IJCFIARFS Chapter 48

Sam, the male store manager, patted the boy’s shoulder soothingly, offering comfort as he cast a particularly seductive glance at Lin Zhiyu. With a playful twist of his waist, he gestured for Lin Zhiyu to wait a moment, flashing a flirtatious smile. However, oblivious to the overtures, Lin Zhiyu felt a surge of embarrassment, wishing only to escape the scene quickly.

He suddenly pieced together the strange dynamics of the store and realized the implications of his surroundings. The realization washed over him: he had unwittingly entered a space where all the customers were men, most likely gay. No wonder the sign on the door specified male customers only. He had briefly wondered about it before, but now it all made sense.

Thinking back to his earlier interactions with the other customers, Lin Zhiyu felt a wave of heat rush to his cheeks. Goosebumps prickled his arms as he hurriedly focused on the task at hand. “How much is it? I’ll scan the QR code to pay now. I need to leave quickly,” he urged, eager to escape the awkwardness.

Sam, momentarily distracted by Lin Zhiyu’s handsome features, raised an eyebrow, his playful demeanor still intact. “I’ll give you the supreme membership price—eight thousand eighty. It may be only thirty cents for that diamond, but it’s a real diamond. Here’s the certificate,” he said, clearly enjoying the attention.

Without another word, Lin Zhiyu quickly scanned the payment code and, clutching the gift bag tightly, dashed out of the store, oblivious to the lingering gaze of the crying boy behind him.

As soon as Lin Zhiyu vanished from sight, the boy turned to Sam, his eyes still red. “Sam, do you know who that was just now?”

Sam, still caught up in the moment, laughed and teased, “You little heartbreaker! Just out of one relationship and already falling for someone else? That guy is seriously handsome! Did you see his demeanor? I don’t even know what he looks like without the mask, but those guys in the store were practically drooling over him!”

Du Lan, the boy, couldn’t hold back any longer. “You’re being an idiot! That was Lin Zhiyu! Lin Zhiyu! The Lin Zhiyu who donated the paclitaxel patent to the country! Haven’t you seen his photo online? You were obsessed with him!”

The store fell silent, the air thick with realization.

After what felt like an eternity, a loud, exaggerated crowing broke the stillness. “Oh my god! I spoke with Lin Zhiyu today! The youngest and most handsome professor in the history of the Academy of Sciences!”

The moment the words left his mouth, chaos erupted in the store. Customers rushed over, excitement palpable in the air.

“Xiao Lanzi, how do you know it was him? Have you met him before?” one customer asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Wow! He’s a top-tier male god! I can’t believe he’s gay!” another chimed in.

“Sam, give me his phone number! I want to add him on WeChat!” a third voice shouted.

Zhao Guchi, the tallest and most attractive man in the store, tried to regain control, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. “Guys, calm down! We need to think straight! This isn’t just about some crush!”

“Oh please, Gu Chi, you’re just being a buzzkill. We’re talking about Lin Zhiyu here!” someone countered.

Du Lan, who was barely holding back tears, added desperately, “He’s straight! Lin Zhiyu is straight! Cao Chengfei likes him a lot! What are you thinking? He’s not interested in any of you!”

“Straight men like this are the most desirable! You never know until you try!” a cheeky voice retorted.

“Xiao Lanlan, you should totally go for Lin Zhiyu! With his looks and brains, you’d make Cao Chengfei regret losing you!” another encouraged.

“But I don’t like him like that!” Du Lan protested, frustration lacing his voice. “And Cao Chengfei isn’t a scumbag; he told me he only wants to date during a specific period.”

“Yeah, but Lin Zhiyu is a catch! He’s one of China’s top male gods! Think of the status!” someone else chimed in, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Sam, still keeping an eye on the commotion, raised his hand. “Alright, everyone, settle down. We’re not causing a ruckus over an academic leader who serves the country. We should leave him be. Besides, didn’t you hear what Du Lan said? He’s a straight man!”

The conversations continued to swirl around the store, filled with a mix of hope, envy, and excitement. Lin Zhiyu had unknowingly captured the attention of everyone, igniting a flurry of admiration and speculation that would likely last for days.

Lin Zhiyu had no idea that an invisible “smoke” lingered in his wake, a palpable aura of curiosity and gossip left behind in the store. He was still processing the shock of seeing Cao Chengfei’s cousin interacting in such an unexpected environment. Was Cao Chengfei seriously pursuing his cousin, or was he merely hiding something? The questions swirled in his mind, each more perplexing than the last.

Rushing back to school, Lin Zhiyu barely made it to his classroom as the bell rang. He quickly buried himself in lectures and experiments, striving to keep his mind off the unsettling thoughts. He needed to focus; the academic world was where he felt most secure.

Unbeknownst to him, Xie Youzhou had discovered his gege’s unintended visit to a gay store. The chatter about Lin Zhiyu’s unexpected appearance spread rapidly online, catching Xie Youzhou’s attention. He had developed a program to monitor news and updates related to his gege, but nothing could have prepared him for the shock of reading comments about Lin Zhiyu’s experience.

“Oh, do you know who I met today? Lin Zhiyu!”

“Yeah, he was at BYS making cufflinks and tie clips. I guess he was giving them away!”

“Is he gay? I don’t know, but he rejected everyone who tried to talk to him. Later, it looked like he found out BYS is a gay-exclusive store. His reaction was priceless…”

Xie Youzhou’s heart raced as he read through the comments. How could Lin Zhiyu be associated with a gay store? He quickly compiled all relevant information, piecing together the narrative like a puzzle, his emotions swinging between relief and a complex mixture of joy and possessiveness.

Delighted that Lin Zhiyu might have been making gifts, Xie Youzhou felt a rush of affection. But the realization that his gege was attracting attention from others, particularly a group of gays, ignited a sense of rivalry within him. Why did it bother him so much? It was natural for someone as handsome and capable as Lin Zhiyu to be desired. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling of possessiveness.

Determined to gauge Lin Zhiyu’s feelings on the matter, Xie Youzhou quickly crafted several short stories and press releases, creating a fictional narrative to test his gege’s reactions. Each story was laced with subtle implications about same-sex love, crafted with the hope that Lin Zhiyu would respond.

The anticipation gnawed at him, and he couldn’t wait for their dinner date to reveal the news.

Finally, as the clock struck six, Lin Zhiyu had a moment to check his phone. Remembering his promise to Xiaoyou to go to the Jingdi High-altitude Revolving Restaurant for dinner, he felt a sense of excitement. It was a rare break, and he welcomed the change after a long day.

When he arrived at the north gate, he spotted Xie Youzhou waiting for him, eager and bright-eyed.

“Gege!” Xie Youzhou exclaimed, rushing over to open the car door for him.

“Just stay in the car. Why are you running out to greet me?” Lin Zhiyu chuckled, slightly taken aback by his gege’s enthusiasm.

“I just wanted to spend more time with you. Every second counts,” Xie Youzhou said, his tone earnest, sending a warm flutter through Lin Zhiyu’s chest.

The words caught Lin Zhiyu off guard, and a blush crept onto his cheeks. Why did it feel oddly ambiguous? Was it the earlier incident that made him hyper-aware of such things? He quickly shoved the thought aside, pushing his way into the passenger seat.

As they drove, Lin Zhiyu tried to shake off the residual embarrassment. He took out his phone, hoping to distract himself from the unexpected warmth he felt. But as soon as he unlocked it, a barrage of notifications flooded his screen.

Xie Youzhou’s gaze was fixed on Lin Zhiyu, keenly observing the change in his gege’s demeanor. He held his breath as Lin Zhiyu began reading the pop-up messages.

“What’s this?” Lin Zhiyu murmured, his brows knitting together in confusion as he scrolled through the headlines about same-sex love stories and dramatic confessions. “Why are these popping up? I deleted that app…”

A sudden realization dawned on him—this had Xie Youzhou’s fingerprints all over it. The way the notifications were tailored, it had to be his gege’s handiwork. But why would he go to such lengths?

His heart raced a mix of disbelief and a strange fluttering sensation coursing through him. The idea that Xie Youzhou had orchestrated this felt unnerving and oddly thrilling.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Youzhou asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

Lin Zhiyu’s face flushed with heat as he looked at Xie Youzhou, feeling both exposed and vulnerable. “Did you…did you do this?”

For a moment, Xie Youzhou was caught off guard, his heart leaping at the thought that perhaps Lin Zhiyu was starting to connect the dots. He wanted to respond, to confess, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he simply smiled, masking the flurry of emotions swirling within.

“Just a little experiment,” he said lightly, trying to keep the mood casual. “You know, to see how you feel about things. I thought it might be fun.”

Lin Zhiyu stared at him, bewildered and slightly annoyed, but the warmth of his gege’s intent softened the irritation. He shook his head, laughter bubbling up despite himself. “You’re ridiculous. You know that, right?”

Xie Youzhou grinned, his heart soaring at the sight of Lin Zhiyu’s laughter. Perhaps this was the first step toward something more—toward a deeper connection that had been lingering in the air for so long.

“Yeah, I know. But it’s fun to stir the pot a little, don’t you think?” Xie Youzhou replied, trying to keep his tone light while secretly reveling in the moment.

As they drove toward their dinner destination, Lin Zhiyu couldn’t shake the feeling of change in the air. Something was shifting between them, and for the first time, he found himself contemplating the complexities of his feelings for his gege.