Chapter 1 – The Handsome Neighbor

At eight o’clock in the evening, the Zhoujishi Bar, tucked away in a narrow alley, had just opened its doors for business, already welcoming a steady stream of customers.

This bar wasn’t situated on a bustling main street, but rather in a secluded lane. During the day, it operated as a restaurant, and at night, it transformed into a quiet bar. Its subdued atmosphere made it a popular spot for nearby office workers and college students to gather.

Ye Zhou and Fang Ji were both owners of the establishment, with one managing the daytime restaurant and the other overseeing the nighttime bar operations. Six years ago, they fell in love with this old house that had been converted into a spacious and affordable space, with its sloping tile roof adding a unique charm. They decided to start their business here, and over the years, both the restaurant and the bar had become well-known in the area, although not yet widely famous.

Today, Ye Zhou felt inspired and prepared a few dishes to serve as special bar menu items. While the quiet bar primarily profited from beverages, many patrons were drawn by the creative culinary offerings.

Ye Zhou hadn’t graduated from a culinary program; the restaurant had its own head chef. His cooking was more of a hobby, and he would step into the kitchen to help out only when short-staffed or overwhelmed. On the other hand, Fang Ji was a genuine graduate of a hospitality program, skilled in management. They had met during their school days and had maintained a friendship for over a decade, supporting each other through tough times. Their bond was more akin to that of brothers than mere friends. In six years of operation, they had never disagreed on anything. One handled the menu while the other managed finances, dealing with miscellaneous tasks—a unique division of labor.

The bar was typically under Fang Ji’s management in the evenings. After preparing the small dishes, Ye Zhou planned to wait for Fang Ji to arrive before heading home to rest.

But before Fang Ji could reach the bar, a young man in his early twenties pushed open the door and scanned the room, his gaze finally settling on Ye Zhou behind the counter. This young man had clear, delicate features, standing around 175 centimeters tall, an ideal model figure, brimming with youthful vigor. He walked straight to the counter and sat in front of Ye Zhou, his beautiful eyes conveying a bold message: “Brother Zhou, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going after you.”

The young man spoke softly, but loud enough for Ye Zhou and the bartender working behind the counter to hear.

Ye Zhou, though unsurprised, still felt a headache coming on. The bartender, perhaps accustomed to such scenes, pretended nothing had happened and continued polishing glasses silently. Ye Zhou had never hidden his sexual orientation, seeing no reason to do so, as he was exclusively attracted to men.

Homosexuality might still face disapproval in society, but acceptance among the younger generation was high. Ye Zhou’s parents had passed away long ago, leaving him free to live his life as he pleased, unconcerned with others’ opinions. Men like him, with their charm and allure, often attracted young boys, or rather, inspired admiration.

Ye Zhou wasn’t unattractive; his smile was bright and sunny, exuding a dazzling charisma. He’d had many admirers in the past. Despite his good looks, he was very cautious about his relationships, avoiding casual flings and ambiguous situations: “Little brother, I’m thirty-two this year, more than ten years older than you.”

Ye Zhou rejected the young man gently, but the boy was undeterred: “So what? Age isn’t an issue. Brother Zhou, I’m serious. You don’t… like younger guys, do you?”

Ye Zhou sighed inwardly.

Though he wasn’t particularly old for his age, there was still a significant gap between thirty and twenty in his mind. He remembered his own youth, knowing how easily young men could be captivated by superficial attractions, pursuing them with all their might without considering the consequences.

Ye Zhou had moved past that impulsive phase long ago. He understood that the boy was merely caught up in the moment, and whether he truly liked him remained uncertain. After all, they had only met the previous week, far from being close.

Last week, coincidentally, the bartender had taken a day off, and Ye Zhou stepped in to fill the shift. Dressed in the bartender’s uniform—white shirt and vest—he smiled warmly, captivating the crowd with his cheerful demeanor and even showing off his bartending skills. Zhou Jiayi, who had visited Zhoujishi for the first time that day, was smitten, returning almost every day since.

Zhou Jiayi attended university nearby. With the restaurant busy during the day, he couldn’t afford to disturb Ye Zhou, so he came at night. After several visits, he mustered the courage to confess today.

It was unclear where Zhou Jiayi had gathered his information, possibly from the chatty staff at the bar. Ye Zhou’s past partners had indeed been younger than him. But since his last relationship ended, perhaps due to his increasing age, he found himself thinking more carefully, less eager to jump into something new. At least until he felt a genuine connection.

Zhou Jiayi, however, was still young and resilient. Despite Ye Zhou’s reasons for incompatibility, he didn’t lose heart. Young people often believed that persistent effort could achieve anything, whether in academics or romance. Embarrassed by his rejection, he left sooner than Ye Zhou did, leaving behind a determined declaration: “Brother Zhou, I won’t give up.”

This wasn’t a public spectacle; few people had overheard their conversation. The bar remained peaceful, the soft music occasionally interrupted by the murmur of patrons’ conversations.

After Zhou Jiayi left, another voice sounded from the other end of the bar: “That boy won’t go home and cry, will he?”

Fang Ji had arrived at some point, watching the drama unfold. He knew about Ye Zhou’s orientation. In high school, Ye Zhou’s sexuality had been maliciously exposed, leading to discrimination and isolation from classmates. Fang Ji, from the neighboring class, was the only one who continued to befriend him.

Ye Zhou knew then that Fang Ji would be his lifelong friend. When Fang Ji later proposed opening a business, Ye Zhou didn’t hesitate, using his savings to become a partner.

Although Fang Ji wasn’t gay, he was aware of Ye Zhou’s social circle. Ye Zhou appeared to have a wide social network, but he wasn’t promiscuous. To Fang Ji, the boy was too impulsive and lacked patience, not someone Ye Zhou would consider as a potential partner: “He seems intent on visiting daily. What are you planning to do?”

Ye Zhou shook his head, smiling bitterly: “If he comes, he comes. What can I do to stop him? But we should keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t fall prey to bad influences.”

Both Ye Zhou and Fang Ji were accustomed to monitoring the premises during business hours to prevent any untoward incidents. However, despite their vigilance, accidents could happen. Being a commercial establishment, they had to deal with a diverse clientele, including those seeking solace in alcohol. They did their best to ensure the safety of their guests.

Fang Ji understood Ye Zhou well. Hearing his response, he knew: “You’re planning to avoid him, aren’t you?”

Ye Zhou nodded: “A month at most, he’ll probably give up.”

He wasn’t running away or unable to say no; a little distance would help the boy gain perspective.

At nine o’clock in the evening, Ye Zhou walked back to his residence. His home wasn’t far from the restaurant, just a few alleys away. As a single man, when he partnered with Fang Ji to open the restaurant, he rented a place nearby for convenience. In the early days of Zhoujishi, revenue barely covered costs, and he had little disposable income. Although his parents had left him an inheritance, he chose not to touch it, living quite frugally for a period. Fortunately, after a year, both the restaurant and the bar started turning a profit, allowing him to consider purchasing a home.

Five years ago, he fell in love with the detached villa he now owned. He was particularly fond of it. The villa was adjacent to another main house with a similar exterior design, symmetrical in layout. The previous owners were close brothers who, after starting families, wished to live together. The brothers personally drew up blueprints and contracted a builder to construct the houses, evident in the thoughtful details throughout. However, due to work-related relocations, they eventually sold the properties.

Although the two main houses were next to each other, they weren’t internally connected. They shared only a small front courtyard. This arrangement alleviated Ye Zhou’s privacy concerns, and he took out a loan to buy the property without hesitation. He was discerning in his choices, valuing personal preference above all else.

Initially, Ye Zhou intended to pay off the mortgage on his house and, if financially feasible, purchase the adjacent main house to resolve the shared courtyard issue. However, he wasn’t in a rush because the houses were expensive, and the former owners refused to sell at a discount, leaving the property vacant for several years. Unexpectedly, this morning, he saw movers transporting furniture and packed boxes into the other house.

Ye Zhou learned that the neighboring property had been sold.

His plan thwarted, Ye Zhou felt a tinge of disappointment but understood that not everything could go his way. He was simply too late. Curious about his new neighbor, given that they would inevitably meet frequently, he regretted that the new owner hadn’t shown up, sending only movers to unload the belongings.

Ye Zhou noticed that the new owner’s belongings mostly consisted of personal items, likely indicating that he lived alone, much like Ye Zhou. There were numerous bookshelves, and the cartons stacked in the courtyard were heavy, presumably filled with books. From one’s personal effects, one could glean details about their character. Ye Zhou felt somewhat reassured that someone who loved books would likely possess a decent level of refinement. Additionally, the price of the house exceeded that of nearby properties, making it unattainable for just anyone.

Ye Zhou resided in the left house. Returning home, he observed that the lights in the right house were off, suggesting that no one had moved in yet.

He was merely curious, not overly concerned. Upon reaching home, he went about his usual routine. Since the moving company’s visit, there had been no further activity at the neighboring house.

Throughout the week, Zhou Jiayi indeed visited the bar every day.

Ye Zhou tried to avoid him when possible, greeting him politely when avoidance was impossible. There was no need to make things awkward and embarrass the boy. However, he had already made his position clear and wouldn’t lead him on with any ambiguous actions, maintaining a polite but distant demeanor.

While Zhou Jiayi wasn’t completely rebuffed by Ye Zhou, he could sense the firmness of his stance, feeling somewhat discouraged. After just a week, he began to contemplate giving up.

Ye Zhou trusted his judgment, sensing that the boy would soon come to his senses.

That evening, as Ye Zhou returned home, the lights in the right house finally lit up. The new owner seemed to be organizing the house, and the sounds of moving objects could be heard, not loud but noticeable due to the proximity of the two houses and the quiet surroundings.

Ye Zhou wondered whether he should greet his new neighbor and introduce himself, but looking at the time, it seemed a bit late, so he dismissed the thought. Just as he was about to enter his house, the noise from the right side suddenly ceased. Apparently, the new owner had heard the sound of his key unlocking the courtyard gate. Both houses shared a courtyard, and thus, the entrance gate was also shared, accessible only to the homeowners.

Ye Zhou had a hunch and stopped, turning to face the door of his neighbor.

Soon after, the new neighbor opened the door. A tall, handsome man dressed in a wool sweater appeared in Ye Zhou’s line of sight, wearing thin-framed glasses, exuding a scholarly aura: “Hello, I’m the new resident. My name is Guan Heng.”