Chapter 1 – The Handsome Man

The fragrance of lilies filled the air, their delicate petals adorned with glistening droplets. A large bouquet stretched toward Yu Zhen’s face, its blooms wide open. Unfortunately, Yu Zhen was allergic to pollen, and if his turn didn’t come soon, he wouldn’t be able to hold his ground much longer.

“Yu Zhen?”

“Yes.”

The courier station owner double-checked the name with the young man before retrieving the package from the shelf. After scanning the barcode, he handed it over.

Yu Zhen didn’t live in this neighborhood—the delivery had been sent to the wrong address. Likely due to the hectic and tedious nature of courier work, the deliveryman who called him had been far from polite, saying he didn’t have time to redeliver. Yu Zhen could either pick it up himself or return the package.

Yu Zhen didn’t argue—not because he was magnanimous or understanding, but because he couldn’t be bothered to waste his energy.

After collecting the package, he glanced at the sender’s details on the label. The parcel had been carelessly wrapped, with layers of transparent tape haphazardly securing it. The black outer packaging gave no hint of its contents, making it seem like some cheap item. In reality, what lay inside was anything but.

Crossing the street, Yu Zhen returned to Junlan Apartments.

The elevator was occupied, its entrance blocked by stacks of moving boxes and a leather armchair. A delivery truck was parked in the courtyard, its driver leaning against the window with a cigarette in hand, his relaxed gaze masking the weariness of a laborer.

The owner of the boxes was struggling to move items from the truck with the help of a young, energetic man. Their heavy breathing and the clutter blocking the elevator entrance signaled the arrival of a new tenant.

Fortunately, Yu Zhen lived only on the fourth floor. Next to the elevator were parcel lockers and a stairwell, so he headed that way instead.

Just as he gave up on the elevator, someone emerged from the stairwell—He Yajuan, the forty-three-year-old apartment manager.

Spotting him, her eyes lit up with warmth as she greeted him affectionately, “Little Yu.”

Having lived here for nearly three years, Yu Zhen was well acquainted with her.

He responded politely, “Sister Juan.”

She tilted her chin up slightly. “That friend you mentioned the other day—is he still coming? As you can see, I’ve got plenty of tenants. The moment a lease ends, someone new moves in. Right now, I’ve only got two vacant units left. If he doesn’t act fast, they’ll be gone.”

Junlan Apartments was in a prime location, close to downtown landmarks and attractions, making the units highly sought after. The building was almost always fully occupied, and whenever a unit became available, it was quickly snapped up.

Yu Zhen’s friend had expressed interest, so he had already discussed it with the manager. “I’ll call and check. I’ll give you an answer by tonight.”

“Make it quick,” He Yajuan said. “I can’t hold them for long. I’m only doing this as a favor to you.”

Yu Zhen thanked her, and she nodded before walking away.

Back in his apartment, Yu Zhen changed out of his shoes, placed the opened package on the table, and washed his hands—dust bags were always crawling with bacteria.

Without delay, he called Wang Baoshu to ask if he still wanted the apartment.

Wang Baoshu had been Yu Zhen’s high school classmate. Back then, the two were inseparable. Yu Zhen, with his striking looks, had been popular in school, while Wang Baoshu acted as his “brain trust,” fending off admirers on his behalf.

At first, Yu Zhen genuinely thought Wang Baoshu was being kind by agreeing to such a troublesome matter. Only later did he realize that Wang Baoshu had sweet-talked one of his admirers into his own romantic pursuits—his current girlfriend was one of the juniors who had once written Yu Zhen love letters.

Because of this, Wang Baoshu avoided bringing his girlfriend around Yu Zhen, even though he knew Yu Zhen would never pose a threat to their relationship.

“I was planning to visit this week, but the project team landed a big contract. Everyone on the line is working overtime—I really can’t spare the time,” Wang Baoshu rambled over the phone. After a period of idleness, he was now swamped, and he swore he’d never complain about being bored again.

Yu Zhen poured tea with one hand while holding his phone with the other, replying cautiously, “I can hold it for you for two more days? Any longer and I won’t be able to manage.”

The apartment wasn’t his. He Ya-juan had already gone above and beyond—he was just her tenant, and goodwill could only stretch so far.

Wang Baoshu agreed on the other end. “Alright, if it really can’t be held, then so be it. Nothing we can do about it.”

Yu Zhen didn’t press him further. After confirming Wang Baoshu’s situation, he sent a message to He Ya-juan.

Once he got the administrator’s reply, Yu Zhen picked up his cup, took a sip of tea, and grabbed a pair of scissors to open the package.

The outer packaging was careless, but inside lay an exquisitely crafted, luxurious qipao embroidered with blooming peonies. The gold thread and red silkwork were extraordinary, and just touching the fabric made it clear this was no cheap piece. The peonies were vibrant to the point of gaudiness. After a brief inspection, Yu Zhen carried the qipao into another room.

This room wasn’t a study, a computer room, or an unused storage space—it was Yu Zhen’s private domain, a place where he contorted himself into impossible poses.

A large plush rug covered half the floor, adorned with a pink sofa and floral decorations that climbed up the walls, draping over velvet curtains. Light reflectors, tripods, and flash triggers gazed greedily toward the dreamy setup.

Beneath the romantic ambiance hung a lace gown. Yu Zhen wasn’t a crossdresser, nor did he have any peculiar fetishes—he was simply an unlicensed, untrained freelance model who bent to life’s demands.

Yu Zhen stripped off his clothes and slipped into the dark green qipao. Tailored to female proportions, the dress didn’t quite fit his tall frame. Whether by the designer’s intent or due to his height, the slit was so high that even slight movements risked exposing his underwear.

His long, smooth legs emerged from the qipao’s side slit, the lines flawlessly on display.

Yu Zhen set his phone down, snapped a couple of test shots, and sent them to the vendor, noting that aside from the sizing issue, there were no other problems.

But the contact person replied:
No problem, Teacher Yu. I’ve seen the photos—this is exactly the effect we’re going for. It’s what’s trending right now.

Trending?

Trending what? Qipaos with slits high enough to reveal underwear?

The contact added:
Teacher Yu, feel free to shoot boldly. Unique clothes attract unique audiences—you know how it is. Smile.jpg

Yu Zhen understood.

This was probably lingerie in disguise.

Among the collaborations Yu Zhen had experienced, there were indeed those that explicitly asked him to go all out in shooting. Some merchants specialized in lingerie and had no qualms about stating it outright. This kind of subtle hint likely didn’t cater to the erotic niche. As the service provider, he had to fully understand the client’s requirements without any ambiguity.

Yu Zhen asked: “Should it be revealing?”

The other party replied: “Moderately so.”

Not that he had much more to show anyway.

The most he could flaunt were his legs, which had garnered countless admiring comments.

Once the cheongsam was confirmed, the next step was to book his photographer. But before that, Yu Zhen still hadn’t found the right bra. His waist-to-hip ratio was perfect for accentuating the charm of the cheongsam, but his chest was lacking—missing that finishing touch.

Regardless of who the target audience was or what the main appeal was, his only responsibility was to meet the demands of one person: his client.

Yu Zhen rummaged through his wardrobe, where an array of dazzling dresses made him look like a cross-dressing enthusiast. He picked out a bra, though the snug cheongsam made it difficult to put on. It was February, and the lingering chill of early spring seeped in through the open window, the breeze uninvited. Yu Zhen draped a shawl over his shoulders, the white fur-trimmed garment barely covering his fair, delicate skin, lending him a shy air.

“Knock, knock.”

Just then, there was a rap at the door.

Yu Zhen wrapped the shawl tighter around himself, adjusted the bra and padding a couple of times, and then leisurely went to open the door. Outside stood a face completely unfamiliar to him.

The man was strikingly handsome—well-proportioned features, tall stature, with a roguish air. The smile on his face seemed so artificial it might vanish the next second.

“Who are you looking for?” Yu Zhen asked first.

The man didn’t answer immediately, staring at him in surprise, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes before he grinned and replied, “Hello, I just moved in next door. The manager said the spare key is with you.”

Yu Zhen was long immune to the stares in the hallway. Once he confirmed the man’s purpose and matched it with the information, he held his arms and said, “Ah, yes, it’s here. Just a moment.”

Yu Zhen retrieved the key from the console table in the entryway.

The man waited patiently, his gaze involuntarily drifting from the shawl down to Yu Zhen’s slender, pale legs.

The slit of the cheongsam was high—so high that even the slightest turn revealed the color beneath.

Yet Yu Zhen carried himself with such ease, as if he were dressed impeccably, which only made the man’s thoughts grow more suspicious.

When Yu Zhen handed over the key, he naturally noticed the man’s lingering gaze. Without a word, he tightened the shawl slightly—a subtle reminder. The man finally shifted his eyes to Yu Zhen’s face, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he said, “Thanks.”

“No problem.” The high rent of the apartment meant tenants came and went frequently. Yu Zhen often just memorized a new neighbor’s face before they disappeared within months, replaced by another stranger. So he didn’t pay much attention to the new neighbor next door.

Even if this new neighbor’s looks were exceptional.

“Bro Zhou, got the key.”

The new neighbor stepped away from Yu Zhen’s door, his voice carrying down the hallway. Yu Zhen glanced up and only then noticed another man standing in the corner.

The man leaned against the wall, a half-smoked cigarette in his hand. A large, exceptionally well-groomed dog with lustrous fur lay at his feet. Even in repose, Yu Zhen could sense its ferocity—as if it might pounce and devour him in the next instant.

The hallway was silent. New faces often appeared here—ugly, handsome, good, bad—Yu Zhen had his own way of sizing them up. His gaze lingered on the man a few seconds longer, his fluttering eyelashes concealing a whirl of emotions.

An eerie tension flowed among the three of them.

The new neighbor’s eyes held mutual scrutiny and suspicion.

Yu Zhen stood there, pulling his shawl tighter, the flicker in his eyes betraying emotions and beauty that didn’t go unnoticed.

The large dog’s owner seemed to sense the other’s fear and tightened the leash in his grip, veins straining against the rope, leaving marks that hinted at something darker.

He stubbed out his cigarette, studying that androgynous profile. From the movement of his Adam’s apple, Zhou Daosen—newly arrived and uncertain of everything—confirmed it was a man.

A beautiful man.