Chapter 7: Gege Works Surprisingly Well

Both were stunned.

 

Lin Chuji thought to himself, So this form of address works regardless of gender.

Got it.

Next time he needed to ask for something, he’d use it on someone else.

He gave Xie Yan a grateful smile.

“Glad you like it.”

 

The Shen brothers stood at a distance.

They couldn’t hear the conversation, but they could see Lin Chuji taking the initiative.

After all, Xie Yan had gone from resistance to compliance in the blink of an eye.

“I’ve finally figured out how to describe that feeling—effortless control, letting the fish take the bait,” Shen Yibei said slowly.

“We straight guys can’t quite sense it, but with that kind of charm, wouldn’t it be a piece of cake for him to handle a pure-hearted high school boy like our Boss Xie?”

“Icy cold during the day, fiery hot at night.

That contrast,” Shen Yinan marveled.

“Damn—impressive.”

 

That one sip hit Xie Yan hard—the strong alcohol exploded in his mouth.

Only after several seconds did he start to reflect on his actions.

 

He said drink, so I drank.

Why am I so obedient?

 

And do all these gay guys just call any stranger ‘gege’?

Is he going to use that same flirtatious tone on someone else next?

 

Shameless!

Absolutely shameless!

 

Xie Yan pushed the empty glass back.

“Here’s your glass back.

Thanks.”

 

Lin Chuji, however, was absolutely delighted.

This was the first time he had successfully initiated a conversation with someone.

His brows and eyes relaxed, and he said cheerfully, “Want another drink?

I can mix you something different.”

 

Xie Yan looked down at the empty glass, distracted.

“No more.”

 

Lin Chuji keenly sensed something off in his attitude.

Did I say something wrong?

Which sentence made him unhappy again?

But knowing that the person across from him was Xie Yan, who would never easily embarrass anyone, this social training session while wearing masks and pretending to be strangers had turned from an awkward ordeal into a fun game.

 

He discreetly scrolled his phone and looked at Step 6 of A Guide to Saving a Social Phobic: After breaking the ice, you can extend further based on the other person’s preferences.

Appropriate accommodation will make the atmosphere more pleasant.

When the opportunity arises, exchange contact information.

 

Alright.

Keep going.

 

Lin Chuji pulled a high stool and sat across from him, feigning casual inquiry: “How old are you?”

 

Xie Yan: ?

 

How old?

Is he asking my age, or are all gay guys this direct?

 

Lin Chuji recalled topics they had discussed before and went on: “I just turned eighteen.

I wanted to get into the Seeker of Excellence Men’s Athletic Academy but didn’t make it.

I’m planning on Tieling Excavator Technical School.”

 

Xie Yan: ???

 

You’re using the fake school name I made up for you to pick up other men?

You’re something else.

 

Lin Chuji furrowed his brow.

What’s wrong now?

Isn’t he an extrovert?

His mouth never stopped before.

Now I’m using his school to get close to him, and he’s acting like someone poisoned him mute.

“How about we add each other as friends first?”

Lin Chuji closed the page on his phone.

Afraid of exposing his WeChat, he pulled up his long-unused QQ QR code.

 

Xie Yan: ??????

 

Back then, you were paranoid about adding me on WeChat.

Now you’re all over a stranger.

You’ve really mastered the art of double standards.

 

Seeing that Xie Yan hadn’t moved from his sitting position at all, Lin Chuji hesitated.

“Have I offended you?

I’m sorry.

I don’t really understand social boundaries.”

 

Xie Yan was indeed not pleased, but at least he had manners.

Besides, quite a few people were watching, especially that floral shirt guy who had been eyeing him like a hungry wolf from the start.

In the end, he took out his phone, scanned the code, and added him.

“Alright.

Do your own thing.

I’m out.”

 

Their usernames were both mysteriously changed to punctuation marks—one a period, one an ellipsis, blatantly trying to hide something.

 

Lin Chuji, experiencing a lack of social anxiety for the first time, still wanted more.

“You’re leaving already?”

“What else?

Do you want to play something else with me?”

Xie Yan stood up, his tone slightly teasing.

 

Lin Chuji hesitated.

He wanted to continue practicing socializing with him—after all, there were still seven or eight or ten more tips he hadn’t tried, and he didn’t know if they would work.

After a few seconds of thinking, he chose an unusually outgoing reason: “I like talking to you.

Even just chatting is fine.”

 

Xie Yan was struck speechless by this direct hit.

He paused for a few seconds, then confessed, “But I’m not interested in you.”

 

Lin Chuji: “…”

 

With this level of conversation skills, if this were a subject, I’d already have to retake it.

Sure enough, even with the enthusiastic Xie Yan, he couldn’t establish a good connection with a stranger.

 

Lin Chuji nodded.

“Okay.”

 

Through the mask, Xie Yan couldn’t see his expression, but he could feel the lively energy from moments ago fading away, turning somewhat sullen and pitiful.

Thinking he might have been too harsh, he added, “Because I don’t like guys.”

 

Lin Chuji didn’t want to explain.

He said softly, “I understand.

Sorry to bother you.

You can go.”

 

Xie Yan felt a blockage in his chest, stuck halfway.

He turned and gestured to the brothers who had been watching the show for a while, then walked a good distance away and found a seat in the corner.

“What’s up with you two?

Did you fight?”

Shen Yinan asked curiously.

“Fight?

My own mother wouldn’t recognize me with this mask.

How could he tell who I am?”

Xie Yan tapped his mask.

 

Shen Yibei slapped his thigh in sudden realization.

“Here we were marveling at your mutual attraction, but he was actually flirting with a stranger he didn’t even know!

Let me interview you: face to face but unrecognized, and still flirted with—feeling bitter?”

 

Xie Yan: “…Bitter my ass.”

 

Shen Yinan looked at his friend sympathetically.

“So pitiful.

Loving isn’t a crime, forgetting isn’t freedom… how does the rest of that song go?”

 

Xie Yan had no idea what was wrong with them now.

He ordered a fruit platter, tossed small tomatoes into his mouth one by one out of boredom, and slowly let his gaze drift back to the bar.

Remembering that ear-burning gege, he turned to Shen Yibei: “What do you usually call him?”

“Bro.

What else would I call him?

Oh, sometimes I call him dumbass,” Shen Yibei said, confused.

“You’re the dumbass,” Shen Yinan shot back.

 

Xie Yan nodded.

So it’s just because Lin Chuji is gay that I’m being sensitive about this.

Straight guys call each other ‘gege’ too.

Nothing to worry about.

 

He relaxed against the back of his chair and noticed that the floral shirt guy who had been hovering around earlier had bought two cocktails from the bartender.

The lighting was dim, but he vaguely saw the man pull a small packet of powder from his sleeve and quickly pour it into one of the glasses, dissolving it into the wine-red liquid.

“What the f*ck?”

Xie Yan couldn’t see clearly.

He sat up straight.

 

The floral shirt guy carried the spiked drink over to the bar.

Lin Chuji gestured for him to put the drink down, shedding his previous “don’t come near me” aura and suddenly becoming warm and engaged.

Xie Yan watched him clumsily lean in, tilt his head, and whisper in the man’s ear.

 

What they said was unknown, but the intimate manner was a far cry from the barely concealed disdain in every punctuation mark of his earlier conversation.

The crowd that had gathered around the bar had already dispersed, leaving only the two of them standing there, swaying in the moonlight, looking for all the world like they were flirting.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Shen Yinan tugged his arm.

 

Xie Yan turned back, incredulous.

“So he’s only hot and cold with me, right?”

Or was he the kind you used once and then threw away daily?

 

Shen Yibei was dying of laughter.

He managed to hold back this galloping wild horse.

“They’re having a good time chatting.

Why are you butting in?

But come to think of it, your handsome roommate really does attract guys easily.

Can’t stop them even with a mask.

That guy’s been circling him like a fly for ages.”

 

Xie Yan let out a dismissive scoff.

 

Over there, Lin Chuji’s thin lips curled slightly as he picked up his glass and clinked it with the other man’s.

Just as he raised it to his mouth to down it, Xie Yan’s expression changed.

He shook off Shen Yinan and rushed through the crowd.

“Hey—” Shen Yibei wailed behind him.

 

Xie Yan reached out and grabbed Lin Chuji’s wrist.

“Don’t drink!”

 

But it was too late.

Lin Chuji had already downed the whole thing, not a drop left.

 

A meddler had suddenly appeared.

The floral shirt man was clearly flustered.

He deliberately knocked Lin Chuji’s glass to the ground, sending glass shattering everywhere.

Relieved, he offered a half-hearted apology: “Sorry.

Slipped.”

 

Lin Chuji said loosely, “It’s fine.”

 

Xie Yan stared at his crimson lips and cursed inwardly, Idiot.

He wasn’t sure what the powder was, but it definitely wasn’t anything good.

Based on his experience, it was likely some kind of stimulant.

He lowered his voice.

“Do you feel unwell?”

 

Lin Chuji shook his head.

“No.”

 

The floral shirt man was now thoroughly unnerved.

He couldn’t see the newcomer’s face, but his tall, strong build clearly wasn’t someone he could handle.

Besides, even though he had avoided the cameras and blind spots, he didn’t know if he had been noticed.

In any case, this was no place to linger.

 

He adjusted his mask and said perfunctorily, “Since you two want to chat, I have other things to do.

I’ll go first.”

“You can’t go.”

Xie Yan grabbed his collar and yanked him back.

The force was tremendous; the man slammed into the bar with a loud bang, making several nearby people turn their heads.

The floral shirt guy winced in pain.

“Let him go,” Lin Chuji said softly, looking at Xie Yan.

“You just gave your name and room number.

Mr. Zhang Ming in Room 103, right?

We can play again tomorrow.”

 

Xie Yan was about to explode.

The daytime and nighttime versions of Lin Chuji are so different.

He’s being incredibly forward, flirting with anyone he sees.

 

Zhang Ming nodded, forcing an awkward smile.

“Okay.

See you tomorrow.”

 

Lin Chuji grabbed Xie Yan’s sleeve, signaling him to let go.

Reluctantly, Xie Yan released his grip and watched the man flee.

 

He looked down and ground his teeth.

“If you keep being this brainless, you’ll be eaten alive without even knowing it.”

 

After being spoken to harshly, Lin Chuji did something rare—he laughed.

His eyes curved, as if a galaxy of stars had fallen into them, very bright.

“What kind of alcohol tolerance is that?

You get stupid when you’re drunk,” Xie Yan said, his head aching, softening his tone.

“He drugged you, didn’t you know?

We don’t know what it was.

You need to see a doctor and get checked.”

 

Lin Chuji looked at him quietly for a moment, then propped his elbow on the bar and crooked his finger at him.

“Come here.”

 

Xie Yan felt that he was different from his daytime self after drinking.

Yet he instinctively leaned his head in, as if hypnotized, and asked softly, “What?”

“Just now, when I leaned in, I switched the glasses.”

The background music was loud, but Lin Chuji’s voice was light.

“He’s the one who drank the spiked one.”

 

He wasn’t good at socializing, but that didn’t mean he would be taken advantage of.

He had endured the discomfort, used a little sleight of hand to switch the two identical glasses, and then tricked the man into drinking it.

No big deal.

 

But Xie Yan felt his breath brush softly past his ear, very ticklish.

After several seconds, he slowly processed the meaning of his words.

“So you knew all along.”

 

Which made him look rash instead.

 

Lin Chuji hummed in affirmation and pointed at the empty glass on the table.

“This is physical evidence.

I’ll keep it safe.

Since the ship is at sea, I can’t file a report yet, but he can’t escape either.”

 

Xie Yan relaxed, his tone becoming light.

“And here I was worried for nothing.

You’re so smart.”

 

Lin Chuji repeated slowly, “I’ve always been smart.”

 

Xie Yan looked up at him, his gaze meeting those clear eyes.

At this moment, Lin Chuji was more talkative, more approachable, softer.

“Are you a good drinker?”

Xie Yan asked.

“Should be,” Lin Chuji replied, his speech clear.

 

Only then did Xie Yan remember that they were still wearing masks, still playing the game of not knowing who the other person was.

But now he didn’t want to reveal himself.

He had been toyed with by Lin Chuji all night, everything seemingly under Lin Chuji’s control, making him feel like he was losing.

 

Seeing that he was fine, Xie Yan nodded.

“Then be careful.

Go back early.

I’m really leaving this time.”

 

Lin Chuji’s lips curled again.

“Okay.”

 

After they parted ways, Lin Chuji washed up in the public bathroom, changed his clothes, and then—in an obvious attempt to hide something—returned to Room 404.

 

Xie Yan, already in his pajamas, lay on his bed playing Honor of Kings, pretending he hadn’t gone out at all.

Now that the masks were off, the relaxed atmosphere of their earlier chat was gone, replaced by their true selves.

Lin Chuji felt a belated sense of shame, especially since they had both sworn that afternoon to do their own thing and not bother each other.

 

The atmosphere became awkward.

 

Xie Yan suddenly spoke: “What time are you going to sleep?”

 

Lin Chuji looked up at him.

“Something wrong?”

 

Xie Yan said calmly, “I’m afraid you’ll tie me up in the middle of the night, so I have to wait for you to fall asleep first.”

 

Lin Chuji’s cheeks were already flushed from the alcohol, and now the redness spread straight to his earlobes, hot enough to drip blood.

“I already said last night was an accident!

I don’t remember it!

Besides, didn’t you tie me up the first night?

At best, we’re even!”

 

Xie Yan thought, Good.

He knows everything.

So he wasn’t really asleep the first night.

Exposed.

Confirmed.

He really was just a substitute tool for that ex-boyfriend.

 

He leaned back against the headboard and said casually, “How is that even?

You also hugged me.

To be fair, shouldn’t I hug you back?”

 

Lin Chuji furrowed his brow and instinctively retorted, “You… unreasonable… you… perverted and shameless.”

 

Xie Yan burst out laughing.

The closeness brought on by the alcohol earlier had vanished.

He turned on the camera’s night mode, set it on the bedside table, and said loosely, “Who’s the pervert really, Lin Chuji?

I’m just reminding you not to let what happened last night happen again.”

“Of course it won’t!”

Lin Chuji reached out and turned off the room light, cutting off any further communication.

 

It was already late.

Lin Chuji had drunk alcohol, but his mind was still clear.

He thought about his masked conversation with Xie Yan that evening—it had been one of the few pleasant social experiences he could remember.

So why couldn’t they talk normally face to face?

 

Lin Chuji sighed and opened the new account he had just added on his phone.

[.]: Thank you for today.

Whether it was chatting with me at the beginning or your enthusiastic intervention later, I’m rarely treated with such consideration.

 

Within two seconds, a reply came.

[…]: No problem.

[…]: And, although I really don’t like guys, I also hope you won’t just pick anyone.

[…]: No other meaning.

Strangers can be good or bad.

I’m afraid you can’t tell the difference.

 

It was so late, and he wasn’t asleep either.

Lin Chuji carefully turned his head to sneak a glance.

Xie Yan was facing away from him in the same position, the faint glow of his screen reflected on the white wall.

 

Lin Chuji looked away and muttered softly, “I have such social anxiety.

Finding one familiar person to pretend to be a stranger with is already good enough.

Who else could I find?”

[.]: I won’t.

[.]: At most, I’ll only look for you.

There won’t be anyone else.

 

Xie Yan stared at those lines, reading them back and forth twice, making sure he understood the meaning.

The corners of his mouth, which had been lifted, slowly lowered, becoming a straight line.

 

See?

Lin Chuji is fishing for backups again.

He hasn’t recognized that this person is me, so to him, I’m another candidate.

And he says something like that to a stranger.

 

And here I was, worried he wouldn’t sleep well after drinking, forcing myself to stay awake.

Forget it.

Let him fish.

Whoever he hooks has nothing to do with me.

 

Xie Yan didn’t reply.

He furrowed his brow, turned off his phone, and tossed it aside in annoyance.

“Lin Chuji, don’t come bother me tonight.”

 

If Lin Chuji dared to climb into his bed again tonight, he would kick him off without mercy.

No more softness.

 

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