Chapter 2
“Didn’t look closely, huh?” Xu Hengzhi only focused on this part of Jiang Chaochao’s sentence, then said: “You’ll have a chance to look later, he’s really handsome.”
For some reason, Xu Hengzhi’s words made Jiang Chaochao laugh.
Seeing Jiang Chaochao smile, Xu Hengzhi laughed along: “What?”
Jiang Chaochao said: “If you weren’t straight, I’d suspect you liked him.”
Xu Hengzhi was even more puzzled: “Huh? Why?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Why are you telling me to pay attention to him?”
Xu Hengzhi: “Because he’s handsome! It’s not the first time I’ve shown you a handsome guy, what’s the big deal?”
Jiang Chaochao was momentarily speechless.
He couldn’t seem to find any words to refute, but he still said: “I just looked, how else am I supposed to look?”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t look closely?” Xu Hengzhi continued to add fuel to the fire: “Many girls in our company like him. Today, a few bold ones even asked directly in the group chat if Mr. Xiang would be here tonight. If he is, they’d dress up.”
Jiang Chaochao picked out the least important part of this sentence: “Mr. Xiang.”
Xu Hengzhi nodded: “Yes, his last name is Xiang, the Xiang from ‘xiang wang’ (yearning), his name is Xiang Ye.”
Jiang Chaochao repeated again: “Xiang Ye.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Don’t you think, that name really suits him? He has this faint wildness, a very unique feeling.”
Jiang Chaochao gave a very low “Oh”: “What does it have to do with me?”
Jiang Chaochao’s words hit Xu Hengzhi directly. Xu Hengzhi turned his head in confusion and stared at Jiang Chaochao, equally puzzled.
Jiang Chaochao also realized something was wrong. He avoided Xu Hengzhi’s gaze, pretending not to see it.
Fortunately, Xu Hengzhi’s boss was just a few steps away, so Xu Hengzhi didn’t have a chance to continue the topic.
Jiang Chaochao had met Xu Hengzhi’s boss before. After a familiar exchange of smiles and nods, Jiang Chaochao stood by and waited.
Xu Hengzhi then started chatting with his boss, something about so-and-so tonight, something about the next project, something about taking so-and-so with him to Q City in a few days.
Only able to understand half of it, Jiang Chaochao naturally zoned out quickly.
So what did he do?
He held back for a moment, then flicked his gaze towards the entrance.
Ah.
No one.
Jiang Chaochao blinked and scanned the hall.
Although there weren’t many people here yet, there were still quite a few. Yet, with just a casual glance, Jiang Chaochao spotted Xiang Ye.
He had already mingled into the crowd. He was actually a bit taller than everyone around him. At this moment, he was holding a glass of champagne, leaning against the table behind him, listening to someone talk.
His hair was a bit long, but it seemed just right, with a few strands hanging down his forehead perfectly.
He didn’t know what he heard, but he smiled, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. At the same time, he raised his glass and took a small sip.
Despite the distance, Jiang Chaochao shouldn’t have been able to see his Adam’s apple, but he seemed to have seen it bob up and down.
Xiang Ye.
Why? Jiang Chaochao also felt the name was so fitting.
He had been watching for a bit too long, and Jiang Chaochao was naturally aware of it, his brain telling him it was enough, almost enough.
But his eyes didn’t move.
So, in the next second, when the man’s gaze suddenly shot over, Jiang Chaochao was startled.
He quickly turned his head. How coincidental, a waiter with champagne was just passing by. He asked for a glass.
Take a sip.
See! Told you not to look!
Another sip.
Almost caught!
Xu Hengzhi’s boss had finished saying what she needed to say, and after seeing someone she wanted to greet, she left.
And when Xu Hengzhi returned to Jiang Chaochao’s side, the first thing he asked was: “So? Handsome, right?”
Jiang Chaochao paused for a beat, nonchalantly: “What?”
Xu Hengzhi: “Xiang Ye.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Why ask again?”
Xu Hengzhi said: “Weren’t you just looking at him?”
Jiang Chaochao immediately denied: “I wasn’t.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Then who were you looking at?”
Jiang Chaochao: “I wasn’t looking at anyone.”
Xu Hengzhi gave Jiang Chaochao that puzzled look he hadn’t finished giving earlier: “Jiang Chaochao, you’re a bit strange today.”
Jiang Chaochao raised his glass: “What? You’re the strange one.”
He took a sip.
As Jiang Chaochao swallowed, Xu Hengzhi asked: “Did you fall for Xiang Ye?”
Jiang Chaochao nearly choked.
Xu Hengzhi burst out laughing, patting Jiang Chaochao on the back: “Just kidding, just kidding,” he said, pointing to a door. “There’s an outdoor terrace outside, let’s go check it out.”
It was sunset in the city. Stepping out onto the terrace, the first thing they saw was the no longer dazzling orange sun setting beyond the mountains.
There were also more people here than inside. Many were gathered by the railing taking pictures. A gentle breeze blew, lights twinkled, and the atmosphere was very pleasant.
“Two o’clock direction,” Xu Hengzhi suddenly whispered as they walked, “the guy looking up taking pictures.”
Jiang Chaochao looked over there.
Xu Hengzhi added: “That’s the gay guy I mentioned to you last time.”
Jiang Chaochao searched his memory. If he remembered correctly, this was a makeup artist, who had a boyfriend.
Why did Xu Hengzhi specifically mention him? It was because during an event, this makeup artist was applying makeup to someone, thinking of his boyfriend whom he was fighting with at the time, and suddenly burst into tears.
Xu Hengzhi added: “The one taking his picture is his boyfriend.”
Jiang Chaochao gave an “ah”.
Just a glance, and they continued walking outwards.
As they walked, Xu Hengzhi suddenly said: “Jiang Chaochao, you’re so normal, I always forget you’re gay.”
Jiang Chaochao stopped: “…You’re so blunt, you scared me.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Huh? Can’t I say that?”
“You can, whatever,” Jiang Chaochao asked: “What’s wrong? Why say that suddenly?”
Xu Hengzhi: “I’ve met a lot of gay guys, the kind you can tell at a glance. They wear such strong perfume, such heavy makeup,” he mimicked a voice: “‘Oh hello there,’ they even talk like that.”
Jiang Chaochao immediately had a picture in his mind, but he asked: “What are you trying to say?”
Xu Hengzhi: “Nothing in particular.”
Jiang Chaochao said: “They are normal too.”
“I know, of course I know,” Xu Hengzhi immediately recalled the years of being criticized by Jiang Chaochao. “I didn’t mean they aren’t normal, it’s just that I think even though you’re both gay, the difference is quite big.”
Jiang Chaochao: “What do you, a heterosexual, know.”
Xu Hengzhi laughed: “Alright, alright.”
“By the way, Jiang Chaochao,” after walking a few steps, Xu Hengzhi asked again, “Are you a 1 or a 0?”
This time, Jiang Chaochao paused for more than a second: “What?”
Xu Hengzhi: “Ah, you know 1 and 0, right? It’s just…”
Jiang Chaochao interrupted: “…I know.”
Xu Hengzhi asked: “So which one are you?”
Jiang Chaochao was sometimes really taken aback by straight men.
Jiang Chaochao: “…You’re being very presumptuous.”
Xu Hengzhi laughed: “Huh? Can’t I ask that either?”
Jiang Chaochao: “…You can.”
Xu Hengzhi: “So which one are you?”
Jiang Chaochao: “I…”
Before Jiang Chaochao could clarify, Xu Hengzhi continued: “I think you’re a 0.”
Jiang Chaochao was speechless again: “Are you being polite?”
Xu Hengzhi laughed: “Hahahaha, what’s wrong with being a 0?”
Jiang Chaochao: “…Nothing wrong,” he asked, “Why do you think I’m a 0?”
“Yeah, why is that?” Xu Hengzhi repeated Jiang Chaochao’s words and thought for a moment. “You seem pretty straight.”
Jiang Chaochao repeated: “Yeah, why is that?”
Xu Hengzhi was silent for a moment: “I don’t know, just a feeling.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Heh.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Just that ‘heh’ of yours, sounds very 0.”
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
Jiang Chaochao was directly amused: “Should I say you understand or you don’t?”
Xu Hengzhi: “Don’t underestimate me, I understand a lot now.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” then Jiang Chaochao asked, “What else do you understand?”
Xu Hengzhi became interested: “I also understand how you guys… in bed…”
Sensing impending disaster, Jiang Chaochao quickly interrupted: “Okay, okay,” Jiang Chaochao was speechless, “You’re scary.”
Xu Hengzhi still felt a bit embarrassed: “You asked.”
Jiang Chaochao put a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture, ending the topic.
Since they were already there, with such a beautiful view, Xu Hengzhi excitedly had Jiang Chaochao go over and, full of confidence, took many pictures of him.
Xu Hengzhi’s photography skills, honed by his ex-girlfriend, were quite impressive.
Capturing the last rays of the setting sun, Xu Hengzhi took a few pictures that both of them were quite satisfied with, and then they left the railing.
Originally, Xu Hengzhi planned to take Jiang Chaochao to explore the next area, but guess what? The female executive he had mentioned was standing right at the entrance.
Xu Hengzhi was so startled he jumped, pulling Jiang Chaochao and running away.
Back in the banquet hall, with the cool air blowing, Jiang Chaochao chuckled helplessly: “Very comical, Xu Hengzhi.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Not comical, not comical, you’re still handsome.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Is that what I’m talking about?”
Xu Hengzhi: “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Jiang Chaochao was about to say something else when Xu Hengzhi suddenly exclaimed: “Xiang Ye!”
Jiang Chaochao instantly choked.
Xu Hengzhi was clearly looking in a certain direction, but Jiang Chaochao didn’t look.
“Come on, let’s go say hi.” Xu Hengzhi said again.
Jiang Chaochao’s pupils dilated, looking at Xu Hengzhi in surprise.
Xu Hengzhi’s expression was unclear, somewhere between amusement and seriousness. He grabbed Jiang Chaochao’s arm and tugged him in that direction.
Jiang Chaochao only resisted twice before being dragged away.
“Are you serious?” Jiang Chaochao asked.
“I’m serious.” Xu Hengzhi replied.
Only then did Jiang Chaochao look in that direction.
Xiang Ye was chatting with someone else over there.
Seeing that there were only two people, Jiang Chaochao hesitated again.
But it was no use, he was still pulled over by Xu Hengzhi. Plus, the two ahead were not far away, and almost in the next second, he and Xiang Ye were face to face.
“Mr. Xiang, Mr. Chen.”
Xu Hengzhi extended his right hand. After shaking hands with both of them, Xu Hengzhi turned slightly and said to Mr. Chen: “I’ve been waiting for you for a while.”
Mr. Chen smiled: “I was just looking for you too.”
After this exchange, Xu Hengzhi briefly glanced at Jiang Chaochao.
Outsiders might not have noticed or understood, but how could Jiang Chaochao not get it? Xu Hengzhi was saying, I’m here on business!
Jiang Chaochao was speechless; he felt like he’d been played.
Indeed, it was business. The conversation Xu Hengzhi had with Mr. Chen was no less complex than the one he’d had with his boss.
Similarly, Jiang Chaochao stood silently beside them, just as before.
The difference was that this time, there was one more person standing silently beside him.
What was his name again?
Oh, Xiang Ye.
Hmm.
Clip his nails when he gets home tonight, they’re a bit long.
Is the air conditioning vent nearby? It’s blowing his hair around, his neck is itchy.
The carpet is quite soft.
The cake looks kind of delicious.
Forget it, a bit too rich, he just ate a cream puff.
Xiang Ye seems to be listening.
Then he’ll listen too.
Okay, he can’t understand.
But soon, he and Xiang Ye weren’t on the same front anymore. Someone came to find Xiang Ye.
It seemed to have been like this all night, people constantly coming to find Xiang Ye.
Now, only Jiang Chaochao was left alone.
Just standing there was too awkward, so he unconsciously touched the brooch pinned to his clothes.
This touch wouldn’t have mattered, but it fell off.
Maybe it wasn’t fastened properly, or maybe the clasp at the back was broken. In any case, the brooch and its back clasp, these two classmates, one after the other, first plummeted towards the floor, then rolled a few times due to some elasticity.
Jiang Chaochao was somewhat unresponsive at the moment. By the time he reacted and went to pick it up, a pair of hands had already reached his brooch before him.
Xiang Ye, who had been exchanging pleasantries over there, had walked over at some point. He picked up the brooch, then the clasp, then took a small step, standing in front of Jiang Chaochao.
Regarding Xiang Ye’s height, Jiang Chaochao now had a concrete understanding.
And perhaps, Jiang Chaochao secretly gulped.
“Little duck.”
Xiang Ye placed the two items in his palm and extended them towards Jiang Chaochao.
Jiang Chaochao first gave a dull “mm-hmm” before reaching down to take the little duck and the clasp.
“Thank you.” Jiang Chaochao said.
After speaking, he lowered his head. But without a mirror and unable to lift his clothes, trying to pin the brooch on his chest was…
A bit difficult.
Xiang Ye seemed to understand Jiang Chaochao’s difficulty. In Jiang Chaochao’s peripheral vision, Xiang Ye moved closer…
“Hey, your brooch dropped.”
Jiang Chaochao’s peripheral vision was suddenly blocked. Xu Hengzhi made a dazzling entrance: “Let me help you.”
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
Xu Hengzhi snatched the little duck from Jiang Chaochao’s hand and fastened it in a few swift movements.
“There,” Xu Hengzhi smoothed Jiang Chaochao’s clothes. “This duck is pretty cute.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled: “Heh.”
No wonder Xu Hengzhi suddenly appeared, he had finished talking to Mr. Chen.
And once they finished, Mr. Chen and Mr. Xiang nodded and smiled at them, then left.
Great.
Hahaha.
Xu Hengzhi and Jiang Chaochao also left that spot.
On the way, Xu Hengzhi asked Jiang Chaochao: “Want something to drink?”
Jiang Chaochao: “No, thanks.”
Xu Hengzhi asked again: “Want some fries?”
Jiang Chaochao: “No.”
Xu Hengzhi: “How about some cake?”
Jiang Chaochao: “No.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Then…”
Jiang Chaochao: “No, no, NO!”
Xu Hengzhi paused: “What’s wrong? Did I offend you again?”
