Chapter 20

As soon as Chen Ang got into the car, he called his sister. Chen Jing picked up not long after and asked what was going on.

Chen Ang said, “Didn’t you say one of your friends quit her job and started her own Japanese class?”

Chen Jing replied, “Yeah.”

“I’ve got a friend who wants to learn. Got any discounts? Maybe a free trial class or something?”

“There definitely are. Who’s the friend?”

Chen Ang paused for a moment, then said, “Just a friend. You don’t know him.”

Chen Jing laughed. “Relax, I’m not trying to dig. But at least tell me what kind of friend, so I know how much of a discount I can offer.”

Chen Ang quickly added, “You really don’t know him. Just give a bigger discount, he’s a good friend.”

“Fine.” Chen Jing shifted the topic. “Did you add that girl on WeChat?”

Chen Ang had no clue what she was talking about. “What WeChat?”

Chen Jing said, “I heard it from Dad the other day. That daughter from the Lu family, whatever her name is. They wanted you to get to know her.”

Chen Ang slipped on his Bluetooth earpiece, started the car, and turned the wheel to get onto the main road. He answered casually, “No idea. Maybe I didn’t notice. I’ll check later.”

Chen Jing reminded him, “You better remember. Uncle Lu was one of the ones who helped push things so you could work in the city.”

A wave of irritation rose in Chen Ang’s chest, but he forced himself to stay calm and answered with a vague reply. After that, he reminded her about the Japanese class, then hung up. He stuffed his phone and earpiece together into the storage compartment. They landed with a loud clatter.

Chen Jing was always efficient. Whether it was for work or daily life, she moved fast and didn’t waste time. In just a few days, she had sorted everything out. She handed Chen Ang a small course booklet and said it was a discounted rate, a friendship price at thirty percent off. The exact cost depended on which course he picked. After work one day, Chen Ang picked up Xu Heng and dropped him off downstairs, saying they could grab dinner after the class.

As soon as the car stopped and Chen Ang reached over to help with the seatbelt, Xu Heng quickly said, “I can go up myself. Thanks.”

Chen Ang had originally planned to go up with him, but seeing Xu Heng like that, he let it go and said, “I’ll grab a coffee across the street.”

Ever since he cried in front of Chen Ang that day, Xu Heng had been regretting it. He felt embarrassed and started acting a little stiff around Chen Ang, no longer as casual as before. He didn’t want Chen Ang going up with him, partly because he didn’t want to trouble him, and partly because he was nervous. He didn’t know anything about the class.

Luckily, the course consultant was quite friendly. Xu Heng ended up signing up for a four-month program, with classes on weekday evenings and during the day on weekends. Even with the discount, it still cost over ten thousand, which made him bite the bullet and pay. He planned to try one class today. He sent Chen Ang a message, telling him he could go ahead and leave, and he’d treat him to dinner another time.

Chen Ang replied, “How long is your class?”

Xu Heng answered, “An hour and a half.”

Before Chen Ang could reply again, Xu Heng had already put his phone away.

The class Chen Ang recommended was actually pretty good. There weren’t many students, and the lesson was engaging. Xu Heng bought the textbook on the spot. By the time class ended, it was already dark. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights had come on, stretching out like a sea of twinkling stars. He hugged the books to his chest, slung his bag over one shoulder, and headed downstairs. His stomach growled loudly.

As soon as he stepped outside, the autumn breeze hit him head-on. The wind crept in through his collar, making him sneeze.

“Over here.”

Xu Heng looked over and was surprised to see Chen Ang still there. The car was parked by the side of the road, and he stood leaning against it. He was still in his work clothes from earlier, the suit jacket off, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He held a cup of coffee in one hand, with another cup resting on the roof of the car. He handed it to Xu Heng without a word.

“Thanks…”

Xu Heng took it and sipped. It was a milk tea latte, warm and just right. The flavor was comforting.

Chen Ang said, “Get in. Let’s grab dinner.”

Everything felt just right.

Xu Heng sat in the passenger seat, slowly sipping the warm latte. The passing lights flashed across Chen Ang’s face as he focused on the road. Xu Heng felt genuinely happy. That balloon in his chest swelled a little more, like it might lift off at any moment.

It would be nice if this was really a relationship.

Xu Heng had never been in one. Before his job was stable, he didn’t even have a decent life, let alone the chance to date. After settling into work, he had no idea how to meet someone like him. So he took the dumbest approach, downloading apps, swiping, shaking his phone. But everyone seemed to only want one thing. No one was looking for a real relationship. After a few disappointments, he tried going to bars instead. That was when he met He An, and eventually, he met Chen Ang.

Chen Ang brought Xu Heng to a Japanese restaurant. It was quiet and peaceful. Each booth had a small partition for privacy, and the seating was on tatami mats with soft round cushions. No one dared to speak too loudly. As they ate, the two of them chatted in low voices about all kinds of random things. There was an intimacy that was hard to describe.

After sitting cross-legged for a while, Xu Heng’s legs started to go numb. Under the low table, he quietly stretched them out and gave a little stretch. His foot happened to bump into Chen Ang’s, who had done the same.

Xu Heng paid dinner. It was his way of saying thanks.

Afterward, Chen Ang drove Xu Heng home and, without saying anything, got out of the car and followed him upstairs. He acted so naturally that Xu Heng felt a little embarrassed.

Xu Heng asked, “You don’t have work tomorrow?”

“I do.”

“Then why…”

“You treated me to dinner,” Chen Ang said.

“What?”

Chen Ang slid one hand into his pocket. The way he smiled, with the corner of his mouth curled up, looked just a bit wicked. “So now I’ll treat you. To something else.”

Xu Heng’s face lit up like it was on fire. He walked ahead and almost tripped over his own feet. After a few steps, he hesitated. He took a deep breath, spun around, ready to scold Chen Ang for being a pervert. But Chen Ang was standing too close. The second Xu Heng turned, they almost bumped faces. Chen Ang leaned in without pause and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

Xu Heng was completely silenced. He wiped his mouth and turned back around and walked straight ahead.

In the end, Chen Ang didn’t ask Xu Heng to give him a blowjob. Instead, he sat on the sofa with Xu Heng naked in his lap, working him slowly. Xu Heng’s chest was flushed with desire. Chen Ang kissed his chest over and over, teasing his nipples with gentle bites. Xu Heng tried to hide his face, but there was nowhere to go.

Chen Ang grabbed his tie and used it to cover Xu Heng’s eyes, tying a knot behind his head. Then he held Xu Heng’s hips and began to thrust up into him.

With his vision blocked, every sensation became more intense. He could hear everything. The wet, messy sounds where their bodies met. The sharp slap of skin against skin. Chen Ang’s breathing, low and heavy, thick with heat.

Without the distraction of sight, everything between them felt raw and urgent.

Xu Heng clung to Chen Ang like a newborn kitten. His damp lips brushed against Chen Ang’s face, searching. Eventually, he found his lips, and their tongues tangled together.

When he came, his mouth was still blocked by the kisses. His moans were swallowed down, caught in his throat, escaping through his nose. Tears welled up again, soaking the dark tie. He wrapped his arms around Chen Ang’s neck as his body spasmed from the aftershocks. His chest rose and fell with each shaky breath.

Chen Ang untied the blindfold. Xu Heng squinted at the light, his lashes still holding drops of tears.

Chen Ang had slept with plenty of people before. The wildest days were back when he studied in Canada. He had majored in financial management at a top school, surrounded by good-looking, arrogant people. He had been popular with both Asians and white students. Despite the heavy workload, all-night parties were common.

He had taken many people to bed. He knew desire and how to feed it. But Xu Heng felt different.

Others craved the heat of skin, the force of each thrust, the messy, breathless kisses. But with Xu Heng, it was different. Every time, he ended up in tears, like he was tearing his heart out to press it against Chen Ang’s chest, as if begging his heart to beat in sync. Fierce. Pure. Unfiltered.

This was something else entirely.