Chapter 37

The next day was the weekend. Zheng Jie was still asleep while Lin Ze took his resume and called friends one by one, asking if there were any suitable job openings for Zheng Jie. Almost everyone said they’d look into it, so Lin Ze hung up and double-checked Zheng Jie’s resume.

Zheng Jie was actually quite impressive. Though he only had an undergraduate degree, his work experience was solid—he had been the assistant manager of a high-end brand store. The store manager rarely handled day-to-day operations, so whenever the distributor opened a new branch in a less popular location, they’d send Zheng Jie there. He’d work tirelessly with the staff, playing the bad cop to boost sales. Just as he managed to turn the store’s performance around, he’d be transferred somewhere else.

From Shapingba to Nanping, then from Nanping to Yubei, and back to Nanping—each time, he worked overtime day and night for meager pay. Lin Ze had once asked Zheng Jie what his dream was, what made him happy. Zheng Jie’s answer? Selling things.

He genuinely enjoyed selling products to customers.

Well… that was one way to find happiness. Lin Ze helped Zheng Jie submit his resume to a few big companies and decided to wait for responses. Unexpectedly, Li Yanru called first, asking if she could help Zheng Jie find a job.

Lin Ze politely declined, saying they’d wait a bit longer and wouldn’t hesitate to ask for help if needed. He could tell Li Yanru had more to say—she must have heard about Situ Ye from Yang Zhiyuan. But Lin Ze simply told her everything was fine for now, that Situ Ye had gone home temporarily but would return.

These past few days, Lin Ze had wanted nothing more than to sleep endlessly, but Zheng Jie kept dragging him around, so he forced himself to stay alert. After breakfast, they went to look at apartments. Rongrong had recommended a riverside property in Nanping with an internal discount price of only 6,800 yuan per square meter. The shared area was minimal, almost negligible. More importantly, it was a move-in-ready unit with basic renovations and a great location.

Rongrong suggested tearing down and redoing the interior to their liking.

Lin Ze’s mind was filled with numbers: flooring, renovations—this would cost a fortune. Did Zheng Jie even have that much money? He couldn’t help but worry for Zheng Jie, wondering where all this money would come from.

But Zheng Jie was in high spirits, repeatedly saying, “No problem, no problem, as long as you like it.”

Standing in the showroom, Lin Ze felt a pang of envy. He truly wanted a place of his own. Though he had never been keen on buying property—after all, he couldn’t afford to pay in full, and a mortgage was a heavy burden. If the stress of unemployment was a 12, then mortgage stress was a 5. No matter how stable his job seemed, carrying a mortgage was exhausting.

Zheng Jie walked around a few times and said, “You could totally buy one too, you know.”

Lin Ze nodded, thinking of the 300,000 yuan Situ Ye had given him. It was enough for a down payment and renovations, and with his current financial situation, he could easily afford the monthly mortgage of over 2,000 yuan.

But what was the point of buying a new place? He’d still be living alone.

Buying a house and renovating it was a massive undertaking. As the saying goes: “A day of unrest for hosting guests, a year of unrest for building a house, a lifetime of unrest for taking a second wife.” Nowadays, renovations were as stressful as building a house from scratch. Zheng Jie still didn’t have a job, and his plan was to wait until the apartment was ready before working again.

Lin Ze immediately objected, “No, a long gap looks bad on your resume. Plus, once you stop working, it’s hard to get back into it.”

Zheng Jie countered, “Then what about the renovations? Rongrong said we have to supervise everything—hiring someone else won’t cut it.”

“We’ll take turns,” Lin Ze suggested. “I’ll help supervise after work, or you could ask your aunt and uncle to check in. Wouldn’t that work?”

Lin Ze almost said, “Let Situ Ye handle it.” The truth was, ever since meeting Situ Ye, all the errands—running around, buying movie tickets, groceries, carrying things, cleaning—had been delegated to him. Need a ride? He was on call. Need something done? Just ask Situ Ye. Now that they were apart, Lin Ze kept catching himself saying, “Let Situ handle it.”

Zheng Jie reluctantly agreed. Lin Ze knew he didn’t want to work—he was exhausted from his previous job—so he comforted him, “Find something low-key for now.”

Zheng Jie didn’t respond but asked instead, “When does this apartment’s contract end? Do we get the deposit back?”

Lin Ze’s heart skipped a beat. They were finally broaching this topic.

Lin Ze: “Listen, Zheng Jie.”

Zheng Jie: “A’Ze, let me speak first.”

Lin Ze: “No, I can’t possibly live in your marital home—”

Zheng Jie: “You have to, A’Ze—”

For once, Zheng Jie’s thick Sichuan accent disappeared as he spoke earnestly in standard Mandarin: “A’Ze.”

“You didn’t abandon me at my lowest. How could I ever abandon you?”

Lin Ze almost laughed at his sudden switch to proper Mandarin, the tension in his voice instantly dissolving. “Zheng Jie, it’s not like that. We’re not lovers…”

Zheng Jie: “But we’re family.”

Lin Ze got up to pour himself water. “No, no, absolutely not. This isn’t up for discussion. And you have to consider Rongrong’s feelings—”

Zheng Jie: “Rong. Rong. Said. It’s. Fine!” (In perfect Mandarin.)

Lin Ze paused mid-pour. “Oh? What did she say?”

Zheng Jie: “She said she’s willing to live with you until you’re ready to buy your own place or find someone you like. You can move out whenever.”

Lin Ze: “No, Zheng Jie. I want to live alone.”

Zheng Jie looked stunned. Lin Ze continued, “How about this: After the renovations, you move in, and I’ll stay here until the lease ends. We’ll figure things out then, okay?”

Zheng Jie frowned. “A’Ze…”

Lin Ze handed him a glass of water. “After you move out, I’ll post a roommate ad on a gay forum. Maybe I’ll meet someone.”

Zheng Jie fell silent. Lin Ze added, “If things don’t work out, I’ll move in with you. Deal?”

In the end, Zheng Jie relented with a nod. “Fine.”

Zheng Jie bought a 59-square-meter, two-bedroom apartment. After completing all the paperwork, he and Lin Ze went shopping for materials and contractors while Rongrong handled the design, even enlisting a senior from Sichuan Fine Arts Institute to help. After one trip to the renovation market, Lin Ze’s only thought was: Damn it, I’m never buying a house in this lifetime.

The 300,000 yuan was still untouched in Lin Ze’s account. He had no idea what to do with it and no desire to spend it—as if keeping it untouched would preserve his relationship with Situ Ye. Spending it would mean the relationship was truly over.

But he couldn’t return it either. It was money Situ Ye’s mother had left him to start a family and support a wife. The more Lin Ze thought about it, the more it hurt.

Later, when Lin Ze met Rongrong and mentioned it, she said, “If he gave it to you, it’s yours. If you never spend it, he wouldn’t be happy either.”

Lin Ze: “No, I can’t use this money.”

Rongrong: “But you can’t return it, right?”

Lin Ze sighed. “Forget it. We’ll talk later.”

They met at Zheng Jie’s aunt’s place for dinner. Zheng Jie would never bring his girlfriend home to his mother—if she found out he was buying an apartment and getting married in Chongqing, all hell would break loose! The only people who knew about the apartment were Lin Ze, his aunt, and Rongrong.

Both families needed to meet, and Zheng Jie’s only family in town was his aunt. Since the groom’s side was represented by his paternal aunt and the bride’s by her maternal uncle, his aunt doted on him. Before buying the apartment, Zheng Jie had taken her to see it, and she was very pleased, ready to accept her future niece-in-law. She invited Rongrong over for the weekend.

“Hey, A’Ze, don’t be too upset.” Rongrong patted Lin Ze’s shoulder. “When my last boyfriend went abroad, I felt the same way. But if you believe in love, things will get better. Stay positive.”

Lin Ze chuckled, amused that he was the one being comforted. Dressed in a suit while Rongrong wore a dress, they looked like a couple. Lin Ze asked, “Be honest—what do you like about my little Jiejie?”

Rongrong thought for a moment. “He’s a good person. He cares about me.”

Lin Ze: “How so?”

Rongrong: “There are too many little things. He’s a bit clumsy, but I know he really likes me. He thinks about me in everything—like today, for example.”

Lin Ze smiled. He hadn’t wanted to come along, since Zheng Jie’s aunt knew about his personal life, but Zheng Jie insisted. He didn’t want Rongrong to feel uncomfortable meeting his aunt alone, so Lin Ze had to act as a buffer.

Is this how you dote on your wife? Lin Ze had no idea where Zheng Jie got this mindset, but it had been a while since he’d visited, so he went along for the meal.

Both brought gifts. Zheng Jie arrived from home and said, “Let me smoke first, babe.”

Rongrong laughed helplessly. “Go ahead.”

Zheng Jie smoked nervously downstairs, then offered Lin Ze a cigarette. After a while, he turned to Rongrong. “Babe… sweetheart.”

Lin Ze: “…”

Rongrong stifled a laugh. Zheng Jie explained, “My aunt… she’s a bit strict, but she loves me a lot. She raised my dad, you know.”

Rongrong nodded repeatedly. “Mhm, mhm.”

Lin Ze couldn’t take it anymore. Holding his cigarette, he translated for Zheng Jie: “What he means is, he wants you to be understanding and make a good impression on his aunt. But he’s afraid saying that outright would sound disrespectful and make you mad. Also, even if his aunt doesn’t like you, he still really wants to marry you.”

Rongrong burst out laughing. Zheng Jie snapped, “You—!”

Lin Ze: “Isn’t that what you meant?”

Rongrong smiled. “I get it.”

Zheng Jie finished his cigarette, as if steeling himself for a life-changing decision. “Let’s go.”

That evening, they had dinner at Zheng Jie’s aunt’s place. She was in her fifties and, though usually strict with Zheng Jie, took an immediate liking to Rongrong. She lived with her husband, and her two daughters had married and moved away. Her husband came home at six after playing cards and was promptly scolded.

Zheng Jie’s aunt had never liked Lin Ze—mostly because she’d heard he was gay and worried he’d “corrupt” Zheng Jie. Zheng Jie fiercely defended his friend whenever his aunt brought it up, which only annoyed her further. She was afraid Zheng Jie would never find a girlfriend because of Lin Ze. Now that her nephew was finally getting married, he showed up with that gay guy again! She didn’t know what to say. Lin Ze kept quiet, greeting her before sitting down to watch TV.

Lin Ze’s brother was Zheng Jie’s brother, and Zheng Jie’s family was his family. Lin Ze often reminded Zheng Jie that since his aunt’s daughters weren’t around, he should visit her more. Zheng Jie occasionally took Lin Ze along for meals, but Lin Ze never received a warm welcome, so he stopped going.

While his aunt cooked, Rongrong insisted on helping despite her protests. The two chatted in the kitchen.

At dinner, Zheng Jie’s aunt asked Rongrong about her family and parents’ health. Lin Ze thought Zheng Jie was lucky—everything was going so smoothly.

After the meal, Lin Ze and Zheng Jie washed dishes in the kitchen while listening to the conversation outside. Lin Ze dried his hands, pulled out a small box, and called, “Brother.”

“Huh?” Zheng Jie hadn’t realized what was coming.

“The ring you looked at before.” Lin Ze handed him the box. “A little something from me.”

Zheng Jie: “!!!”

He opened the box to find a platinum ring. Lin Ze had seen it when they were out eating once. Zheng Jie, now unemployed, had hesitated to buy it and didn’t want to borrow money from Lin Ze, saying Rongrong would understand.

Touched by Rongrong’s willingness to live with him, Lin Ze had gone back and bought it. At just over three grams, it cost over 1,800 yuan with labor fees. Lin Ze couldn’t afford a diamond ring worth thousands, but a platinum engagement ring would do for now. The wedding band would have to be Zheng Jie’s responsibility.

Zheng Jie stared at it for a while before murmuring, “Okay.”

Lin Ze nudged him. “Go propose.”

Zheng Jie grinned and nodded.

That night, Zheng Jie and Rongrong walked ahead while Lin Ze trailed behind, watching the neon lights across the street. Rongrong teased, “How’d I do?”

Zheng Jie mumbled noncommittally. Rongrong ruffled his hair. “Why so quiet today?”

Lin Ze thought, He’s going to propose, he’s going to propose… and couldn’t help smirking. After living together for so many years, he could read Zheng Jie’s mind instantly.

Sure enough, Zheng Jie stopped, pulled out the ring, knelt on one knee, opened the box, took Rongrong’s hand, and declared, “Rongrong, marry me. Please marry me.”

This was Lin Ze’s first time witnessing a proposal in person, and it was unexpectedly moving.

Had it been like this when he knelt on Bei Cheng Tian Street and opened the ring box for Situ Ye? The setting wasn’t romantic—just an ordinary street, and Zheng Jie was no prince charming. Yet the simple act of a man kneeling transformed the entire atmosphere into something magical.

As soon as Zheng Jie knelt, passersby noticed and started cheering. A few girls stopped to watch, giggling.

A man nearby shouted, “Go for it! You got this!”

Proposals had a strange power. Lin Ze could see Rongrong tearing up, covering her mouth as the crowd whooped.

“My childhood friend A’Ze can vouch for me.” Zheng Jie’s voice was steady. “Rongrong, I’ll treat you well for the rest of my life. I’ll never yell at you or lose my temper with you.”

Rongrong avoided his gaze, silent for a moment before asking softly, “Did you prepare the ring long ago?”

Lin Ze immediately realized the oversight and called out from a distance, “I bought it for him a few days ago. He just couldn’t find the right moment.”

Rongrong smiled. “Okay.”

Zheng Jie slid the ring onto her finger, and the crowd dispersed. The girls who had watched tugged at their boyfriends’ arms, chattering excitedly.

Zheng Jie hugged Rongrong and hailed a cab to take her home. When saying goodbye, Rongrong reminded them to pick up the dog in a few days. Lin Ze sighed in relief—the proposal should’ve happened before meeting the parents, but thankfully Rongrong didn’t overthink it.

At midnight, Zheng Jie was ecstatic, bouncing around the apartment. “We kissed! We kissed!”

Lin Ze deadpanned, “Oh.”

Zheng Jie: “A girl’s lips are so… so soft, ohhh…”

Lin Ze: “…”

Zheng Jie moved closer, but Lin Ze cut him off. “Okay! Congrats!”

He kicked Zheng Jie into his room and slammed the door. A moment later, Zheng Jie burst out again, hugging Lin Ze on the sofa and yelling, “Brother! I love you so much!”

Lin Ze: “Alright, alright! Stop being crazy! Let go—!”

Zheng Jie roughhoused with Lin Ze, planting a loud kiss on his cheek, punching him playfully, and mock-humping him before dashing to the balcony and kitchen. Lin Ze was speechless.

Mid-celebration, Zheng Jie’s phone rang. He answered, saying he was home.

Lin Ze’s shirt was a mess, his face flushed, his heart pounding, and his pants uncomfortably tight.

Damn it… I need to stay away from Zheng Jie.

He retreated to his room, listening to Zheng Jie’s gleeful noises next door, and smiled. Love was truly a wonderful thing.

Lin Ze browsed a gay forum, scanning posts—some seeking serious relationships, some casual hookups, some travel partners, an 18-year-old looking for a well-endowed “husband,” a veteran seeking a masculine, non-flamboyant partner, a younger brother looking for an older brother, someone wanting 69 but not penetrative sex…

Before, he’d always believed that finding a stable, lifelong partner wouldn’t be hard if he was serious about it.

Now, as he posted a roommate ad, he realized: The real reason for loneliness isn’t the inability to find love, but the inability to move on from the past. It’s not that the future is bleak, but that the past was too beautiful. It’s not that I don’t believe in love—it’s that I don’t believe in myself.

Two weeks later, Zheng Jie returned with a cardboard box.

Inside was a tiny, listless Alaskan Malamute puppy wrapped in Zheng Jie’s suit jacket. It had vomited in the box. The moment Lin Ze saw it, he thought, Oh no. How is it this cute? How can something be this adorable? What kind of creature did the heavens create?!

“What does it eat?” Lin Ze asked. “It’s so small—is it still nursing? Is it sick?”

Zheng Jie: “Just carsick. Poor thing.”

As soon as Zheng Jie set the box down, his phone rang. Lin Ze placed it on the table and searched online for how to handle carsick puppies, only to find countless hilarious posts saying to just let it be. He laughed until his stomach hurt.

Zheng Jie’s expression darkened as he took the call, saying, “Got it, got it.” Lin Ze remembered he’d gone to pick up the dog from Rongrong’s family—effectively meeting her parents over lunch.

Lin Ze had been out interviewing all day yesterday and gone to bed early. Zheng Jie had wanted him to come along for moral support, but Lin Ze refused outright. Bringing your childhood friend to meet your girlfriend’s parents? What kind of nonsense was that? He’d reminded Zheng Jie multiple times to dress formally, wear a tie, and bring gifts.

After hanging up, Zheng Jie muttered, “Not sure. They didn’t seem to like me much… Hold on.”

Another call came in—this time for an interview. The night before, Lin Ze had contacted a friend in HR at a private company who said they’d just finished hiring but the selected candidate hadn’t started yet. Lin Ze had swiftly submitted Zheng Jie’s resume, and now the company was calling him in.

Zheng Jie exhaled. “I’m going for the interview. Lend me your suit.”

Lin Ze handed him a linen blazer, which was slightly too small. Zheng Jie tidied his resume and announced, “Off I go.”

Lin Ze: “Good luck.”

The puppy peeked out at Lin Ze, who wiped its mouth and lifted it onto his head, bouncing around. In that moment, it felt like their family had grown by one—and it was a happy feeling.

That evening, Lin Ze and Zheng Jie pushed a cart through the supermarket, buying dog food, a dog bed, and toys. Zheng Jie recounted his visit: Rongrong’s father was kind, her mother polite, but neither seemed fond of him, treating him as just another of Rongrong’s friends.

Zheng Jie had repeatedly vowed to treat Rongrong well, growing increasingly frustrated with his own awkwardness. He wasn’t good with words or at charming parents. His promises fell flat, met with polite nods.

Lin Ze: “What about her? What did she say?”

Zheng Jie: “She told me not to worry, that she’d talk to them.”

Lin Ze nodded. “Visit more often, but pick times when they’re free. Find out what her parents like and win them over. If there’s work to be done, have Rongrong call you to help.”

Zheng Jie sighed. “Damn—it’s like a battle.”

Lin Ze: “It is a battle. A test of patience. I have a feeling this’ll be a long siege—it depends on your perseverance. Right now, your biggest advantage is Rongrong’s love for you.”

Lin Ze was right. Zheng Jie’s marriage plans became a protracted struggle. Rongrong’s parents strongly opposed the relationship, forbidding further visits. Their reasons were damning, the biggest being: Zheng Jie is an idiot. He didn’t seem smart or socially adept—just a clueless fool.

They’d once considered Yang Zhiyuan as a son-in-law. He was shrewd and smooth, the kind of man who could handle any problem. With Zheng Jie, they feared their daughter would constantly need their help—not just financially, but with all sorts of issues. They couldn’t bear to see her suffer… Plus, Zheng Jie was avoiding his own mother. Who would take care of their future grandchildren? Rongrong’s parents were still working and couldn’t babysit.

Some grandparents adore grandchildren; others don’t care. They weren’t short on money, but they wanted their daughter to marry into happiness, not struggle with a fool.

Lin Ze had sensed this would be tough. Days later, Zhao Yuhang called, asking why Situ Ye’s phone was always off. Lin Ze told him they’d broken up.

Zhao Yuhang: “That’s for the best. You should consider Brother Ke now.”

Lin Ze: “It’s not that I should consider Brother Ke—it’s that you should change the subject.”

Zhao Yuhang: “What’s wrong with Brother Ke? If you’re with him, he’ll spoil you—”

Lin Ze: “Stop. Let me tell you about Zheng Jie’s situation.”

He explained Zheng Jie’s predicament, hoping for advice from Zhao Yuhang, who had more experience with marriage. But before Lin Ze could finish, Zhao Yuhang interrupted, “God, Lin Ze, you’re so dumb! Just tell him to get her pregnant first and deal with the parents later!”

Lin Ze: “…”

He realized their minds operated on entirely different wavelengths. Zhao Yuhang insisted, “Give him the phone! I’ll talk to him!”

After listening, Zheng Jie simply said, “Come visit Chongqing sometime,” and hung up.