Ding Shengguang was so scared that the cigarette almost fell out of his mouth.
Even for a veteran like him, it was a huge challenge to capture a good girl in one night, let alone He Xian.
Besides, he didn't know the other person's background. Straight? Gay? A fickle person or a chaste woman? She looked introverted and quiet, but what if she was a psychopath and stabbed He Xian instead of having sex? He would be dead. The more Ding Shengguang thought about it, the scarier it became. He couldn't help but feel that his provocation was a bit too much.
"No, why does it have to be one night? You'd better do it within your ability..." As soon as Ding Shengguang's words of dissuasion came out, they sounded more like a provocation.
He Xian didn't drink much and was only a little drunk. He smiled.
Ding Shengguang warned fearfully: "Be sure to take safety measures. You know, safety comes first."
He Xian was helpless. He waved his hand at Ding Shengguang and said, "I still have some common sense. Okay, don't spoil the fun."
He was just tired and wanted to relax.
The more seriously you take a relationship, the more hurt you will get in the end. He has already used up all his seriousness in his life.
Near the company, He Xian caught Lin Sitao.
Lin Sitao sent Zhou Xu away and was standing by the roadside waiting for the red light, preparing to take the subway back. Buses were in short supply recently, and he didn't want to trouble the driver to take a long detour after sending Zhou Xu off, and being stuck in traffic during the evening rush hour would be a waste of time.
He Xian asked the driver to park the car in front of Lin Sitao.
He rolled down the window and said, "Get in the car. I'll take you for a ride."
The young man's eyes lit up, he was surprised and happy, and he couldn't stop smiling.
He Xian thought this was cute—probably everyone in the company didn't know his identity and background, so it was normal for young people to be happy to have the opportunity to interact with him.
"Xiao Lin?"
“Lin Sitao. Si means thinking, Tao means waves.”
"How many years have you been working?"
"Four years."
"Have you been following Teacher Zhou?"
"Yes."
He Xian chatted with Lin Sitao and asked about his background, but he never asked where he lived or where he should be taken. The funny thing was that Lin Sitao himself didn't ask anything.
He Xian found it interesting.
The car had been driving for nearly twenty minutes before Lin Sitao seemed to notice something was wrong. Looking at the scenery passing by outside the car window, he felt a little uneasy.
"Mr. He, I..."
He Xian calmly explained: "There is a bar I like. I have made an appointment with a few friends today. You can come with me. There is a designer there. I will introduce him to you."
He liked bars, but of course he didn't have any friends or designers.
Lin Sitao understood as soon as he entered the bar. There was only He Xian and him.
This was a quiet bar with a nice environment. Since it was a weekday, there were not many customers inside. He Xian sat side by side with him at the bar and did not mention work again.
He introduced the wine to him, its taste, and how to drink it, in a calm and low voice.
Lin Sitao felt that He Xian was flirting with him.
Wait, calm down, he thought. Is He Xian really flirting with him
He had once misunderstood that He Xian liked him. If he misunderstood it again, he would have to die.
"Don't drink too fast." He Xian reminded him.
Lin Sitao was so nervous that he drank most of the glass of wine just after sitting down for a while.
He asked tentatively: "Mr. He, your friend hasn't arrived yet?"
He Xian smiled: "They are not coming."
Lin Sitao said: "Why don't you call and ask?"
He Xian was about to laugh. He looked at Lin Sitao with a look of "you're kidding me" and said, "No need. I just remembered that I remembered the wrong date. There are only two of us today."
Lin Sitao blinked. He Xian was flirting with him, there was no doubt about it!
He lowered his head, only regretting that the wine glass was not big enough to fit his face. He remained silent for 60 seconds.
“… If you think it’s too boring with just the two of us, I’ll call a few more people over,” He Xian said.
"No!" Lin Sitao raised his head suddenly.
He Xian was amused. He thought Lin Sitao was really cute. There had been a lot of bad things going on at home recently. He hadn't been this happy for a long time.
Lin Sitao looked at He Xian's slightly tipsy appearance and thought he was extremely handsome. Now was the best time to tell He Xian what had happened in the past nine years. But he didn't want to say it anymore. Maybe he didn't need to say it now, and he never needed to say it. He wanted He Xian to think that all this was accidental, and that He Xian had found him first and wanted him first.
He didn't say anything in the end. It was ten o'clock. The singer sang two English songs. They finished listening. He Xian picked up his bag and said, "Let's go. I'm drunk. You take me home."
Lin Sitao helped him get a taxi and accompanied him in the car.
He Xian closed his eyes to rest in the car. Lin Sitao sat in the back seat with him and looked at his face: "Mr. He, are you feeling unwell?"
He Xian didn't say anything, and Lin Sitao moved closer. He Xian reached out and held his hand. Lin Sitao didn't break free, and he went limp. Fortunately, they got off the car quickly, and He Xian didn't make any further moves. That was it, and Lin Sitao was already speechless when he got off the car.
It was certainly different from the temporary dormitory near the construction site back then. Standing in the entrance, Lin Sitao could feel the atmosphere of life everywhere—slippers scattered around, scarves draped over the handrails of the stairs, He Xian turning on electrical appliances with ease—this apartment must be He Xian's own residence, or at least one of his own residences.
The living room is very large, with two large and beautiful bay windows facing south. There is a vase on the windowsill, and in the vase are the flowers that He Xian held that day. Lin Sitao couldn't help but smile, and greeted it in his heart - it's great that you are not given away to others.
There are books under the window. The TV background wall is also made into a huge book wall. The TV is embedded in the middle.
He Xian brought the tea set from the restaurant. Lin Sitao was standing in front of the bookshelf, looking at it intently. In addition to books related to engineering and architecture, there were also many books on history, art, novels, and non-fiction literature, covering a wide range of subjects.
"Is Mr. He interested in sociology?" Lin Sitao asked. There are many sociology books on the bookshelf.
He Xian did not answer directly, and said, "I saved so much without realizing it." He asked Lin Sitao to have some tea.
"Do you like this book wall?" He Xian couldn't help but laugh as he stared at Lin Sitao.
Lin Sitao nodded: "Really... good."
The place he lived in was very small and he couldn't store many books.
He Xian said softly, "Then you must visit my study." He stood up and Lin Sitao followed behind him. When going upstairs, He Xian held Lin Sitao's hand, as if he was a child and was afraid that he would fall, so naturally and so gently.
Lin Sitao could only stare at He Xian's wrist with affection. He felt like he was in heaven. It was warm and bright, surrounded by people and things he loved.
The study room on the second floor is even better, with a workbench for work and a sofa for relaxation. The sofa is a double sofa, so two people can squeeze on the sofa to read and chat.
He Xian glanced at the sofa and pushed Lin Sitao to the side of the desk.
Lin Sitao raised his head and looked at him.
He Xian did not miss this look. He put his arms around Lin Sitao's waist and kissed his lips.
To him, this was a kiss without any weight. Because it was a kiss of pure pleasure. No expectations, no vows, just a kiss.
Lin Sitao kept sliding down, but He Xian held him up, and in the end the two of them hugged each other tightly.
"Feeling so good?" He Xian whispered in his ear.
Lin Sitao was speechless and could only nod. He was already hard.
He Xian began to untie his belt.
"Mr. He, are you single now?" he asked in a low voice. He just needed to make sure of this.
He Xian paused and said, "Yes."
He paused, but still hugged Lin Sitao, and said, "I want to make it clear beforehand."
What? Lin Sitao saw a crack.
He Xian said: "What happened tonight doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean that our relationship has changed. It doesn't mean that I will treat you specially. This matter has nothing to do with feelings."
Lin Sitao understood that He Xian just wanted to have sex. He hugged He Xian's arms tightly and then fell down weakly.
He Xian also let him go.
Lin Sitao stood there in a daze. He felt the light was so bright that it was blinding.
—He's just a seemingly easy target for hookup/sex.
"If you don't agree, you can do it now..." He Xian's voice seemed very far away.
"I'm leaving, Mr. He. Goodbye." Lin Sitao said calmly.
Walking out of the apartment and onto the roadside, it was snowing again late at night. Lin Sitao couldn't help it and started crying as he sat on the roadside.
He was not crying for himself today. He was crying for himself nine years ago and in the past nine years. The man he loved for so long turned out to be a man he imagined, a man who did not exist.