Chapter 6 – Hot Coffee

Yu Zhen had never met someone in this manner before.

What he meant was, he had never willingly met someone like this out of his own desire—to date and fall in love.

Wang Baoshu was his love advisor, an overly competent one at that. Initially, he had introduced Yu Zhen to pretty junior girls, but after learning about his sexual orientation, those girls were replaced by tall, handsome men standing over six feet.

Wang Baoshu was eager to set him up, though his motives were unclear. One thing he did right was never wasting Yu Zhen’s time with subpar candidates. Knowing Yu Zhen had tasted the finest, the matches Wang Baoshu arranged could at least be considered decent.

Qin Bei and Wang Baoshu had never met in person, only exchanging a few messages about Yu Zhen on WeChat. Qin Bei knew he wasn’t the first choice—the original candidate had gotten married, leaving this opportunity to him.

At first, Qin Bei didn’t want to go, feeling like a backup option. But the moment he saw the photo sent to him, all his reservations vanished.

Wang Baoshu had mentioned that the soldier originally meant for Yu Zhen had been very satisfied, but Yu Zhen was too busy selecting samples at the time and declined the meeting. Otherwise, such a beauty would never have fallen into Qin Bei’s lap. What man isn’t drawn to beauty? The moment Qin Bei laid eyes on Yu Zhen, he knew Wang Baoshu hadn’t exaggerated.

Cameras often dull one’s looks. After seeing Yu Zhen’s photo from Wang Baoshu, Qin Bei had been intrigued enough to come. But seeing him in person left Qin Bei breathless. He wasn’t well-read, lacking the poetic words to describe the man before him—only one phrase came to mind: this was a peerless treasure.

His beauty was beyond imagination.

“Are you unhappy with me?” Qin Bei took a sip of coffee. The hand-ground brew was rich and aromatic, with a hint of bitterness. He didn’t drink much.

When Wang Baoshu had tried to set Yu Zhen up with the soldier, he had pushed hard—like an anxious eunuch worrying over an indifferent emperor. Yu Zhen hadn’t taken the offer, and Wang Baoshu always lamented the missed opportunity.

Fortunately, Qin Bei was a rugged man himself—dressed boldly, his abs faintly visible, arms thick as clubs, exuding raw masculinity. His hormone-charged physique lived up to Wang Baoshu’s enthusiasm.

Women care about their partner’s physique, and so do gay men. A body like Qin Bei’s stood out anywhere. Discipline is far harder than indulgence, and men’s inherent pride often makes them less self-disciplined than women.

In society, Qin Bei’s build was highly sought after—plenty would throw themselves at him just for that. But Yu Zhen was different. He had seen more than his fair share of perfect bodies in his life.

Qin Bei’s looks had merely passed Yu Zhen’s standards. Other aspects would require further exploration, so Yu Zhen remained calm and rational. Yet this rationality came across as deliberate indifference to the other man.

“No, why would you think that?” Yu Zhen sat across from him, meeting his gaze openly.

Qin Bei replied, “Just a feeling.”

Yu Zhen was quite narcissistic by nature. From a young age, he reveled in the admiring gazes of others, inevitably developing a self-admiring mindset. Ever since gaining self-awareness, he knew his looks placed him above ordinary people. Being pushed onto stages by his parents, receiving praise from teachers, and enduring the jealousy of peers—all these made the young Yu keenly aware of his popularity and extraordinary attractiveness.

His sense of superiority had caused him plenty of trouble in the past, making enemies and creating embarrassing situations. Now more mature, he’d learned restraint, though his childhood perceptions remained unchanged—it had always been him rejecting others, with no one ever finding fault in his appearance, which spoke volumes.

Yu no longer took pride in his looks outwardly; he’d learned humility. He understood why the other man had such doubts—probably because his previous partners had been more enthusiastic. Good looks and a great figure were indeed trump cards one could play with flair.

“Then Mr. Qin’s sixth sense isn’t entirely accurate,” Yu said leisurely. “I have no dissatisfaction with you whatsoever. Mr. Qin’s physique is exactly what I’m looking for. I’m not sure what Baoshu told you, but my profession makes me very particular about others’ figures. By my standards, Mr. Qin passes with flying colors.”

“Is that so?” Qin Bei ran his fingers along his cup. “That’s my honor. But I wasn’t your first choice initially. Being the backup… wouldn’t that disappoint you?”

Damn it, had Wang Baoshu revealed even that?

Yu handled it smoothly: “First choice or backup—that’s just how matchmakers categorize things. Mr. Qin and I had never met before, same with that soldier brother. To me, there was no priority between you two. If the matchmaker labeled you as number two, would Mr. Qin really hold it against me? Perhaps by my satisfaction standards, you were number one all along?”

He had quite the silver tongue.

Qin Bei had assumed this was just a pretty vase, never expecting such sharp wit that left him without a counterargument.

Having nothing more to say, Qin nodded. “Fair point.”

The meeting progressed smoothly overall. Yu believed in taking things step by step—the worst scenario would be failing the first impression test, which would ruin any chance of patient interaction. Fortunately, they had no such issue.

“The matchmaker mentioned you’re a model?” Qin asked. “The runway kind?”

“That was before,” Yu relaxed, glancing outside where the sunlight looked perfect for basking. “Now I’m a commercial model. Do you understand what that means, Mr. Qin?”

“Not really.” Isn’t it the same?

“I take photos showcasing clothing for brands,” Yu explained patiently. “Have you shopped online, Mr. Qin? When browsing clothes, there are display images—that’s what I shoot for merchants.”

“How’s the income?”

Yu swirled his cup. “Depends on assignments. Gets me by.”

Unfamiliar with the industry but aware discussing money too soon was impolite, Qin quickly changed subjects: “I noticed you drove here. Do you live alone currently?”

Yu looked toward where his car was parked nearby. “Yes, I’ve lived here three years now. Always alone.”

“You’re so good-looking, it doesn’t make sense,” Qin Bei said with utter confusion. “Even if you’re gay… you should be highly sought after, right?”

The implication was clear—he suspected Yu Zhen had questionable behavior.

It wasn’t that Qin Bei was being petty. With Yu Zhen’s exceptional looks, being single for so long had to mean something was off. This wasn’t just ordinary attractiveness—it was celebrity-level. Since they’d sat down, countless people had already passed by their table.

This was the best-looking person Qin Bei had ever been set up with.

Yu Zhen understood the skepticism and concerns behind the other’s questions. Since he had taken the initiative, he needed to show sincerity. “To be honest with you, Mr. Qin, I simply don’t have the energy. I’m too busy making money to date.”

Qin Bei didn’t buy it.

And he made that disbelief clear on his face.

Yu Zhen let him doubt, continuing calmly, “My family background is decent, but some changes happened in recent years. Now that I’m at an age where I can earn, I naturally have to help out. Modeling is a short-lived career—you make the most while you’re young.”

Unlike technical jobs, modeling had strict age requirements. No matter how good your runway walk was, once youth faded, the stage would no longer be yours.

Qin Bei had no prior exposure to this industry. The first part sounded evasive, but this explanation cleared his doubts. “That’s true. Many can’t even make the most of their prime years—they barely get started before it’s over. Once you’re past that age, the opportunity’s gone.”

Yu Zhen had heard this often. Since childhood, people told him he’d hit the jackpot with his looks—boundless prospects ahead. If not for his own impulsive nature in his youth, he might have lived up to those expectations.

“What do you usually enjoy doing, Mr. Qin?” Yu Zhen asked instead, the hot coffee in his hand untouched.

“Drop the ‘Mr.’—it’s too formal. Just call me Qin Bei,” he replied after a moment’s thought. “I like lively activities. After training clients or guests, I often grab drinks or play cards with friends. Sometimes I go hiking or traveling—I’m really into extreme sports. Does that bother you?”

“Not at all,” Yu Zhen said. “But I’m too timid to try those things myself.”

“The first step is always the hardest. It’s not as scary as you think—it’s actually thrilling,” Qin Bei leaned back in his chair. “I could take you sometime if you’d like.”

Yu Zhen’s every word and gesture exuded calm and approachability. “That sounds nice. I’ve wanted to explore more, just never had the right company. I’d appreciate it.”

“My pleasure,” Qin Bei said, eyes burning as he stared at the face across from him before lifting his coffee cup.

Yu Zhen smiled.

People with striking looks could make even a smile seem like seduction.

Qin Bei studied those eyes—phoenix eyes were already alluring by nature, but with double eyelids, they shimmered with even more charm. For some reason, it reminded him of an elegant Ragdoll cat.

With the initial meeting going smoothly and basic details covered, Qin Bei shifted topics. “Earlier, you mentioned doing online photoshoots for others—is that correct?”

Yu Zhen nodded.

“Do you shoot men’s fashion?” Qin Bei asked.

Yu Zhen corrected him, “I don’t shoot men’s clothing.”

Qin Bei frowned. “Then what do you shoot?”

“I don’t take many men’s clothing collaborations—most of my work is in women’s fashion.” Before the other could ask, Yu Zhen explained, “Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I have any particular preference, but my figure is more suited for women’s wear. As you can see, I’m quite slender.”

Compared to male models, he was indeed on the thinner side.

Dressed neatly in long sleeves and an outer coat, Yu Zhen had narrow shoulders and a slim waist. The male pelvic structure was naturally smaller than a woman’s, so women’s clothing didn’t look out of place on him.

Though it all seemed reasonable, Qin Bei still found it hard to grasp. “I still don’t quite understand. You’re still a man, after all. Wearing women’s clothes… don’t the clients have any objections?”

He phrased it carefully.

Yu Zhen was completely unfazed, unbothered by the question. “I have a social media account—no face shown—specifically for collaborations. I never specified my gender.”

Qin Bei understood now.

He had played a little trick, though it was harmless enough. What did it matter, man or woman? He was modeling for online photos, not runway shows. The images could be edited, and as long as the final product looked good, clients wouldn’t care.

“Does no one know?”

“Not exactly,” Yu Zhen said. “I don’t hide it. If someone asks, I’ll tell them. If they don’t, I won’t bring it up. Some clients still work with me even after finding out I’m a man because my rates are lower than female models’.”

Quite the businessman.

Qin Bei’s impression of him shot up with such honesty. What harm was a little white lie to make money? It wasn’t like they were the only ones getting squeezed by the industry.

“Still hard to picture you in women’s clothes,” Qin Bei admitted, his mind already wandering.

“Does it bother you, Mr. Qin?” Yu Zhen was straightforward. If it was an issue, they could stop here—better to cut losses early than let tensions build.

Qin Bei shook his head. “Not at all. I respect your profession.”

“Thank you,” Yu Zhen said.

After a pause, Qin Bei noticed no discomfort in the other’s eyes—if anything, the fire in them burned brighter.

“May I ask… what kind of women’s clothing do you model?” Qin Bei braced himself for evasion or a vague answer.

But there was none.

Yu Zhen traced the handle of his cup, his nails clean and recently trimmed. “Right now, I’m working with qipao.”

His eyes were alluring, lips tempting.

With an innocent voice and delicate, pretty features, the way he lowered his gaze carried a charm that blurred gender lines. “Though the client’s being a bit of a bully. The sample they sent has a slit up to the waistline. It wasn’t easy finishing that shoot.”

A fire kindled in Qin Bei’s chest, rising to his eyes.

Yu Zhen added fuel to the flames. “The dress was so tight—without someone else’s help… it was a struggle just to take it off.”

The tighter the clothes, the more they clung to the body.

Qin Bei could already picture it.

How could he possibly mind?

If anything, the thought of a beautiful man in beautiful women’s clothing was… stirring.