AD Chapter 13

Qin Yi repeated, “You see me as a friend?”

Shen Du replied bluntly, “Aren’t we?”

Qin Yi stared at his face for a while, then squeezed some disinfectant gel onto his hands and said, “We are. Why wouldn’t we be?”

After packing up his tools, he added, “Excuse me, friend.”

Shen Du watched his back and quickly caught up with him in two steps. “So, can you tell me now?”

“There’s nothing to say. Liking something doesn’t need a reason.” Qin Yi flipped through the work log on the table and asked, “Want some water?”

When Shen Du heard him say “liking,” his heart trembled, but he also felt like Qin Yi was brushing him off. “Forget it if you don’t want to say. I’m clocking out. See you tomorrow, Boss Qin.”

He emphasized “Boss Qin” with particular weight.

Boss Qin looked at him with a strange expression. “See you tomorrow?”

At first, Shen Du didn’t understand what that look meant. Though puzzled, he didn’t bother asking. It wasn’t until he got home, showered, and, as usual, moved his rocking chair to the balcony to cool off, that he finally understood—when he saw Qin Yi on the balcony next door.

It was late, so at first, he hadn’t noticed anyone there. But then he caught a whiff of a fresh scent of body wash, one that smelled just like Qin Yi.

The other person seemed to have just showered too. His hair was damp, and he wore a white tank top and knee-length shorts, making his long limbs stand out. He looked like he could feed several mosquitoes just by sitting there.

For Qin Yi, this kind of outfit could be considered “careless,” which didn’t match Shen Du’s usual impression of him. So until their gazes met, Shen Du didn’t dare believe it was really him.

“Boss Qin?”

Qin Yi didn’t know how long he had been standing on the balcony, half of his face hidden in the darkness. “What song were you humming just now?”

“Nothing, just humming randomly. But you—how come you’re here—” The words were about to leave his mouth when he suddenly realized, raising his voice, “The new tenant in 1602 is you!”

Qin Yi was his new neighbor!

“You look surprised.”

The two balconies were very close, less than a meter apart. Shen Du walked over and leaned on the railing to get a better look. “Shouldn’t I be surprised? When I moved in, you didn’t tell me the place next door was yours.”

Having just showered, Qin Yi casually threw on a short-sleeved shirt with a slightly loose neckline that slid down with his movement, revealing a small portion of his shoulder and collarbone. The tail of a cat tattoo peeked out from under the sleeve.

Qin Yi’s fingers curled around his cigarette pack.

“It’s closer to the shop,” Qin Yi said, “You didn’t ask.”

“I’ll have a smoke.”

Qin Yi had a great physique, the fabric of his clothes clinging to his broad chest, highlighting his firm pecs and tight abs.

His long, slender hands swayed in front of Shen Du, making him feel a little restless. He smiled at him. “Hey, Boss Qin, give me one.”

Qin Yi looked a little rogue with the cigarette between his lips. “You still smoke?”

Shen Du raised an eyebrow. “Who told you I don’t?”

Last time, someone had taken a puff and started coughing uncontrollably. Qin Yi didn’t bother arguing, tossing the pack to him. “Only one.”

Shen Du caught it and clicked his tongue. “Don’t talk to me like that. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you’re something special.”

He took a cigarette, put it between his lips, and tilted his head. “Fire.”

Qin Yi’s gaze lingered on his neck before he walked over, resting his elbow on the railing, leaning slightly forward.

The silver lighter made a sharp “click,” and Qin Yi shielded the flame with his hand, extending it forward. Shen Du lowered his head, the flame flickering between their faces.

They were so close that the distance seemed negligible.

In the evening breeze, Qin Yi’s scent quickly got replaced by the sharp, acrid smell of nicotine, causing Shen Du to squint.

“This cigarette’s not that great,” he tossed the pack back.

Qin Yi didn’t say anything, lowering his head to light his cigarette. Through the smoke, Shen Du thought the gesture looked incredibly sexy.

“Hey, I’ve got a question for you.”

Qin Yi exhaled a smoke ring. “Ask.”

Shen Du took a moment to organize his words and said, “Isn’t it common for people in your line of work to get taken advantage of?”

Qin Yi probably didn’t understand the implication. “What do you mean?”

Shen Du mentioned the tattoo on the big guy’s butt from earlier that afternoon.

Tattoos weren’t strange, no matter where they were—on the chest, thighs, buttocks, or even more private areas.

After listening to Shen Du, Qin Yi chuckled briefly. “By your logic, shouldn’t it be me taking advantage of others?”

Shen Du paused, realizing that Qin Yi’s statement wasn’t wrong. It did seem like he was the one taking advantage, but he still said, “It doesn’t feel that way.”

After all, in the stereotype of ordinary people, handsome guys were always the ones getting taken advantage of.

Qin Yi had the face of someone who got taken advantage of.

“Hey, since we’re on the topic, I’ve got another question.” He looked at Qin Yi, his gaze intense. “Aren’t you gay? If you’re giving tattoos to someone’s private parts, wouldn’t that—”

Qin Yi finished the sentence for him. “Wouldn’t I get a reaction?”

Shen Du nodded emphatically.

Qin Yi didn’t answer right away. Instead, he threw the question back at him. “What do you think?”

“What do I think?”

Shen Du suddenly recalled the day he got his tattoo, when Qin Yi had gripped his arm, his breathing, and the look in his eyes. That “no” just wouldn’t come out.

“I don’t know,” Shen Du said, feeling helpless. “I’m the one asking you.”

“Just because you ask me, I have to answer?” Qin Yi lifted his eyelids. “You already know the answer.”

Shen Du felt like he was hitting cotton with his punch. He bit the cigarette, dryly saying, “So there is one?”

Qin Yi neither confirmed nor denied it, maintaining an ambiguous attitude. Shen Du ignored the subtle feeling in his chest and leaned closer, asking curiously, “What kind of people are they?”

Qin Yi’s eyes met his. “Are you sure you want to talk about this in the middle of the night?”

He teased, “Have we reached that point in our friendship, friend?”

“I don’t know how to respond to that question.”

In his study, Shen Du lay in his gaming chair, chatting with the live stream audience. “Do you guys think talking to him is infuriating?”

[Hahahaha, is she a straight girl? Hahaha]

[Straight girls don’t mess with anyone, stop starting fights.]

[You’ve pissed off Shen-sama, you’re not even using a filter.]

“Who’s using a filter? I’m not,” Shen Du coughed, returning to his usual live-stream voice.

It was all Qin Yi’s fault, almost exposing him.

The live stream audience told him not to use a filter, that his natural voice was fine. Shen Du refused to admit it. “I’m really not using one.”

But the audience didn’t believe him and insisted on arguing. Shen Du, annoyed, stopped talking to them. He put on some music in the background and went invisible. Just before logging off, he remembered he hadn’t yet dealt with [Dreamy Affection], so he clicked back into the app.

[Shen°: Come out and die]

[Dreamy Affection: ?]

[Shen°: Look at the good idea you gave me]

[Dreamy Affection: What’s up]

Shen Du typed away at the keyboard, typing out the events from earlier that morning, sending exclamation marks as if they were free.

[Dreamy Affection: .]

[Dreamy Affection: I thought something big happened]

[Shen°: Isn’t this enough to make you die?!!!!]

[Dreamy Affection: Did he reject you?]

Shen Du was confused: “I haven’t confessed to him, so why is he rejecting me?”

“Dreamy Affection” continued as if it hadn’t seen this message: [As long as he hasn’t explicitly rejected you, you can keep observing.]

[Shen°: I! Will! Observe! Him! For! What!]

[Dreamy Affection: Observe what your feelings for him are.]

[Shen°: ……]

[Shen°: I am straight.]

[Dreamy Affection: I didn’t say you like men.]

[Dreamy Affection: (Surprised)]

[Shen°: …………]

Shen Du directly exited the app, out of sight, out of mind.

The next morning, when he was shaken awake by his alarm, he was still dreaming, dreaming that “Dreamy Affection” was pressing him to confess who the man was that had stolen his heart.

This was insane.

Why did it always have to be a man?

Shen Du rubbed his aching temples, grabbed some snacks for breakfast, and was about to head out when he bumped into Qin Yi, who was passing by.

Before he could close the door, Qin Yi spoke first: “Good morning, Xiao Shen.”

Shen Du’s face remained expressionless: “You are much older, Lao Qin?”

Qin Yi looked over, and Shen Du’s tone became unfriendly: “Why aren’t you answering me, Lao Qin?”

“Speak, Lao Qin.”

Qin Yi: “…”

Qin Yi: “What, did you eat firecrackers this morning?”

Shen Du: “I didn’t eat firecrackers.”

Qin Yi: “Then did you eat breakfast?”

Shen Du thought, why not eat if it’s free: “Yes.”

At this time, the rice noodle shop downstairs was already crowded. Qin Yi went to the nearby convenience store to buy two bottles of water, and when he returned, he saw Shen Du sitting at a corner table, propping himself up on the table with his elbows resting on two pieces of paper, staring blankly at the air.

Qin Yi placed the soda on the table and sat down opposite him: “Still not awake?”

“A bit,” Shen Du unceremoniously opened the soda. The cold droplets on the bottle wall made him feel more awake. He looked at Qin Yi and said: “I’m a bit surprised you’d eat at this kind of fly-infested restaurant.”

“Do you think too highly of me?” Qin Yi also opened a bottle of mineral water and took a sip. “I’m just an ordinary man.”

“Ordinary men wouldn’t casually give away a tea set worth over a hundred thousand,” Shen Du said flatly.

The night he took the tea set home, he asked around and found out that the item Qin Yi had casually given away came from an auction, and along with it, there was a tea cake of Xinyang Maojian tea.

He was so shocked that he almost transferred money to Qin Yi immediately.

“I bought it to give away,” Qin Yi said, “What’s wrong, you don’t dare take it?”

The waiter brought over the noodles. Qin Yi reached out to take them and whispered a thank you.

He pushed the noodles toward Shen Du before opening a pair of disposable chopsticks for himself.

Shen Du watched his familiar movements coldly, once again reconsidering his view of Qin Yi. If it had been their first meeting, he would never have imagined that this person could sit on the street with him eating noodles.

“Dream on.”

Shen Du also opened his chopsticks and said: “If you give it to me, it’s mine. If there’s a loss, it’s your fault.”

After they went to the shop, Qin Yi went upstairs to work while Shen Du started cleaning. After a while, someone came into the shop. Niao Niao happened to be out taking the trash, so he went over to help with the reception.

He learned that one of them was a client of Xiang Nan, and the other was Qin Yi’s. Shen Du had them fill out their information, then went to the other side to make a voice call to Xiang Nan. Xiang Nan picked up quickly and told the girl to go upstairs directly.

After hanging up, Shen Du took the two girls upstairs. He first took the short-haired girl to the door of Xiang Nan’s studio, then led the other long-haired girl down the hallway.

During this time, he sensed that someone was watching him from behind. He understood but pretended not to notice, just focused on walking forward, not chatting with anyone, and no longer as friendly as when they were downstairs.

A few days later, Shen Du, the handsome shop assistant, had unexpectedly gained some attention online.

“Yi” Tattoo Shop was already quite popular, and a new face naturally sparked discussions. Shen Du often found people sneaking photos, but he didn’t care, as long as they didn’t ask for his WeChat, he ignored them.

Because of Shen Du, the shop became more crowded, and those who couldn’t get a reservation were happy to wait in the reception area, which made Niao Niao quite busy.

One day, she couldn’t take it anymore: “Shen Du, starting tomorrow, you’ll help on the second floor. Don’t come to the first floor for now.”

Shen Du said: “How can that work? This is my job.”

“Working on the second floor is the same,” Niao Niao said. “Sometimes Master Xia and the others can’t get away, and they need help. You can stay upstairs and go when someone calls for you.”

“That’s not too good…” Shen Du still wanted to refuse, but was dragged upstairs by the small girl. He didn’t know where she got so much strength from.

Afraid she might fall, Shen Du quickly steadied himself: “Okay, okay, I’ll go up, but you be careful.”

Niao Niao waved at him: “Go quickly.”

Shen Du went up to the second floor, checked around the studios, and finally arrived at the farthest room in the hallway. He pushed the door open and saw Qin Yi sitting at the desk, holding a pen. Hearing the door open, he didn’t look up, as if he wasn’t surprised by Shen Du’s arrival: “Did they send you up?”

“What do you mean, send me up?” Shen Du pulled out a chair and sat down. “What can I do? I’m just this charming.”

After chatting for a while, Shen Du became curious about what Qin Yi was drawing. He stood up from his chair: “Don’t you have any clients?”

“The client canceled.”

“You get stood up too?” Shen Du smiled, walked over, and saw a blackboard on the desk, with several tattoo designs attached to it by magnets.

At a glance, Shen Du spotted one in the middle—a butterfly. Its antennae and wings were long, and the lines were beautifully drawn. The blue wings of the butterfly seemed to tremble gently, emitting a mysterious glow.

He pointed at the flowing English letters above and asked, “What does this mean?”

“Psyche,” Qin Yi replied. “It’s the Greek word for butterfly, and also the name of the goddess of love’s wife. I also call it ‘The Lover’s Kiss,’ representing a deep connection of the soul and love that transcends.”

The meaning was a bit cheesy.

Shen Du asked, “Is this a new design of yours?”

“Yeah,” Qin Yi said. “Do you want to get it tattooed?”

The design was really beautiful, and for a moment, Shen Du felt moved. “With so many details, it must hurt a lot, right?”

“I don’t know about others, but for you, I think it would,” Qin Yi answered bluntly.

Shen Du wanted to say that was nonsense, but then remembered how painful it had been when he got his arm tattooed before. He felt a little hesitant but didn’t want to lose face in front of this person, so he said, “Isn’t that because your technique isn’t good enough?”

Qin Yi paused his pen, looked up at him, his gaze calm.

But it was this calm, unruffled look that made Shen Du feel an inexplicable shiver, as if he were being stared at by a wolf. Feeling somewhat offended, he didn’t back down and retorted, “Isn’t it?”

Qin Yi’s thin lips parted slightly, and he tossed out a sentence: “You’d better really think that way.”

That pair of pitch-black eyes stared at him, as if seeing right through him. Shen Du felt an unexplainable sense of guilt, so he lowered his head and avoided eye contact. He looked at the drawing instead, his hand gently brushing over the butterfly’s wings, and asked softly, “If I wanted to get it tattooed, where would you recommend?”

Qin Yi raised his hand and pointed to just above his collarbone. “Here.”

That night, under the hazy moonlight, the image of the boy leaning on the railing, asking him for a cigarette, made his heart warm. It made him think of a butterfly, its wings fluttering, ready to fly.

Unable to capture it, yet wanting to possess it.

He couldn’t sleep the whole night, hunched over his desk.

What Shen Du didn’t know was that this tattoo had been custom-designed just for him.