Fu Cheng was actually on the phone, taking a work call, when his mother, Ms. Jiang Peilan, called immediately afterward.
"This girl just returned from studying for a medical doctorate abroad. She is 28, gentle and steady in character, and very beautiful. You will definitely like her. I gave her your WeChat. If she adds you, remember to accept."
Fu Cheng replied directly, "No need. I am talking to the one from last time."
Ms. Jiang sounded puzzled, "Wasn’t the last one broken off?"
"Yes, but we started talking again later."
Hearing this, Ms. Jiang became even more puzzled. That girl had said she deleted his WeChat, and more than two months had passed. Yet they were talking again?
And recently, she had seen that girl, who already had a boyfriend.
Had her son become a side lover?
"You are not lying to me, right? I also have that girl’s WeChat. I can check to see if it’s true."
Fu Cheng said calmly, "I never joke about these things."
Ms. Jiang believed him. When his father had been critically ill, they had tried to get him to do fake marriage to ease his dad's mind, but he refused. Now it was even less likely.
"Alright then. As long as you like her, it’s fine to date anyone. If you bring a boyfriend home, I will accept it too."
Fu Cheng said flatly, "That is impossible. My sexual orientation is completely normal."
"Good, good. Impossible is better. You two date well. If you bring her home to eat, I will cook for her myself."
They chatted a bit more before hanging up.
Ms. Jiang still felt something was off. She opened that girl’s WeChat to ask about it, but remembered her son was always determined. Too much interference would only make him resentful, so she closed the chat.
Forget it. He is 30, not a child. He is more sensible than I am.
After hanging up, Fu Cheng saw the messages Wen Qianqian had sent and thought of her bright red cheeks and flustered reaction today. A small smile curved his lips as he replied.
Wen Moxue’s message was answered in less than three minutes.
Fu: I am free tomorrow.
Wen Moxue nearly dropped his phone on his face. They had known each other for a month and had only met three times so far.
He had thought the next meeting would be many days away. Why was this man so unpredictable?
Wen Moxue panicked again.
A Xiao Li: But I am not free tomorrow.
A Xiao Li: I have plans with friends to go buy a gift for brother.
A genius excuse to refuse.
Fu: No need. Keep the money for yourself.
A Xiao Li: That won’t do. Brother has given me so many things. I cannot be always take your money.
A Xiao Li: I also want brother to experience the joy of receiving gifts.
Fu: Okay.
Wen Moxue exhaled in relief.
—
The next day after class, Wen Moxue invited Shuyan to eat and help him decide what gift to buy.
It was his first time giving a man a gift. He had no experience at all.
They chose a luosifen hotpot restaurant in an alley near the school. From a distance, its smell was obvious, pungent yet fragrant. Adults and children usually complained, but college students found it just right.
Mostly, students from His University and the University of Technology came here. Prices were cheap, and during peak hours, there need to wait.
They arrived early, and there were few people. They were seated by the window.
After ordering, the hotpot base arrived, a pot filled with fried tofu sticks and red oil. As it boiled, the aroma hit their faces, the unique smell of luosifen filling their noses.
Wen Moxue waved under his nose. "This smell, it’s so intense."
"Tastes even stronger. Too bad my professor doesn’t like it. Otherwise, I would come every day."
Shuyan opened a bottle of orange juice and poured it into a cup. "By the way, weren’t you going to ask me something?"
"I want to buy a gift for Fu Cheng. Do you have any recommendations?"
"A gift, hmm. How about a watch?"
"Forget it. I see he already wears a watch. With his style, it must cost at least a million. If I buy one, it will just gather dust."
"Fool! You can buy two watches, one or two thousand each, the kind for couples. He will wear them every day. Every time he checks the time, he will think of you."
Wen Moxue’s eyes lit up. He gave a thumbs-up. "Brilliant, genius."
At that moment, the dishes arrived.
Shuyan added raw duck blood and beef balls into the pot and asked, "Your relationship is developing like a rocket. I feel he will soon take you to a hotel. What will you do?"
"Simple. I will say I am conservative and do not support premarital sex."
"Pfft."
Shuyan gave him a thumbs-up. "You really are a genius."
The luosifen hotpot tasted delicious and was very affordable. They spent just over 100 in total.
Shuyan ate until full, rubbed his stomach, and jealously glanced at Wen Moxue’s slim waist. "You eat more than me and don’t gain weight! Annoying!"
Wen Moxue shrugged. "Born this way. Nothing I can do."
He actually had a big appetite but never gained weight, sometimes even suffered from low blood sugar.
The entrance had a spray machine to remove the luosifen smell, but it barely worked on them. After putting their coats back on, the smell was much less.
A watch store was on the pedestrian street near the school. They walked there, and Wen Moxue explained what he wanted. The clerk brought out several couple watches for them to choose from.
Wen Moxue immediately liked a pair with starry blue dials and silver straps. The dials were decorated with tiny diamond-like pieces forming clusters like galaxies, giving the impression of time flowing through the endless universe. They looked exquisite and high-end.
The price was a bit high. Two together cost over 20,000, far beyond Wen Moxue’s budget.
But considering Fu Cheng had given him a bag worth over two million, could this be called expensive?
Besides, it was the money from Fu Cheng.
Thinking this way, Wen Moxue bought the two watches without hesitation. Maybe Fu Cheng would feel guilty knowing the price and immediately transfer the money back.
He had planned to avoid meeting for a few days, but it was Friday, and he had to work at the tea house.
This time, he did not have to act cute or pester Fu Cheng on WeChat to see him at tea house. Fu Cheng came to collect the gift himself.
A few days ago, the floor supervisor had unilaterally assigned Lin Ling to serve him.
Lin Ling, usually clever, must have had her head in the clouds, probably jealous of Wen Qianqian’s recent attention. Knowing Fu Cheng was difficult to handle, she still provoked him, making him displeased.
As a result, she and Lin Ling were scolded by the supervisor.
Today, seeing Fu Cheng arrive, the supervisor no longer acted on his own, waiting obediently for Wen Moxue to finish before letting him go.
Wen Moxue had never been this nervous. He took several deep breaths at the entrance before going in.
Fu Cheng was sitting there, hand on his temple. Wen Moxue immediately looked concerned. "Brother, what’s wrong?"
"I stayed up late last night. My head hurts."
Serves you right. Staying up at your age will make you bald.
Wen Moxue swore in his heart but spoke sweetly. "My grandmother is a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. She taught me some massage techniques. I’ll massage you, brother."
He had never learned properly, mainly intending to massage randomly to make him dizzy so he wouldn’t need to kiss him.
Fu Cheng made a sound of acknowledgment.
Wen Moxue walked behind him. His hair was neither short nor long, black and thick. Even at his age, not a single gray hair.
He must have secretly done a hair treatment recently.
Wen Moxue rubbed his hands, lifted them, and pressed on Fu Cheng’s temples. Using the pads of his index, middle, and ring fingers, he massaged randomly, not knowing proper technique.
"Does it feel good, brother?" Wen Moxue asked deliberately.
"Yes, a little harder."
Damn, still teasing.
Wen Moxue pressed harder for a while. His fingers got tired. To hide his inexperience, he rubbed the head as if washing hair.
A few strokes in, Fu Cheng grabbed his wrist.
"What are you doing, brother? This is my unique scalp nerve relaxation method. Don’t you like it?"
Fu Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you sure it’s not your unique seduction method?"
Wen Moxue: ???
"I am not!" Wen Moxue almost spat blood in protest. How was this seduction? Did he look that desperate?
"I am massaging seriously!"
"Fine." Fu Cheng seemed to believe him half-heartedly. Wen Moxue tried to withdraw his hand but found the man holding it too tightly.
"Brother, let go. I need to make tea."
Fu Cheng turned his head and looked at him, voice low. "Didn’t you say you would make me weak-kneed this time?"
Wen Moxue’s face flushed. "This is work. Someone could come in at any time."
"I warned them. They won’t come in casually."
Damn, well-prepared.
Wen Moxue cursed himself mentally. If he backed down now, Fu Cheng would be suspicious, and all previous efforts would be wasted.
It’s just a kiss. There is a bag worth over two million.
And he is so handsome, body so good, not a loss at all.
Thinking this, Wen Moxue took a deep breath, closed his eyes, leaned down, and kissed Fu Cheng. Because he applied a bit too much force, Fu Cheng made a muffled sound.
Last time he only kissed the corner of the lips. That time, he did not feel anything.
This time he was prepared. He clearly felt his lips touching the slightly cool lips of Fu Cheng. The cold, stiff man’s lips were surprisingly soft.
A strange tingling sensation spread from their lips, as if electrified, making his lips numb.
Next… what now?
Fu Cheng closed his eyes slightly. The one who had boasted about making him weak-kneed indiscriminately rubbed his lips against him, trying to escape, but Fu Cheng caught his waist.
With force from Fu Cheng, Wen Moxue let out a short gasp and fell into his embrace.
Then the man’s kiss fully landed.
Wen Moxue, a man, with his height and build, suddenly felt very small in front of the tall Fu Cheng.
He was trapped in the man’s embrace. Fu Cheng leaned over, imposing, enveloping him completely. The smell of the man filled his nostrils. Like a wolf, like a dense spider web, inescapable.
Wen Moxue was frightened.
He instinctively tried to push Fu Cheng away and run, but the man’s hands gripped his waist like iron, immobilizing him.
Fu Cheng kissed his soft lips, exploring with his tongue. Wen Moxue initially pressed his lips tightly to prevent the tongue from entering.
But as the kiss continued, he felt short of breath. His hands and feet weakened. A surge of tingling ran from scalp to body, making his mind dizzy. He instinctively parted his lips to breathe.
As soon as a gap opened, Fu Cheng’s tongue slid in.
Then his whole body went limp, like a violently tamed little beast, only able to yield.