UAAG CH61

The meandering Huangpu River seemed to be at their feet, its surging waters reflecting the jet-black night sky and the brilliant lights of the opposite shore. Su Fei held his phone, frantically snapping photos of the night scenery across the river. The last time they came to Zhuo Huan’s house, the punk teen had also taken quite a few photos, which Fu Cheng invariably saw later on his WeChat Moments.

This time, Su Fei took over a dozen photos, selected nine good ones, edited a post for his Moments, and sent it out nonchalantly.

“Another lonely night, accompanied only by barbecue and the night view of the Huangpu River.” Old Joseph held his phone and read out the words on the screen.

Su Fei said angrily, “What are you doing, Old Joseph? I just posted it, and you’re already looking.”

Old Joseph laughed heartily: “Isn’t it meant for people to see, Fly?”

When it came to showing off, Master Zhuo’s style was an overwhelming, all-encompassing dominance. The minor was naturally far inferior, only managing a forced flex to maintain his persona.

After fooling around for a while, all the food was placed on the table, and Su Fei began to grill meat for everyone.

Zhuo Huan gave the key to the wine cellar to Old Joseph, who excitedly ran down to the first floor and picked a bottle of fine wine. Facing the cool evening breeze and gazing at the distant night view of Pudong, everyone drank wine and ate barbecue.

Old Joseph started talking about his time serving in the US military when he was young.

Everyone listened curiously.

Zhuo Huan held his wine glass, leaned back in his chair, and propped his face up with one hand, his expression hidden in the dim night. Su Fei and Lina’s attention was focused on Old Joseph; only Fu Cheng kept thoughtfully observing him.

After finishing a glass of wine, Zhuo Huan clicked his tongue, scratched his hair in irritation, and got up to leave.

No one noticed his departure, assuming he just wanted to use the restroom. Fu Cheng was silent for a moment, then got up and followed him.

Zhuo Huan was pouring wine at the first-floor bar.

Fu Cheng walked over.

After a brief silence, he asked, “Was there a problem with that phone call downstairs earlier?”

Zhuo Huan finished pouring wine for himself and was about to pour some for Fu Cheng. Fu Cheng pressed his hand over the rim of the glass: “I don’t like drinking.”

He did smoke, but he truly didn’t like drinking.

Zhuo Huan stopped pouring for him. He sat side-by-side with Fu Cheng on the bar stools. He tilted his head, looked at the young man in front of him, his gaze lingering on his handsome features, then lazily hummed an affirmation: “Robert’s call.”

Fu Cheng’s heart tightened.

Robert Gatsby, a physics professor at the University of California, San Diego, and one of the helpers Zhuo Huan enlisted to find Rogue 318.

“Did Professor Robert say anything?”

Zhuo Huan: “The supercomputer calculated all the data three days ago.”

Fu Cheng: “Mn.”

Zhuo Huan: “Then they searched for three days and found nothing.” His expression was calm, but it couldn’t hide the displeasure and irritation in his tone.

Fu Cheng thought for a moment: “The final search area determined by the supercomputer should have been narrowed down to 500,000 square kilometers. In three days, even if three salvage companies worked together, they couldn’t possibly search 10,000 square kilometers. Not finding it in these three days doesn’t mean it won’t be found later.”

“What if I told you that before this range was determined, they had already searched 60% of that area?”

Fu Cheng froze instantly.

Zhuo Huan propped his chin with one hand, his dead-still eyes staring unblinkingly at Fu Cheng.

Their eyes met, but neither spoke.

Suddenly, footsteps clicked on the stairs. Lina walked down, saw them, and smiled: “What secrets are you two whispering about here?”

Zhuo Huan looked away and continued drinking.

Fu Cheng stood up and asked her, “Going to get the cake?”

Lina’s gaze shifted between the two of them, and the blonde woman smiled slightly: “Yes. That poor courier seems to have gotten lost in the residential area and doesn’t know where to go. Fu, would you like to come with me to help him?”

Fu Cheng was surprised; he hadn’t expected Lina to invite him: “Of course.”

The two went out the door together.

Lina: “Fu, there’s something you must forgive me for, but I’m truly extremely curious. Please, you must tell me.”

Fu Cheng looked at her in surprise: “Forgive you? Lina, have you done something to wrong me?” He smiled gently.

Lina blinked: “What if I told you that when I looked up your personal information initially, out of curiosity, I accidentally looked up a little bit more?”

Fu Cheng’s pupils constricted.

Lina: “You must forgive my curiosity. Fu, I never pry into other people’s privacy without permission. It’s just that your resume has always been perfect; you’ve been a top student since childhood. You only got a disciplinary record once in high school… so, I checked into that incident.”

His heart suddenly relaxed. Fu Cheng said helplessly, “You’re curious about why I fought with someone?”

Lina reminded him: “To be precise, you fought someone for your girlfriend.”

Fu Cheng thought about it and smiled at her: “It wasn’t a big deal. I’ve mostly forgotten about the past. Kids just have trouble controlling their tempers. If there’s a conflict, fighting should be quite common.”

Lina’s pale blue eyes gazed at Fu Cheng’s gentle smile for a moment. She smiled: “Mn, I just didn’t expect you to have impulsive moments too.”

Fu Cheng smiled noncommittally.

Soon, the elevator reached the ground floor, and the two went out to find the lost courier.

Fu Cheng could tell that Lina might have misunderstood. But it really wasn’t a big deal.

Regarding his first girlfriend, Fu Cheng had long since forgotten most things. In his vague memories, he only recalled a girl who loved to smile, with two small dimples by her lips, always wearing long white dresses. In those teenage years when girls had hair down to their waists, she was like a fragrant gardenia; all the boys in the school were captivated by her. Naturally, she was the “school belle.”

Fu Cheng met her in his second year of high school when they were assigned to the same class.

When he was young, Fu Cheng had no thoughts about romance. He had only heard of this legendary school belle but never paid attention to her. However, that girl noticed him, and soon, she launched a frantic pursuit of him.

Lina said something else, her eyes curving with laughter. Everyone in UAAG knew that Lina was exceptionally beautiful. In fact, she had tens of millions of followers on Twitter, not just because she was the heiress of the McFly family, but also because of her superior education and personal abilities, and even more so, her beautiful looks.

Fu Cheng couldn’t remember his first girlfriend’s face at all, but he vaguely recalled that the girl had big eyes and, like Lina, a sweet and gentle smile.

He was just a high school student back then. Being pursued by a beautiful and cheerful girl naturally generated good feelings. In their third year, after she confessed to him once again and was rejected, she finally couldn’t help but cry. Fu Cheng, for some reason, had a moment of softness and agreed. And so, they started dating.

Middle school romance basically meant holding hands, at most a kiss on the cheek.

As for that fight Lina misunderstood…

Fu Cheng lowered his eyes to the ground, hands in his pockets, and continued walking forward with a calm expression.

That fight left a deeper impression on him than the girl herself.

The reason was definitely different from what Lina misunderstood. It was just that the girl came from a poor family. Someone spread rumors that she was working as a prostitute outside of school to make money, which was why she could afford brand-name phones and nice dresses. A delinquent in the school had had a crush on the girl for a long time, but she ignored him. So the delinquent gathered a group of people to humiliate her, spreading rumors everywhere that she was a prostitute.

As her boyfriend, Fu Cheng naturally couldn’t sit by and watch, so he got into a fight with that group.

However, not long after that incident, the college entrance exam ended, and he broke up with the girl.

She indeed wasn’t a prostitute, but she had other boyfriends outside of school, and those boyfriends gave her many gifts.

He didn’t mention this not because he felt embarrassed—dating only once in all these years and getting cheated on. Fu Cheng simply didn’t like discussing a girl’s character behind her back, and it had been so many years. A few years ago, he seemed to have seen in the high school group chat that the girl had married a rich man and was living very happily.

“Do you think Old Joseph will like the rum flavor?” Lina asked with a smile.

Fu Cheng snapped back to reality and smiled: “He’s been looking forward to this cake for a long time. In fact, ever since he tasted it once two months ago, we’ve all been looking forward to it. If Old Joseph knew you not only ordered a cake for him but specifically chose the rum flavor, he would be even more moved.”

The two quickly found the lost courier and returned.

Unpacking the cake, they put candles on for Old Joseph.

Su Fei egged him on: “Make a wish, make a wish! Hurry up and blow out the candles, we want to eat cake.”

Old Joseph laughed, clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and made a wish.

Su Fei asked curiously, “What wish did you make?”

Lina raised her slender eyebrows: “Su Fei, wishes can’t be said out loud, or they won’t come true.”

Old Joseph waved his hand: “It’s fine, I’m not from your family, I don’t follow those rules. I just wished for good health for myself and everyone I know! Hey, minor, don’t think just because the atmosphere is good and everyone is happy that you can secretly drink. Put my wine glass down!”

Su Fei: “Tch!”

Everyone laughed heartily.

They partied until 10 PM, and finally decided to call it a night.

Zhuo Huan leaned against the door, arms crossed, staring expressionlessly at this group of people who had made a mess of his house and were finally clamoring to get out.

Fu Cheng was the last to leave. He bent down to change his shoes, and before he could straighten up, he felt a light poke on his lower back.

Standing up, Fu Cheng turned his head to look at the man.

Old Joseph and Su Fei were telling a joke, making Lina laugh.

Zhuo Huan leaned against the doorframe, looking at Fu Cheng with a faint smile, his lips curving up: “Come to my house tomorrow.”

Fu Cheng’s lips moved. He mumbled a vague “Mn,” then entered the elevator with Old Joseph and the others to leave.

The next day.

Fu Cheng was still suffering from jet lag.

The phone rang frantically in the room like noise. Fu Cheng was groggily awakened. He buried his face in the pillow, reached out to grab the phone, and said softly, “Hello…”

“Fu Cheng, you’re really something.”

A cold, handsome face flashed through his mind instantly. Fu Cheng said hoarsely, “Mn? Zhuo Huan…”

The young man’s husky, sexy voice carried a trace of softness never seen before, as if he were acting coquettishly. For a moment, the phone line fell silent. After a few seconds, Zhuo Huan clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction: “I told you to come to my house today.”

Fu Cheng woke up instantly. He slowly opened his eyes, lay on the bed, glanced at the clock on the wall, and said calmly, “Isn’t it only 11 AM right now?”

Zhuo Huan: “Mn?”

“…I’ll go in the evening.”

After a brief silence, Zhuo Huan laughed low: “What are you thinking about, Fu Cheng?”

Fu Cheng: “…?”

“Want to sleep with me that badly? No need to wait for the evening. Come now. Remember to buy condoms and lubricant at the convenience store downstairs before coming up.”

Fu Cheng: “…”

Now he was completely and thoroughly awake.

Fu Cheng propped himself up to sit straight, holding the phone in one hand, his voice calm: “What is it exactly?”

Zhuo Huan: “Come over, help me move.”

“…”

Fu Cheng had absolutely no idea why he had come to this man’s house at 1 PM to help him pack.

Actually, Zhuo Huan didn’t have many personal belongings.

This high-end penthouse apartment by the Huangpu River was like a decorated model home. Every piece of furniture and decoration was a carefully selected imported luxury item. It had everything a high-end residence should have; the only thing missing was the aura of a home belonging to Zhuo Huan himself.

After organizing clothes into suitcases, packing a few bottles of wine, and some accessories like watches and bracelets.

By 4 PM, the two had packed a total of four suitcases.

Fu Cheng rubbed his sore wrist. Having been busy until now, he finally remembered to ask: “Why are you moving?”

Zhuo Huan raised an eyebrow: “You can’t guess?”

After a moment of silence, Fu Cheng asked, “Is this house being sold too?”

“Mn. Selling it all packaged together, furniture included.”

Fu Cheng: “Then where do you want to live? Lina said this was your last property in Shanghai.”

As if hearing something funny, Zhuo Huan stared at him fixedly. His clear pupils gradually took on a dancing color. He scoffed, simply propped himself up with both hands to sit on the marble table in the entryway, and looked down at Fu Cheng: “Do you like pretending not to understand that much, Fu Cheng?”

Pursing his lips, Fu Cheng didn’t answer.

Zhuo Huan reached out and pinched his chin: “I’m living at your place.”

After a long silence, he finally said, “UAAG employees all have staff dormitories. I didn’t live there because I have my own place nearby. I’ve seen the apartments Old Joseph and Su Fei live in; the conditions are very good. If you call Lina, I think she can arrange it tonight.”

Zhuo Huan: “You’re so noisy.”

Fu Cheng looked up at him.

Zhuo Huan lowered his head and kissed those noisy lips.

Four suitcases sat at their feet. In the spacious, bright house, only the wet sounds of kissing softly echoed. The man no longer sat on the marble table; he stood up and pressed Fu Cheng against the wall to kiss him.

“Won’t be coming here again. Should have fucked you here once…” Zhuo Huan laughed low.

Fu Cheng turned his head to dodge the kiss, panting with red eyes: “I didn’t buy condoms.”

Zhuo Huan bit his lip: “Then let me do it without one, inside you.”

Fu Cheng pushed him away.

Zhuo Huan looked at him and laughed.

Ten minutes later, Fu Cheng called a car.

Although he had said he’d let a certain man stay in the apartment, Fu Cheng still wordlessly led the person to his own door. Unlocking the door with his key, Fu Cheng opened the shoe cabinet and took out a pair of clean slippers for the man. As he stood up, his gaze fell on a family photo placed on the shelf in the entryway. Fu Cheng reached out and placed the photo frame face down.

“Are those your parents?”

His body stiffened slightly. Fu Cheng turned around: “No, my uncle and aunt.”

Zhuo Huan changed his shoes, his tone casual: “Where are they?”

Fu Cheng said calmly, “Passed away in an accident a few years ago.”

Zhuo Huan looked up at him, reached out to wrap his arm around the young man’s waist, and kissed him lightly on the lips.

Four suitcases of stuff weren’t easy to pack, and even harder to put away.

Fu Cheng: “Why didn’t you ask Lina to help?”

Zhuo Huan: “You want her to know we’re living together?”

Fu Cheng: “…”

Forget it then.

Night fell, and the two finally finished unpacking Zhuo Huan’s luggage.

Fu Cheng didn’t make the bed in the guest room, as if tacitly accepting where this man would sleep.

Zhuo Huan: “Got any smokes?”

Fu Cheng found a pack of cigarettes in the drawer, opened it, and found only one left. He said, “I’ll go downstairs to buy a pack.”

Ten minutes later, Fu Cheng opened the door and entered the house carrying a plastic bag from the convenience store.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw a certain man standing by the door, arms crossed, looking at him with deep eyes. Fu Cheng paused. He put the plastic bag with the convenience store logo aside and bent down to change his shoes. Just as he straightened up, the man’s kiss pressed down directly.

The faint smell of tobacco mixed with the fresh scent of verbena shampoo. In the narrow entryway, as if to complete what was left unfinished at the penthouse door earlier, Zhuo Huan sucked hard on the young man’s lips, fingers threading into his hair.

The two kissed frantically in the entryway.

Before leaving for the bedroom, Fu Cheng grabbed the handles of the plastic bag, his voice hoarse: “I bought them. Don’t forget to take them.”

Zhuo Huan smiled and bit his earlobe: “I really like it when you don’t play dumb…”

Lying on the bed he had slept in for over twenty years, Fu Cheng closed his eyes and clenched his teeth, but couldn’t stop the sounds escaping from between them.

Of the newly bought condoms, two were used in one night.

Originally, only one was used, but later when the two took a shower, Zhuo Huan opened another one.

In the early morning, Fu Cheng was sleeping heavily. Having truly expended too much energy, the sudden ringing of the doorbell downstairs failed to wake him.

A certain man with neurasthenia wasn’t so lucky. Frowning, he endured for half a minute. When the doorbell rang a second time, he cursed “Fuck” angrily and threw off the covers to open the door.

Five minutes later, Old Joseph, wearing sportswear and running shoes, took the elevator to Fu Cheng’s door. He rang the doorbell and laughed heartily: “Fu, we rested for a day, time to go running again…” His voice stopped abruptly.

Looking at the man standing at the door, glaring at him with a face full of anger.

Old Joseph was stunned for a long time: “Reid, why are you here?” He glanced at Zhuo Huan’s body, which was obviously casually dressed—wearing no underwear, just a pair of trousers: “…Don’t you wear clothes?”

Zhuo Huan scoffed: “I like sleeping naked, got a problem?”

“Oh, of course not. Where’s Fu? What are you doing at his place?”

Zhuo Huan smiled: “Him? Still sleeping, I guess. Want me to wake him up for you?”

__

Author’s Note:

Zhuo RIP: I feel like I’ve been dazzled by Fu Cheng’s beauty lately. Blame him for seducing me.

Fu Chengcheng: Please leave my house right now!

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