Chapter Thirty-Five

Yi Yu went to the gym with a friend, making a point of showing off the muscles he’d recently developed. This friend of his, Yang Xiaobei, was a high school classmate—a delicate and gentle-looking young man who’d been dragged to the gym entirely against his will. After arriving, he simply sat on the treadmill next to Yi Yu, resting his chin in his hand and watching him.

As Yi Yu’s face flushed red from lifting dumbbells, Yang Xiaobei couldn’t help but laugh. “You look even softer than I do. Why bother building muscles? With that face of yours, you’re born to be the boy-next-door type. If you bulk up, you’ll scare people away.”

Yi Yu put down the weights and wiped the sweat from his brow. “You don’t get it. I want to be the kind of man who looks good in clothes, and even better out of them. How else am I supposed to make my prey fall head over heels? First, I’ll captivate them with my face, then conquer them with my body. Ha…”

“Oh, please, I give up! So, are you planning to seduce someone even younger and more delicate than you, or find a muscle-bound hunk to pamper you?”

Yi Yu stroked his chin, thoughtful. “I think someone older has more flavor. Preferably at least ten years older.”

Yang Xiaobei spat out the water he’d just drunk and burst out laughing. “You’re killing me! With you working out so hard, do you think those older men can handle you?”

“Who said I’d let them chew me up? Maybe I’ll be the one doing the chewing for a change,” Yi Yu retorted seriously, unbothered. “Besides, don’t you think someone with experience, who’s mature and composed, is incredibly attractive and charming?”

“Well, as long as you like it. I just don’t see the appeal.”

“That’s because you haven’t met the right one. If you ever do, you won’t be able to resist either.”

“Forget it, we’re both gay but our tastes are worlds apart. By the way, have you met anyone like that yet—a truly charming older guy?”

Yi Yu shook his head. “There are plenty of older guys, but none of them make my heart race.”

“So what exactly are you looking for?”

“Someone like my brother, I suppose.” Yi Yu paused. “If my brother were five or six years older than me, I think I’d…”

“Stop right there!” Yang Xiaobei cut him off quickly. “If your brother ever found out you were fantasizing about him, he’d kick you to death.”

“I don’t care. He’s never even glanced my way since we were kids. So what if I daydream about him a little? It’s not like I’d actually do anything.”

“Yi Yu, let’s be honest—your family still doesn’t know you’re gay, right? Everyone knows your brother’s orientation, but your parents are surely counting on you to continue the family line. And yet…”

Yi Yu shrugged, unconcerned. “I’m still young. I’ll keep it a secret as long as I can. The real issue is, I haven’t even found anyone I’m interested in yet. I wouldn’t have a chance to come out even if I wanted to.”

“Go to a gay bar. You’ll find every type you can imagine there.”

“The kind I like probably wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like that. Forget it, it’s all about fate. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet someone today.”

Leaving the gym, Yi Yu was just about to get into his car when he caught sight of a man walking out of the tea room next door. Instantly, his gaze was riveted.

The man was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, a snowy white shirt peeking from the collar. From his hair to his shoes, every detail was meticulously groomed. He looked to be over six feet tall; his physique wasn’t bulky but the suit hugged his chest, emphasizing taut muscles and a slender, strong waist—a rare specimen of broad shoulders and narrow hips.

If one were to press a hand simultaneously to his lower abdomen and the point just below his hips, the lines where his thighs met his hips would surely stand out, a curve so sexy it made one’s heart itch with desire.

Of course, this was all Yi Yu’s fantasy. What truly satisfied him was that a man with such a perfect body also possessed a cold, refined, and deeply reserved face. Though the man’s features suggested he was not yet thirty, the depth and steadiness in his eyes, along with the powerful aura he exuded—one that seemed forged by time—convinced Yi Yu that this man was well past thirty.

Yi Yu stood motionless by his car, eyes glued to the man as though he’d discovered a priceless treasure. Excitement buzzed in his head, dizzying and overwhelming.

Perhaps Yi Yu’s gaze was too intense, for as the man, You Hanzhe, stepped off the curb, he turned slightly in Yi Yu’s direction.

Yi Yu flashed a mischievous, captivating smile, winked at You Hanzhe, and blew him a kiss.

You Hanzhe stared at Yi Yu, expressionless. After three seconds, he turned and asked his assistant, “Is that kid over there greeting me?”

“It seems so. Would you like me to go ask?”

(YawnBro: This story should be finished within the next month. I hope to start a new one in early April. I have two ideas for angsty stories. Do you prefer realistic, down-to-earth BL, or do you enjoy more outrageous, melodramatic stories—the kind that are a guilty pleasure, like ‘Competing for the Devil’s Favor’? Please leave a comment—your feedback means a lot to a conflicted author like me!)