Chapter 6

That one whisper from Chen Ang was enough to make Xu Heng instantly snap back into a serious work mode. He focused hard, brushing on a light layer of makeup with great care. Not that there was much to touch up. Chen Ang had a sharp, structured face. With a bit of base and some minor contouring, he already looked clean and energetic, his masculine features softened by just the right touch of elegance. What Xu Heng envied most were his double eyelids. His own were droopy and slightly hooded, making him look either half-asleep or constantly depressed if he wasn’t careful.

Xu Heng stayed focused on his work, but Chen Ang’s thoughts had already wandered.

Xu Heng’s face was so close. The mask hung below his chin, making his face look even smaller. He was concentrating so hard his brows were slightly furrowed. His lips looked like they had something on them, maybe a bit of gloss, pink and moist. They were parted just enough to glimpse a neat row of teeth and the tip of his tongue.

Chen Ang’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Hey, don’t blink so much. I’ll jab your eye with the brush,” Xu Heng scolded.

Chen Ang adjusted his posture.

The makeup didn’t take long. Xu Heng wrapped it up quickly. Before Chen Ang could say a word, someone rushed in to drag him off. The whole place was buzzing with activity. Chen Ang had been assigned to organize and coordinate everything. His position wasn’t high, so he had to walk a fine line. If he wasn’t careful, it’d look like he was overstepping. The morning flew by in a blur.

Xu Heng was huddled with the studio girls, all crowded around someone’s phone trying to decide what to order for lunch.

“This one. I want steamed rice cakes. Two of each—red bean, pineapple, and water chestnut.”

He pointed excitedly at the screen, voice low but thrilled. Ever since his last batch of steamed cakes had been stomped flat by Chen Ang, he hadn’t gotten a chance to eat them again. He had been craving them for days. Finally, the chance had come, and he was over the moon.

So when Chen Ang sat with his coworkers on the other side, quietly eating from his boxed lunch, Xu Heng was on the other end happily devouring his long-awaited rice cakes.

Xu Heng ate like a little cat, opening his mouth and poking at the treat with his tongue first before taking a big bite. His cheeks puffed out adorably, eyes squinting like he’d just tasted something divine. Chen Ang found himself glancing up at him again and again. In comparison, the ginger scallion chicken in his lunch box tasted like cardboard. He poked at it for a while and barely ate half.

By the time he looked up again, he was the only one still sitting there. Everyone else had already rushed off to their break.

Xu Heng slurped up a big mouthful of pearl milk tea, then looked up right into Chen Ang’s eyes.

Awkward for a split second. Xu Heng glanced down at the last remaining piece of red bean rice cake, his favorite. After a short hesitation, he asked politely.

“Want a piece?”

He expected Chen Ang to draw a line between them, like always, especially with the others gone. But to his surprise, Chen Ang didn’t hesitate at all.

“Sure.”

Xu Heng hesitated a bit, then poked at the smaller piece and offered it to him.

Because of how he was raised, Chen Ang never ate snacks or drank sugary drinks growing up. Even as an adult, he didn’t have any interest in small local treats. The only reason he wanted a bite just now was because Xu Heng looked so damn good while eating. Who would’ve guessed it’d actually taste amazing?

The rice cake was cool and silky, filled with soft red bean paste that was sweet but not cloying. After a few chews and a swallow, he was already craving another bite.

Xu Heng hurriedly stuffed the last piece into his mouth and mumbled through full cheeks.

“That was the last one…”

Chen Ang covered his lunchbox and lowered his head just enough to hide the smile tugging at his lips. Then he stood up to throw the trash away.

“Hey, Xiao Heng, do you know that guy?”

Before he could leave, one of Xu Heng’s coworkers from the studio came over, voice low and dripping with gossip. Xu Heng tensed, sneaking a glance at Chen Ang. The man didn’t look back, carrying the lunchbox like nothing was happening, but his ears were clearly tuned in.

Chen Ang had returned from studying abroad and followed his family’s plans, taking a job within the system. He was bisexual, though he leaned toward men. His orientation had always been kept tightly sealed. Even when hooking up with past flings, he only used his English name, never gave out personal details, and always kept things clean and quiet to avoid unnecessary trouble.

“Nope, don’t know him,” Xu Heng replied innocently. Then quickly changed the subject. “What time are we starting this afternoon?”

Chen Ang walked off with long strides. He felt a small wave of relief… mixed with something sour.

The evening performance was a complete success. Xu Heng didn’t bother watching it from the audience. He stayed curled up on the makeup room’s couch, scrolling through his phone while listening to the muffled sounds outside—cheers, applause, loud music, and all that positivity. He even caught part of Chen Ang’s speech when he went on stage to accept an award. Thanking the leadership, the team, vowing his dedication to endless work with the limited time of his life.

So professional, so sincere, so full of patriotic spirit. You’d never think this was the same man who had once knelt naked on Xu Heng’s floor with a condom in his teeth.

The thought made Xu Heng itch all over. He pictured that formal suit hugging Chen Ang’s body, and his imagination ran wild. Suits on knees. Yeah. If he shook his head hard enough, he’d probably fling ten pounds of dirty thoughts out.

But that’s all it was. Just thoughts. Chen Ang was the type you sleep with once and leave behind.

The night went on. Xu Heng stayed on standby for makeup touch-ups. He had been on his feet all day. Once the event ended, he cleaned up his station properly, packed his case, and skipped out of the venue like he had just won the lottery.

He walked a short way to the intersection, flagged down a cab, and climbed into the back seat. Just as he was about to close the door, someone slipped in right behind him.

Xu Heng’s eyes widened. He couldn’t even get a word out.

The driver asked, “You two heading out or not?”

Chen Ang slid his index finger under the knot of his tie and tugged it loose, popping the collar button open.

“Drive.”