Chapter 32
There was another reason why Jiang Chaochao and Zhang Xinping hit it off. Zhang Xinping’s sexual orientation was the same as his. Of course, they were both bottoms.
Zhang Xinping was also very good at hiding his true self. If Jiang Chaochao hadn’t accidentally heard a voice message from a man on Zhang Xinping’s phone saying, “Baby, I miss you so much,” they might still not know each other’s true colors.
Having a shared orientation easily brought them closer, not to mention their shared hobby of admiring handsome men.
Since meeting Zhang Xinping, they practically knew all the famous handsome guys in W Conservatory. Moreover, Zhang Xinping was friends with 80% of them. During their student years, whenever a handsome guy posted pictures on Moments, the first thing Zhang Xinping would do was send them to Jiang Chaochao.
So after the conversation between Lin Qixing and Jiang Chaochao ended, before Jiang Chaochao could do anything, Zhang Xinping took out his phone.
“Hello, I’m with Chaochao,” Zhang Xinping said while opening his QR code. “We’re from the same studio. You can contact me too if you need anything.”
Yes, he was such a socially adept person. They had decided to start a studio together because they complemented each other. To use Zhang Xinping’s crude words, Jiang Chaochao handled the internal affairs, and Zhang Xinping handled the external affairs.
Zhang Xinping smiled brightly at Lin Qixing. Lin Qixing naturally had no reason to refuse, so he scanned Zhang Xinping’s QR code first, then looked at Jiang Chaochao.
Seeing Lin Qixing offer his QR code, Jiang Chaochao also scanned it.
After adding each other, Lin Qixing didn’t stay long before someone called him away.
After he left, Zhang Xinping, while changing Lin Qixing’s contact name, said to Jiang Chaochao with a mischievous smile, “A romantic encounter, Chaochao.”
Jiang Chaochao said speechlessly, “Romantic encounter my ass.”
Zhang Xinping continued tapping on his phone: “Let me check out his Moments.”
After he said this, a head suddenly popped in between them.
Zhang Xinping turned to look at this friend of Jiang Chaochao’s friend: “You want to see too?”
The friend nodded: “Can I?”
Zhang Xinping tilted his phone: “Of course.”
So the two started looking.
Jiang Chaochao felt this scene was a bit strange. These two clearly didn’t know each other, right?
Moreover, they even started chatting.
“Wow, isn’t this the picture from the performance just now? So well-taken, so handsome.”
“It’s alright, just the atmosphere, the lighting was good.”
“Is this a picture from the hotel? He’s so tall.”
“Really knows how to pose.”
“Fell asleep in the car, such a perfect profile.”
“Really asleep or pretending to be asleep? Who smiles while sleeping?”
“So elegant.”
“Just average.”
Zhang Xinping lowered his phone slightly and turned to look at Zhou Qi in confusion.
Zhou Qi also realized what he had just said, and gave an awkward laugh, then nodded and said, “He is quite handsome.”
Zhou Qi didn’t stay long either. He added Jiang Chaochao and Zhang Xinping on WeChat and then left to attend to his own matters.
After he was gone, Zhang Xinping leaned closer to Jiang Chaochao curiously and asked, “What’s up with your friend?”
Jiang Chaochao: “What do you mean ‘what’s up?’”
Zhang Xinping said: “What’s his relationship with Lin Qixing?”
Jiang Chaochao: “They’re probably not related.”
Zhang Xinping: “Then why was he so hostile?”
Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment, then asked: “Why do you say that?”
Zhang Xinping: “Didn’t you hear? He sounded very displeased with Lin Qixing.”
Jiang Chaochao also felt that way, so he also asked, “Why?”
Zhang Xinping found it funny: “Asking me? He’s your friend, my friend.”
Jiang Chaochao shook his head: “I don’t know, I just met him today.”
Zhang Xinping gave an “ah,” as if thinking of something, then he chuckled and said, “Could he also like you?”
Jiang Chaochao was utterly speechless: “No way.”
The time at the exchange event passed quickly. With Zhang Xinping’s help, Jiang Chaochao felt much more relaxed.
Zhang Xinping was also very good with children. He performed magic tricks he learned from who-knows-where, captivating both the children and their parents.
Of course, he couldn’t escape the parents asking if he was single and offering to introduce him to eligible young women, the same ones they had offered to introduce to Jiang Chaochao earlier.
He wouldn’t elaborate on this seemingly KPI-driven phenomenon.
After three days, Jiang Chaochao was exhausted. Although the children were obedient, they were still elementary school students, it was hard for them to control their energetic nature.
So, returning from the music museum, Jiang Chaochao almost collapsed onto the sofa.
“They’re so lively, their voices are still ringing in my ears.”
“Laoshi, what instrument is this?”
“Laoshi, can you play this?”
Jiang Chaochao was currently sitting in the hotel lobby. The children had gone to the restroom with their parents and Zhang Xinping.
Today’s itinerary was over. They had an afternoon train, they would have lunch together later, then return to A City.
After sending these three messages to Xiang Ye, Jiang Chaochao locked his phone and leaned back, closing his eyes.
Seemingly resting, but he couldn’t truly relax. On one hand, he was thinking about the children who would be back soon, and on the other hand…
He thought of Xiang Ye again.
But this time, it was different from the previous two days. He felt that Xiang Ye had been acting a bit strange these past two days.
Since returning to the hotel yesterday, Xiang Ye seemed to have become more talkative, asking him what he had for dinner, if he had any plans for the evening, what he planned to do today, who he was going to the music museum with, saying he had never been to a music museum before, could Jiang laoshi also explain things to him?
Could Jiang laoshi also explain things to him?
Jiang Chaochao could almost hear Xiang Ye’s voice, a soft, low, unique coquettish tone that belonged to Xiang Ye.
So this morning at the museum, while explaining to the children “This instrument is…”, Jiang Chaochao also secretly recorded voice messages for Xiang Ye.
Since Xiang Ye wasn’t a music major, Jiang Chaochao thought he would lose interest after hearing about three or four instruments. But unexpectedly, he remained engaged, even asking questions that Jiang Chaochao had to look up.
How should he put it? Although it was a bit embarrassing and shameless, the only word Jiang Chaochao could think of at this moment was…
Clingy.
“Smiling about something?”
The sofa sank slightly, Jiang Chaochao opened his eyes and saw Zhang Xinping sitting beside him.
He was alone. Jiang Chaochao glanced towards the restrooms, “Where are they?”
Zhang Xinping said, “Teacher Zhao said she bought some cake and asked if they wanted any, so they all ran over.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled helplessly, “Okay.”
Zhang Xinping: “Kids.”
“You, on the other hand…” Zhang Xinping suddenly said.
Jiang Chaochao: “What’s wrong with me?”
Zhang Xinping: “Are you in love?”
Jiang Chaochao paused for half a second, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “No.”
Zhang Xinping was just asking casually, but Jiang Chaochao, you, “You’re acting strange.”
You’re acting strange.
Xu Hengzhi had also said this to Jiang Chaochao.
Jiang Chaochao slowly sat up: “Am I acting strange? I don’t think so.”
Zhang Xinping laughed, narrowing his eyes: “Really not dating anyone?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Really not.”
Zhang Xinping: “Then there’s something going on?”
Jiang Chaochao choked.
Zhang Xinping’s eyes narrowed even more, and he tilted his head, pointing at Jiang Chaochao.
Before Jiang Chaochao could figure out what to say, a burst of laughter suddenly came from the lobby.
They both looked over.
“Isn’t that your friend?” Zhang Xinping said.
Yes, the person laughing was Zhou Qi, whom he had just met yesterday.
He was laughing at the hotel entrance. He probably lost control for a moment, because halfway through laughing, he abruptly stopped and covered his mouth.
So Jiang Chaochao and Zhang Xinping, once again in sync, turned their heads and looked in the direction Zhou Qi was looking.
At the hotel entrance, the automatic doors slowly opened, and someone walked in.
“Holy shit.”
Zhang Xinping whispered.
“Huh?”
Jiang Chaochao exclaimed inwardly.
It was none other than…
“A handsome guy,” Zhang Xinping couldn’t help but tug on Jiang Chaochao’s sleeve.
Jiang Chaochao was still in shock. He seemed to only register a quarter of Zhang Xinping’s words, so he could only subconsciously agree, “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”
It was Xiang Ye.
Xiang? Ye?
Wait.
That wasn’t right.
Jiang Chaochao picked up his phone.
Zhang Xinping continued chattering beside him, “The handsome guy even has flowers, who are they for? Could they be for your friend?”
Jiang Chaochao opened his chat with Xiang Ye and saw that he had sent a message three minutes ago.
XY: “Are you in your hotel room?”
Zhang Xinping was still talking, “Oh, they’re not for Zhou Qi.”
Still talking, “Could they be for a relative of one of the contestants?”
Still talking, “Why is he only here now? The competition is already over.”
Still talking, “No wonder Zhou Qi looked down on Lin Qixing.”
Still talking, “This guy is much more handsome than Lin Qixing.”
Still talking, “Is Zhou Qi laughing at this handsome guy? What’s he laughing about? I want to hear, hey, where are you going?”
Jiang Chaochao told Zhang Xinping to “wait for me” and stood up.
The seating area they were in was in the corner of the hotel lobby, so it was normal not to see someone coming out of the elevators, and also normal not to see someone entering from the hotel entrance.
Not to mention, Jiang Chaochao deliberately took a detour when leaving the seating area.
A detour to a place where Zhou Qi could see him, but Xiang Ye couldn’t.
The moment his eyes met Zhou Qi’s, Jiang Chaochao quickly put his index finger to his lips, silently telling him, shhh.
Zhou Qi played along and pretended not to see him, continuing to talk to Xiang Ye.
As he got closer, Jiang Chaochao could finally hear what they were talking about.
“So insecure, gege?” Zhou Qi said, then patted Xiang Ye on the shoulder meaningfully.
Xiang Ye didn’t reply, perhaps showing some kind of expression, but Jiang Chaochao couldn’t see it.
Zhou Qi asked again, “Who are the flowers for?”
This time Xiang Ye replied: “Definitely not for you.”
Zhou Qi was even happier being teased, “I know they’re not for me.”
Xiang Ye: “I’ll talk to you later.”
After saying this, Xiang Ye started walking.
Just as he was about to walk past Zhou Qi, Jiang Chaochao took a step forward, stood behind Xiang Ye, and grabbed the hem of his shirt.
Xiang Ye’s expression showed a flash of wariness when he turned around, but it quickly disappeared. After their eyes met, Jiang Chaochao saw his eyes soften.
Xiang Ye didn’t speak, just tilted his head, looking at Jiang Chaochao and smiling.
Jiang Chaochao naturally smiled too, who could resist?
“Why are you here?” Jiang Chaochao let go of Xiang Ye’s shirt.
Xiang Ye bent his finger and tapped Jiang Chaochao on the head, seemingly a small punishment for his subtle appearance behind him.
Then he said: “I don’t know, I don’t know who I’m here for.”
Jiang Chaochao glanced at the flowers, then at Xiang Ye, a smile playing on his lips, “Who are you here for if you don’t know who you’re here for?”
Xiang Ye’s response was to offer the flowers to Jiang Chaochao.
Although Jiang Chaochao appeared calm, his invisible tail was already wagging excitedly.
He had already glimpsed the content of the bouquet earlier. In the center were bright sunflowers, surrounded by small orange and white roses, and some other small flowers and green leaves as accents.
The bouquet was just the right size, perfect for those who had performances these past two days.
But Jiang Chaochao didn’t have a performance.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Jiang Chaochao didn’t even realize his tone was unusual, “Why would I receive flowers?”
Xiang Ye said, “Do I need a reason?”
Jiang Chaochao tilted his head slightly, “What if I insist on hearing one?”
“Then…” Xiang Ye deliberately drew out his words, “For Jiang laoshi, who’s worked hard for three days.”
Jiang Chaochao lowered his voice slightly, “Fine then.”
Xiang Ye smiled, “Not satisfied with this answer?”
Jiang Chaochao raised the flowers, touching and smelling them, “Am I? No. Thank you for the flowers, I’m super happy.”
Xiang Ye was amused by Jiang Chaochao: “Happy to see me?”
It was a bit sudden. Jiang Chaochao, caught off guard, casually said, “I guess.”
Xiang Ye immediately followed up, “I’m very happy.”
Jiang Chaochao’s heart skipped a beat, and for the sake of the beautiful flowers, “Then, fine, is it too late to change my answer?”
Jiang Chaochao didn’t realize how flirtatious his tone was.
The corners of Xiang Ye’s eyes crinkled instantly: “It’s not too late.”
Not only was it not too late, he even looked like he was listening intently.
Jiang Chaochao originally planned to just casually say he was happy too, but seeing Xiang Ye like this, he finally composed himself, hugged the flowers tighter, and said seriously, “I’m very happy too.”
Xiang Ye’s smile deepened, his eyes and the corners of his mouth expressing how much he liked Jiang Chaochao’s answer.
Open and honest, clear and bright.
It seemed like someone’s heart was being captured.
