As the Winter Solstice passed, the weather grew increasingly cold.
Qiu Zheyan put on the black cashmere coat hanging on the clothes rack, preparing to head home. While passing through the hallway, he was caught by a company employee. “Heading home, Mr. Xiao1Indicating he was young. 小 (xiǎo) – small / tiny / few / young Qiu?”
Although Qiu Zheyan was their company’s owner, he was young, good-tempered, and technically skilled. They were an IT company with a low average employee age and a small staff size. Usually, everyone joked around, creating a relaxed corporate atmosphere where employees dared to joke around with their young boss.
Qiu Zheyan’s cheeks were slightly flushed, his eyes bright, exuding an irrepressible happiness as he said, “Yes, I have something to attend to at home. I’m leaving now.”
After he left, the remaining staff began to pack up, ready to head home. They couldn’t help but start gossiping:
“Has the young boss been dating recently?”
“I think so. He’s emanating that sickly sweet aura of love.”
“Mr. Xiao Qiu has been positively glowing lately.”
“Seems like he really likes his girlfriend.”
“That’s great. We get to clock out earlier too.”
“Who would’ve thought the young boss would quietly start dating? I was still wondering if I had a chance, haha.”
Qiu Zheyan, 26 years old, was the CEO of an IT company. His life so far could be described as smooth sailing – a grade skipper, a graduate of a prestigious university, and from a well-off family. He had tried his hand at entrepreneurship with a senior during college, earning his first pot of gold. After graduation, he worked at a major corporation, accumulating two years of experience before resigning to start his own business.
Not only that, but Qiu Zheyan was also very handsome – a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp brows and bright eyes. He was of upright character, never known for any improper relationships. A true gentleman in every sense.
——”Mr. Xiao Qiu’s partner must be a rich beauty, right?”
——”With his own excellent conditions, his standards must be pretty high. Remember that rich beauty who chased him all the way to the company? He politely refused her. I wonder what kind of extraordinary person could win over the young boss.”
——”Must be a beauty to match the young boss. I think although he seems easy-going, he actually has quite high standards. Men all like to find someone a few years younger. Probably paired up with a young pretty girl.”
Qiu Zheyan lived quite close to the company for convenience, just a ten-minute drive away.
He opened the door and heard the sound of video games coming from the living room, occasionally interspersed with a man’s bright, clear laughter.
Hearing this, Qiu Zheyan’s lips involuntarily curved upward, his eyes and brows suffused with mirth, his mood brightening.
He took off his leather shoes, neatly arranged them in the shoe cabinet, and changed into slippers. Treading lightly into the house, he immediately spotted the man in the living room.
The man was sprawled on the rug beneath the TV wall, wearing a deep blue striped yukata. His left leg itched, so he bent his right leg, using his right toes to scratch his calf. This caused the hem of his robe to ride up slightly, but he seemed completely unaware. Beside him rolled three empty beer cans and an ashtray filled with cigarette butts. He was engrossed in his game.
The corgi, originally lying by the man’s legs, heard the movement and sprang up first, trotting over to Qiu Zheyan on its short legs, panting with its tongue out.
This man had pale skin, a slim build, and faint purplish-black circles under his eyes – the very picture of a stereotypical shut-in. At best, he could be described as a slightly attractive older man.
Engrossed in his game, the man seemed unaware of Qiu Zheyan’s arrival.
—— “That’s because you like young and pretty ones. Mr. Xiao Qiu doesn’t seem like that shallow type of man.”
—— “So what do you think?”
—— “With Mr. Xiao Qiu’s eloquence and refinement, his partner can’t be too far off. Must be someone with elegance and grace.”
“Shh.” Qiu Zheyan patted the dog’s head, making a hushing gesture. He walked behind Zhuang Hanxue, placed his hands on the man’s shoulders, and gently pulled him up into an embrace. Burying his face in the man’s neck from behind, he inhaled the faint scent of body wash mingled with tobacco, kissed the side of his neck, and whispered in his ear, “You’ve showered?”
The man wasn’t angry at the interruption; his eyes were still fixed on the screen as the game wasn’t over. He responded matter-of-factly, “Mm, always got to be fully prepared to serve my little Emperor Qiu in bed.”
The man seemed unfazed, but Qiu Zheyan blushed first. “Don’t call me Emperor…”
As “WIN” flashed on the screen accompanied by digital fireworks, the man set down the controller, turned his head, and said with a frivolous smile, “You weren’t shy when you prepared clothes for me. Why be shy now?” He punctuated his words with a light peck on Qiu Zheyan’s lips.
Qiu Zheyan paused briefly before returning the kiss, almost greedily. Whenever the man gave him even a spark, Qiu Zheyan felt as if engulfed in flames, burning from fingertips to heart, losing all rational control.
He was young and vigorous, and they had only been dating for just over two months, right in the honeymoon phase.
It was like getting a new game – he was addicted to exploring it daily, unable to put it down, never getting enough.
Afterwards.
The man rubbed his waist, a cigarette between his lips, mumbling, “My old back, it’s about to break.”
Qiu Zheyan lit the cigarette for him. “Smoke less.”
The man wheedled, “I let you have your way with me in the living room, reward me with a cigarette.”
Recalling his beast-like behavior earlier, Qiu Zheyan’s face heated up, hardly in a position to play the gentleman and preach. “Who told you not to wear underwear… I was prepared…”
The man blew a gentle cloud of smoke across Qiu Zheyan’s cheek, shamelessly saying, “Shouldn’t Japanese yukatas be worn with fundoshi? Regular underwear isn’t authentic. Next time, prepare fundoshi.”
When it came to shamelessness, the older man was unrivaled. Qiu Zheyan admitted defeat.
At this point in the story, it’s time to introduce Mr. Xiao Qiu’s good-for-nothing lover –
His surname is Zhuang, given name Hanxue. If he were to have a courtesy name, it would probably be “Salted Fish”, with the sobriquet “Scoundrel”. Currently 34 years old, he’s an unemployed homebody. Despite his name suggesting vast learning, he’s actually quite uneducated. In his life, he’s neither done evil nor charity, contributing nothing to society but also causing no harm. He’s one of those ordinary people whose presence or absence makes little difference to the world.
Zhuang Hanxue is very content with his current life.
He met Qiu Zheyan while gaming online, and their relationship developed from the virtual world to reality. Ten years ago, he couldn’t have imagined becoming a game-addicted homebody, let alone at his age, playing out an online romance with an internet friend – a male one at that.
At first, Qiu Zheyan had lured him over with the promise of a live-in gaming companion job, offering insurance, a housing fund, and an additional 8,000 yuan salary. It wasn’t long before he coaxed and tricked him into bed.
However, the previously mentioned “salary” was still paid. He didn’t have to cook or do housework, could do whatever he wanted each day, with the only requirement being to wear the clothes Qiu Zheyan prepared in advance.
Zhuang Hanxue finished a cigarette and leaned over to watch Qiu Zheyan browse work emails.
It was from a celebrity studio. Their company wanted to discuss endorsement promotions with actress Jiang Ruoyun but had been politely refused. Perhaps the money wasn’t right, or the prestige wasn’t enough.
Zhuang Hanxue glanced at it and said with mock seriousness, “You want Jiang Ruoyun as a spokesperson? She’s popular now, quite expensive. But she’s my ex-girlfriend. I could help you contact her. She might do me a favor.”
Qiu Zheyan laughed out loud. Zhuang Hanxue was full of tall tales. Jiang Ruoyun was a popular actress known for her pure image, with many male fans online calling her “my wife” or “my girlfriend.” He’d be crazy to believe Zhuang Hanxue, an ordinary middle-aged man.
Seeing him laugh, Zhuang Hanxue said animatedly, “I’m telling the truth, don’t you believe me…”
Qiu Zheyan kissed his mouth once, not taking it seriously, and said with a smile but in a mock-serious tone, “Alright, alright, everything you say is true. That being the case, I definitely can’t let you contact her. What if you and your ex-girlfriend rekindle your old flame? I’d be jealous.”
After finishing work.
Qiu Zheyan played with Zhuang Hanxue’s hand, occasionally kissing his ring finger, their fingers intertwined.
Zhuang Hanxue was tired, yawning, and almost falling asleep when he suddenly heard Qiu Zheyan say, “I’ve told you my parents are abroad. Next week is Christmas. Do you want to come back with me to have dinner with my parents? My mom’s a chef, her cooking is delicious. They’ve been saying they really want to meet you. Will you come back with me?”
At the mention of meeting the parents, Zhuang Hanxue was no longer sleepy. He jolted awake instantly.
In this world, nothing troubles an unserious person more than doing serious things.
He’d been slapped, had water thrown at him, been hit with LV bags, but he’d never agreed to meet anyone’s parents.
Mr. Zhuang was extremely troubled.
He turned his head to see Qiu Zheyan looking at him expectantly, like a big golden retriever.
Damn, so cute! Zhuang Hanxue was dumbfounded.
Zhuang Hanxue felt this move by Qiu Zheyan was particularly unfair. Every time he was looked at with those puppy eyes, how could he refuse? This trick worked every time; he had no resistance to it. Otherwise, how could a grown man like him be coaxed into bed by a man seven years his junior?
Just like their first time in bed.
As if bewitched, Zhuang Hanxue nodded, “Oh.”
Zhuang Hanxue saw Qiu Zheyan’s eyes instantly light up. He could almost see Qiu Zheyan’s imaginary dog tail wagging like a propeller.
He relaxed, thinking that despite Qiu Zheyan’s nice words, they were both men. He was seven years older than Qiu Zheyan and unemployed, so carefree. What parents could accept their child being with someone like him?
When Qiu Zheyan’s parents rejected him then, he’d be off the hook.
Raine: Welcome to another new pit hehe.
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