People were so bored.

Zhong Yuxiao took a shower and threw all the bedsheets and pillowcases into the washing machine.

He was too tired to think last night, and after washing up, he went straight to sleep. The smell of alcohol on his body was faint, but the bedding had absorbed some of it.

From this perspective, whether Zhong Yuxiao had OCD was questionable.

While the washing machine was working, Zhong Yuxiao went to the kitchen. He couldn’t eat takeout every day and didn’t like going to Chinese restaurants every day. He had taught himself to cook, and after so many years, his skills had improved, and he was quite capable.

Breakfast was simple egg noodles. After cooking, he sprinkled some chopped scallions and a few drops of sesame oil, light and warm, perfect for after drinking.

While eating, Zhong Yuxiao thought about what had happened last night again.

He was called to Amore by Xu Linfeng, stayed until nine o’clock, and met that legendary top… Now that he was fully awake, it felt surreal. It was hard to believe he had actually taken the initiative to flirt with someone.

Zhong Yuxiao’s expression was subtle. Had he been brainwashed by Xu Linfeng? Did he want to try what a forced connection felt like?

Xu Linfeng was truly a menace.

Zhong Yuxiao tapped his finger and added Xu Linfeng to his blacklist.

What happened last night felt like a dream. He hadn’t exchanged contact information with little Apollo, and didn’t even know his real name. All he knew was an English nickname.

The nickname was given by someone else.

Too bad he had given out his real name.

However, the other guy did buy him a drink.

Despite all that, Zhong Yuxiao attributed what happened last night to one thing: “men are easily misled by beautiful faces.”

He had finished his assignment, so he didn’t need to go to school today. Near noon, Zhong Yuxiao changed his clothes and went out. The places he had recommended to little Apollo were all nice tourist spots, and he would often go there when he was free.

Would he run into little Apollo?

The thought only flashed in his mind for a moment before Zhong Yuxiao dismissed it. The possibility was too low.

Last night, he had mentioned several places to go, and the other guy wouldn’t necessarily go to the same place. Moreover, those hints were only meant to create intimacy, and the words spoken during flirting shouldn’t be taken seriously. That was an unspoken rule when having fun.

The other guy might not have taken his words to heart. The odds of meeting him were close to zero, probably less than one in ten million.

Zhong Yuxiao put on his headphones and sat on the second-to-last row on the bus.

The weather was nice today, sunny and bright, making people feel sleepy. Zhong Yuxiao lowered his hat and rested his arm on the window, looking around aimlessly.

The sightseeing bus had a fixed route, and the next stop would be at the famous hotel district. Luckily, it wasn’t peak tourist season, and there weren’t many tourists. There were fewer people on the bus than Zhong Yuxiao had expected, they were scattered in the front.

The bus started slowly. While swiping his card and walking to the back, a familiar figure suddenly caught Zhong Yuxiao’s attention, and his eyes widened slightly.

Xi Shi was wearing a floral shirt again today, but it wasn’t as flashy as yesterday. His hair wasn’t styled, and the wind made him look youthful.

The one in ten million possibility had happened.

Their eyes met briefly, and Xi Shi looked away calmly, as if he hadn’t seen him, and went straight to the last row.

“…”

This scene felt familiar.

Was he ignoring him? Was he still holding a grudge?

Zhong Yuxiao put on his headphones.

Take heart
take me to your soul
Give your hand and before I’m old

At the same time, a hand poked his back. “Hey handsome, can you share one of your headphones?”

Oh, he was holding a grudge.

Zhong Yuxiao turned his head. Xi Shi was sitting diagonally behind him, the sunlight falling on little Apollo’s golden hair, the golden glow shimmering at the ends, reflecting into his golden eyes, creating a perfect scene.

Zhong Yuxiao took off his left earphone and held it in his palm. “Why are you here?”

“To try my luck.” Xi Shi leaned forward, his hands clasped together, his head resting on the back of the seat in front.

Zhong Yuxiao was sitting in the seat next to him. Their gazes met again.

The slight height difference created a visual effect, Zhong Yuxiao looking down. Without the interference of lights, the advantages of little Apollo’s features were even more obvious. It was as if he was someone who had been favored by the gods, made with special care.

“Did you get lucky?” Zhong Yuxiao caressed the earphone, as if considering whether he was worth sharing one of his earphones.

Xi Shi curled his lips, his eyes fixed on him. He suddenly raised his hand and gently touched Zhong Yuxiao’s empty left ear. “I did.”

“What are you doing?”

Zhong Yuxiao’s eyes widened. Xi Shi’s sudden attack had completely disrupted his rhythm. His ears felt hot, and his body reacted before his mind, dodging back slightly.

Was he really so innocent?

Xi Shi raised an eyebrow in surprise. Last night at the bar, Zhong Yuxiao had been flirting with him so skillfully. “I’m trying my luck.”

Trying his luck, trying his luck… so that’s what he meant by luck.

Zhong Yuxiao’s heart rate quickened, becoming more agitated with the beat of the music.

He began to believe the gossip that Xu Linfeng had told him. Xi Shi was clearly a player, and his skills weren’t any lower than his. Last night, he had the advantage of time, place, and opportunity. Today, their positions were reversed.

Xi Shi twirled his fingers, as if he could still feel the soft touch. He stared at Zhong Yuxiao’s flushed ears, and his smile grew more playful. “A very red and soft luck, huh?”

“…”

Zhong Yuxiao was silent for a moment before handing him the earphone he had been warming in his palm, his tone slightly annoyed. “Listen to the music quietly.”

Xi Shi chuckled.

Ha, he was embarrassed.

After being flirted with by Zhong Yuxiao last night, he couldn’t even sleep properly. In his dreams, he was regretting not flirting back. He swore that the next time he saw Zhong Yuxiao, he would reclaim his lost pride!

Hmph, he had finally managed to get even.

Zhong Yuxiao loved wired headphones. The thin data cable was a tangible connection, forming a bridge between them, one end connected to Zhong Yuxiao’s right ear, the other to Xi Shi’s left ear. The song “Take Me to Your Heart” played on repeat, flowing into both of their minds.

Xi Shi liked racing and preferred music with a strong beat. This kind of soft rock wasn’t his style.

But sharing headphones with Zhong Yuxiao felt different. Even this kind of song, which he would have normally disliked, sounded good now.

“I didn’t think you would like such old songs.”

The Chinese version of this song, “Goodbye Kiss,” was more well-known among Chinese people. It was popular in the 90s, and in Xi Shi’s opinion, it was the kind of song his old grandfather would like.

Zhong Yuxiao turned slightly, tapping his fingers to the beat. “Don’t you like it?”

“I do.” Xi Shi said honestly. Old songs were more meaningful the more you listened to them. “But shouldn’t a young person like you be listening to popular new songs?”

Even if Zhong Yuxiao liked alternative music, he wouldn’t be this surprised.

“It’s enough that I like it. Who cares if it’s old? It’s like men—” Zhong Yuxiao gave him a meaningful look. “If you like it, then it’s good. Age isn’t important, young people like us don’t mind dating someone older.”

Was he hinting at something?
Was he, was he, was he?

Xi Shi, his face serious, said, “I’m not old, not even 30 yet.”

Although he was 29 this year, a month or a day less wasn’t 30.

Zhong Yuxiao said calmly, “Then we’re about the same age. I’m 27, not exactly young anymore.”

Now Xi Shi was truly shocked.

Perhaps it was because Zhong Yuxiao’s clothes didn’t make him look his age, and he was wearing a baseball cap, that he had assumed that the other man was much younger, a college student who had just come to study abroad.

He couldn’t tell, they were only two years apart.

Xi Shi’s surprise was too obvious, and Zhong Yuxiao was amused. “Maybe it’s your floral shirt that makes you look old.”

Little Apollo looked displeased. “Do you even have any taste? Only handsome people wear this.”

Zhong Yuxiao was noncommittal and suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question, “Do you want to change positions?”

“Sure.”

Xi Shi was about to get up and sit next to him when the earphone was taken away. Zhong Yuxiao took off the right earphone and handed it to him. “Here, this way the distance is longer, and we won’t pull the cord.”

“…”

Xi Shi’s expression was unpleasant. “The position you were talking about was about the earphones?”

“What else? What did you think I was talking about?” Zhong Yuxiao tilted his head, pretending to tease him. “Were you thinking I was hinting at you sitting next to me?”

The atmosphere froze, and the air became silent.

Little Apollo’s face gradually darkened. Zhong Yuxiao stopped teasing him and tugged at the dangling earphone cord. His golden eyes were filled with a captivating smile, looking at Xi Shi intently. “We young people don’t play games. Hints are what old people do, I don’t understand. I’ll just say it directly—”

“Apollo, come sit next to me. I’m too young to ride the bus alone, I need a handsome guardian.”

As he spoke, Zhong Yuxiao tugged at the earphone cord, his golden eyes filled with a captivating smile, looking deeply at Xi Shi. “Handsome, are you willing to be my guardian for now?”