UAAG CH71

With Lina away, everything seemed business as usual—nothing out of place. Yet, it was only when Lina returned that you could truly tell the difference.

At 8:00 AM, just after Fu Cheng finished washing up, he received a call from Lina.

“Bonjour, good morning, Fu. According to your biological clock, I assume you’re already up. I ordered breakfast to be delivered to your room this morning so you wouldn’t have to go downstairs. You might be wondering why I did that—it’s because we’re changing hotels today.”

Fu Cheng didn’t react immediately. “Changing hotels?”

Over the phone, Lina’s voice was filled with a smile. “Yes, to a better hotel. So, with the time you saved this morning, you can pack your luggage. Tonight, after I pick you and Reid up from McFly and take you to the new place, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find your luggage already waiting in your new room.”

Fu Cheng: “Alright, I understand. Thank you.”

After hanging up, Fu Cheng looked thoughtfully at the dark screen of his phone.

They were due to return to Shanghai next week, yet they were suddenly switching hotels now… It could only be because of what happened in the underground parking garage a few days ago.

His gaze darkened slightly. The young man wiped his face with a calm expression, walked into the bedroom, and began to pack. By the time he finished, the hotel room service cart had arrived. After eating breakfast, Fu Cheng took the elevator down to the first floor. He was just about to head for the exit when he saw the blonde woman sitting on the lobby sofa.

Lina spotted him immediately.

Fu Cheng walked over, surprised. “Lina, are you going to McFly today too?”

Lina shook her head. “No, I just came to give you all a little gift.” Saying this, she looked past Fu Cheng’s shoulder to the man walking up behind him. “Reid, how rare. You actually came downstairs on time.”

Zhuo Huan looked as if he had just woken up. His eyes were weary as he asked indifferently, “What gift?”

Lina picked up a gift bag from the sofa and pulled out two exquisite boxes, handing them over with a smile. “I saw these while shopping in New York—just a little something for you guys. I have some for Su Fei and Old Joseph too; I’ll give theirs to them when they get back.”

Zhuo Huan opened the box directly and took out the watch inside. “I have this model.”

Fu Cheng hadn’t intended to open his gift in front of Lina, but seeing Zhuo Huan’s action—and remembering that Lina might appreciate the gesture—he opened his box as well. Inside the small, elegant box sat a watch. Fu Cheng glanced up at the one in Zhuo Huan’s hand.

They looked very similar.

Lina asked, “Are you sure you have the exact same one, Reid? Look a little closer.”

Zhuo Huan took another serious look and drawled lazily, “Oh, the dial has one more diamond than this one.”

Fu Cheng put his watch away. “Thank you, Lina. I like it very much.”

He put the watch away quickly, but the man beside him still caught a glimpse. Zhuo Huan paused slightly, his gaze lingering on the small box in Fu Cheng’s hand for a few seconds. He let out a chuckle through his nose, and when he spoke again, his tone held a hint of imperceptible pleasure. “Yeah, thanks.”

The new hotel was closer to the McFly factory.

Entering his room that evening, Fu Cheng initially assumed it would be a suite like the previous hotel. However, the moment he walked through the door, he saw a spacious, expansive living room. Stunned for a moment, Fu Cheng set his things down and looked around.

This room was much larger than the last one—there were three bedrooms alone.

While he was wondering why such a large room had suddenly been booked, his phone rang. Fu Cheng checked it.

[Su Fei: I’m back!]
[Su Fei: Hey Brother Fu, which room are you in? I’m coming to find you.]

Su Fei and Old Joseph had both taken flights back to Los Angeles today. Fu Cheng thought for a moment and replied: [2714. Do you need something?]

A moment later, the punk teenager replied: [I’m coming to get you, then we’ll go to RIP’s room together.]

At the exact moment that message popped up, another message appeared at the top of his screen.

[Zhuo Huan: Come to my room, 2703.]

Staring at that short line of text for a long time, Fu Cheng picked up his phone and typed a reply.

[Okay.]

Half an hour later, everyone had gathered in Zhuo Huan’s room, including Su Fei and Old Joseph, who had just returned from various parts of the world.

Su Fei brought a hard drive and a large box of materials, while Old Joseph rolled up his sleeves, laughing. “Alright then, back to work the moment I land. We agreed on a paid vacation, but I haven’t had a single day off—I’ve been working for you the whole time, Reid! Tell me, will there be a bonus?”

Sitting in front of his computer, Zhuo Huan scoffed. “No.”

Old Joseph wore an expression that said I knew it. “Figured.”

Zhuo Huan continued, “Starting today, McFly will begin improving and developing the new landing gear in the lab. It’s estimated to take five days to install the new gear onto the aircraft for a test flight. From now on, for five days, you have five nights to conduct data predictions for McFly’s new aircraft model. During the day, I will be in the McFly lab verifying your data. Don’t worry, they won’t notice a thing.”

Lina blinked and said, “I recall that I seem to be a shareholder of McFly. Is it really okay for you to discuss stealing McFly’s trade secrets right in front of me? And Reid, don’t forget, you’re a shareholder of McFly too.”

Zhuo Huan: “Ha? You think Thor Rayner and I are on the same page?”

Lina: “Hmm… I don’t quite understand what you mean?”

Su Fei chimed in, “Yeah, aren’t we just secretly working on McFly’s new model design! Hehe, cut the crap, my hands are itching to start. Doesn’t this feel like we’re shooting a movie? Mission: Impossible? Infernal Affairs?”

Old Joseph stroked his chin. “Are we not working on McFly’s new model?”

Fu Cheng’s heart stirred; he suddenly understood Zhuo Huan’s meaning. He looked up at Zhuo Huan, but the man shifted his gaze away a second before their eyes could meet.

Zhuo Huan scanned everyone in the room and clicked his tongue softly. “You all really disappoint me. McFly wants to improve the F475 to compete with the Boeing 787. They aren’t willing to spend new time and costs to design a brand new aircraft, so they’re only making improvements on the old design. The changes are interesting, but if applied entirely to a new plane… Wow, why not just make it better? This thing can be done better.”

Su Fei: “What do you mean?”

Fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk, a careless smile playing on his lips, Zhuo Huan said lightly, “It means we start from the new idea Thor Rayner provided, follow the new path he opened up, and go further. He only walked a hundred meters; I should at least walk a thousand.”

He looked at his subordinates and smiled provocatively. “Don’t you have confidence?”

In that moment, a bright road seemed to slowly unfurl before them.

Su Fei, Old Joseph…

Even Lina, a McFly shareholder, looked at her best friend and companion, her heart suddenly swelling with endless conviction and determination. It felt as though as long as they followed this man, believed in him, and went in the direction he pointed, they would inevitably reach a brilliant end.

Su Fei was brimming with excitement. “Go! Let’s hurry!”

Old Joseph: “Sigh, this old man has to pull all-nighters again. Is there overtime pay, Lina?”

Lina smiled. “Lina isn’t in charge of overtime pay, but as for coffee, Lina promises you’ll be satisfied.”

In an atmosphere of intense passion, everyone excitedly opened their computers and began their overnight work.

Su Fei poked Fu Cheng’s shoulder with his elbow. “Brother Fu, what are you doing? Why aren’t you talking?”

Fu Cheng snapped back to reality.

He glanced at the man sitting behind the computer screen, smoking while typing rapidly. Withdrawing his gaze, he said to Su Fei, “Nothing. You just got back to Los Angeles. If there’s anything you need to ask about the situation and data in the McFly lab over the past month, ask me. I’ve been recording and calculating most of the data. Also, there were a few design points I couldn’t solve while you were in Tokyo…”

In the study, the rich aroma of coffee mixed with the faint smell of cigarette smoke. The lights stayed on all night, and the floor was littered with various documents, data sheets, and different design directions and proposals. Whenever a plan was rejected, Zhuo Huan would crumple it into a ball and throw it irritably onto the floor.

For five whole days—during the daytime, Zhuo Huan and Fu Cheng still went to the McFly lab. They acted as if they had done nothing, continuing to research various data for the new landing gear just as they had for the past month. At night, everyone gathered in Zhuo Huan’s suite, proposing various possible improvements intensely within the study.

The fifth day. Only one day remained.

All the work was nearing its conclusion; the group seemed about to step onto the path that Thor Rayner had quietly sought.

At 4:00 AM, Su Fei and Old Joseph were so exhausted they had fallen asleep on the sofa. Lina had long since returned to her room.

Fu Cheng was reviewing a batch of experimental data, his eyes moving rapidly across the computer screen, marking all dangerous points that exceeded or bordered on critical values. After finishing another 115 pages of data tables, Fu Cheng rubbed his temples. He looked up and saw Zhuo Huan behind his monitor, wearing glasses, frowning as he typed.

His gaze lingered on the man for a few seconds before Fu Cheng set his computer aside and walked quietly out of the study.

He went to the bathroom, washed his hands, and opened the door to leave.

Looking up, Fu Cheng saw Zhuo Huan leaning against the wall next to the massive floor-to-ceiling window. His hands were in his pockets, a cigarette clutched between his lips. Hearing Fu Cheng open the door, he turned his head to look at him. Their gazes met in the air.

For the first time, Fu Cheng felt like he was looking into the depths of this man’s eyes.

They were a clear, innocent light color. Due to extreme exhaustion, the look the man gave him didn’t hold much spirit.

The light was dim. The bathroom door closed automatically behind Fu Cheng. There were no other light sources in the room; only the study light was on.

Zhuo Huan looked at the young man before him, suddenly unsure why he had inexplicably followed him out after he left the study. He didn’t do anything, didn’t say anything—he just stood by the door, smoking, waiting for him to come out.

But now that he was out, no one spoke. There was only a heavy, dead silence.

Zhuo Huan finally spoke, his voice hoarse. “Test flight tomorrow. Get some sleep early.”

This sentence sounded very familiar; Fu Cheng’s vision blurred for a moment. His body reacted before his brain did. A month ago, this man had said the exact same thing to him, and then they had spent the entire morning in bed together.

His body recalled many memories, but his mind remained as quiet as stagnant water.

Fu Cheng slowly raised his head, looking at the man in front of him.

As their eyes met, Zhuo Huan slowly lowered his gaze to the young man’s lips. Suddenly, a strong emotion and desire rose in his heart—he wanted to kiss this person.

And so he did.

Holding the cigarette in his hand, Zhuo Huan lowered his head, slowly leaning in toward Fu Cheng’s lips.

In the silent dead of night, all was quiet except for their heavy breathing. Beyond that, there was only the quiet beating of hearts within their chests.

Under his sleeves, Fu Cheng’s fingernails had already dug into his flesh. He should dodge this kiss, use action to push him away, just walk away. But he couldn’t move. His body was stiff, but the moment he closed his eyes, a pain like tearing—like a rusty, dull knife silently grinding against his heart—took over.

It hurt so much his eyes soured and swelled; his throat was dry, choked deeply with emotion.

Fu Cheng began to smile. He asked, “By the way, Teacher Zhuo, when are you moving out after we return to China?”

Zhuo Huan’s movement stopped abruptly.

He looked at the young man before him, his eyes slowly darkening. “Hmm?”

Fu Cheng: “It’s been such a long time. I’ve realized that I seem to still prefer women a bit more.”

Zhuo Huan stared at him without a word and asked, “What do you mean?”

Fu Cheng: “I don’t want to be friends with benefits with you anymore.”

Zhuo Huan didn’t speak.

Fu Cheng said with a smile, “The apartment I’m living in now belongs to my uncle and aunt. Although it belongs to me now, it’s not good to let an outsider stay there forever. Once you find a suitable place, please move out. My cousin is in the UK right now, but she comes back sometimes. If she finds out I’m letting just anyone live there, she might be unhappy.”

After saying this, Fu Cheng didn’t speak again. He had used almost every ounce of his strength to say these words in such a calm tone.

But Zhuo Huan didn’t respond for a long time.

It felt like he couldn’t hold on much longer; Zhuo Huan’s burning gaze was making it increasingly difficult to maintain the composed, calm smile on his face.

The smile at the corners of his mouth stiffened slightly. Fu Cheng tried hard to keep his head up, looking at him firmly.

Those few short seconds felt as long as a year.

Zhuo Huan clicked his tongue softly and laughed. “Ah, alright then. I’ll just move out directly when we get back. Actually, I didn’t sell that penthouse apartment.”

Fu Cheng froze.

Zhuo Huan scratched his hair and drawled lazily, “I was going to sell it, but on the day of signing the contract, I didn’t sign. But since I’d already moved into your place, I didn’t move back. I figured it would be more convenient to sleep with you this way.”

Convenient.
Convenient to fuck you.

Breathing quietly stopped.

Fu Cheng: “Teacher Zhuo, do you enjoy lying that much?”

Zhuo Huan: “What did I lie to you about?”

Fu Cheng: “The house wasn’t sold.”

Zhuo Huan: “Oh, sorry about that.”

The barely maintained smile had long vanished. Fu Cheng gave him a deep look, turned, and left. He didn’t go back to the study; instead, he opened the room door directly and walked out.

The moment Fu Cheng walked out, the arrogant, brash smile on Zhuo Huan’s face disappeared instantly. He looked at the door that had been slammed shut, leaned his head back against the wall, slowly raised his hand, and covered his face.

“…Fuck!”

His voice was hoarse and powerless.

On the other side, pushing open his room door, following the hallway, Fu Cheng walked with the calmest steps possible, one by one, to his own door. He took out his key card, swiped it. Pushed the door, entered.

Everything was kept calm and peaceful, but after the door closed behind him, Fu Cheng walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. He sat in the single armchair by the window, propped his chin on one hand, widened his eyes, and looked at the night scenery outside.

It was a pitch-black, dense void without a single reflection. The glass reflected only this cold room and the person sitting on the sofa, grieving silently.

His heart had been forcefully gouged out, hollowed out.

Feeling a sudden coolness on his face, Fu Cheng raised his hand to wipe away moisture that shouldn’t have been there. He looked at the water glistening on his fingertips, utterly bewildered. His lips parted, then slowly closed again. The next moment, a massive wave of nausea violently assaulted his throat. Fighting back the urge to vomit, after an unknown amount of time passed, Fu Cheng took out his phone, opened his contacts, and found the two words: Zhuo Huan.

Almost vengefully, using all his strength, he typed out a sentence, word by word.

[Having sex with men doesn’t seem that great either. Is it always like this with men, Teacher Zhuo?]

His finger hovered over the send button, but he didn’t press it for a long time.

Five minutes later.

[Fu Cheng: After we return to the country, do you want me to help you move?]

[Zhuo Huan: Sure.]

Author’s Note:
Fu Cheng’s Cousin: In my database, I’ve only seen my cousin cry once, and that was during the 318 air disaster.

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