To avoid making Tao Zhi uncomfortable at this crucial moment, Fu Zheng had deliberately left no extras.
It had cost a pretty penny, though.
Booking the venue and hiring the studio for setup came to nearly a million, just for a confession.
Someone had advised him against it beforehand.
It’s just a confession—invite the person out, buy some flowers at most, say you like them, ask if they want to date. No need to make it so complicated.
But Fu Zheng refused.
He felt it wouldn’t be solemn enough. He had seen others do it—like when Wei Yu confessed to his girlfriend.
In a hotel, with a party too. Everyone had a blast that day.
Especially Wei Yu’s girlfriend, who was thrilled.
So Fu Zheng assumed confessions should be like that. What others had, Tao Zhi should have too.
Solemn, formal. Something romantic to look back on later…
Fu Zheng was 19, his first time liking someone. Inexperienced and clumsy, but he wanted to give Tao Zhi the perfect experience.
Money was no object.
Even if the setup looked like a proposal and his friends mocked him, he did it anyway—
When Tao Zhi saw the archway and balloons on the lawn, his heart skipped a beat.
No way, no way… No way!
This was Fu Zheng’s idea of a fun place?!
Little Bunny seemed to have an innate danger sense. Seeing this, alarm bells rang in his head with a bright red exclamation mark.
This scene looked just like a proposal.
Tao Zhi recognized it instantly because he had done such gigs.
Before Fu Zheng moved into their dorm, in the second week after military training, Tao Zhi had worn a mascot costume handing out flyers near the central building. He got roped into an engagement party as the mascot hype man.
The original mascot had flaked last minute.
Tao Zhi had earned decently—100 bucks an hour.
After the engagement, they partied, and Tao Zhi kept interacting with guests in costume until 9 PM.
He made 600 bucks.
Seeing this familiar setup again, Tao Zhi suppressed his danger sense, his mind racing: Huh? Fu Zheng getting engaged? So soon? With who?
Was he here to be the mascot again?
But weren’t these events usually at night?
With those twinkly lights—
Tao Zhi looked at Fu Zheng.
Fu Zheng only showed him his back.
A particularly straight back, like he was marching to heroic sacrifice…
Tao Zhi was puzzled. His gaze shifted from Fu Zheng, instinctively turning his head to look for his costume.
“Why are you standing there? Come on.” Unbeknownst to him, Tao Zhi had stopped.
Fu Zheng had reached the red carpet, while Tao Zhi hesitated outside.
“Oh.” Tao Zhi carefully avoided the cherry blossom petals and heart-shaped candles on the ground, trotting up to Fu Zheng’s side. He whispered, “Fu Zheng, are you getting engaged?”
So early—Fu Zheng was only a freshman, 19 and already engaged? Rich people stuff?
But why didn’t 29-year-old Fu Si Heng have a girlfriend…
“…?”
“Huh?” Fu Zheng’s already stiff body grew even stiffer.
He even stuttered awkwardly. “Eng… Engaged?”
“Isn’t that too fast?”
Tao Zhi’s train of thought was even ahead of his?
Tao Zhi: “Huh?”
The two went “Huh?” back and forth.
“W-We can talk about that later.” They should at least date first.
Date for a while—at least a month—before engagement.
“Come with me first.” Already anxious, Fu Zheng grew more so. He grabbed Tao Zhi’s hand, passed through the balloon arch, walked the red carpet, and arrived at the small round table.
In the center of the round table sat 99 roses, the surface draped in white gauze, dotted with white balloons and decorative bellflowers.
Tao Zhi’s foot stepped on the white gauze, and he instinctively backed up, only to be pulled back by Fu Zheng to stand in front of the table.
Hmm.
Alright.
But where was the mascot costume?
Tao Zhi’s head started turning again.
“Stop turning your head… I have something important to tell you.” Fu Zheng forcibly turned Tao Zhi’s head back. “You’re not allergic to roses, right?”
“Hm? No, not allergic.” Tao Zhi answered.
“Good.” Fu Zheng picked up the roses from the table.
There were backups hidden behind.
Tao Zhi watched Fu Zheng’s actions in confusion.
“Well, I have something very important to tell you.” Fu Zheng was a bit nervous.
Tao Zhi: “…?”
That dangerous premonition resurfaced. Sensing trouble, Tao Zhi stepped back instinctively, but the quick-handed Fu Zheng pulled him back and shoved the roses into his hands.
Tao Zhi didn’t really want to take them, but Fu Zheng was too fast.
He silently held the roses, staring at the petals.
These were some real petals.
Fu Zheng probably just wanted him to hold them. Probably not confessing to him.
He wasn’t the protagonist here.
How could he be so… narcissistic.
Tao Zhi forcibly comforted himself.
Please, let someone else pop up suddenly.
Let him know he wasn’t the only one here—that this wasn’t for him.
Tao Zhi realized it.
With this weird scene and Fu Zheng’s nervous look, if he still hadn’t figured it out… he’d really be dumb.
Tao Zhi felt like he was done for.
“I think I like you a little.” Fu Zheng blurted out abruptly.
Tao Zhi: “…?”
Tao Zhi slowly raised his head.
“No, I just like you.” Fu Zheng hadn’t prepared any lines. From Friday, he’d been in a state of anxious, hyper-excited anticipation, with no time to think. He could only say whatever came to mind. “I think you’re cute, obedient, good-natured, and understanding.”
“No, I don’t mean I like you because you’re obedient.” Fu Zheng hurriedly explained, then fretted. “Anyway, you get it. You’re too coquettish. I fell for you without realizing. I wasn’t gay originally—you bent me.”
Tao Zhi: “…”
Huh?
Tao Zhi dazedly looked at Fu Zheng.
Who bent who?
When did he bend Fu Zheng? He had no idea.
“What do you think?” The confession had come out all wrong, far from what he’d imagined, but it was said—no take-backs. Fu Zheng spilled it all. “You’re gay, right? Definitely. Tao Zhi, you don’t have a boyfriend anyway. How about dating me? I’ll treat you great from now on. No more making you do anything. Really, you can boss me around. I’ll buy your meals, do your laundry, clean your shoes, pick up packages, snag seats for class.”
“Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do.”
This was probably the sincerest confession from a rich second-generation heir with a high school Chinese grade of 30.
Fu Zheng’s face twisted awkwardly, blushing. “I really like you. I hope you can…”
He paused. “Accept my confession.”
Tao Zhi: “…”
What responded to Fu Zheng was a long silence.
At first, Fu Zheng didn’t grasp the meaning of the quiet, thinking Tao Zhi was just shy. Gradually, he seemed to realize something, and his heart grew colder.
“Fu Zheng.” After a long, long time, Tao Zhi’s voice finally sounded. “Sorry, I’m not gay.”
“So I probably can’t accept.”
“I’m straight. I just see you as a good friend and roommate.” Tao Zhi’s voice was cautious yet cruel, shattering a newbie gay’s fragile heart. “We’re good friends.”
Fu Zheng: “?”
