Chapter 6

Yang Yunran has an extraordinary passion for gourmet food.

Perhaps it’s because he can’t find much freshness in his mundane life. As a public figure, there are many things he can’t do, and the ones that provide excitement are either too daring for him or simply not desirable. Being in a bizarre and eccentric circle, Yang Yunran seldom interacts with normal people anymore.

Food is a great remedy. Yang Yunran eats popcorn one after another, offering some to Jiang Yi, who shakes his head, declining, and only sips on his soft drink.

After two hours, the movie ends, and they finish the large bucket of popcorn. As they stand up, Yang Yunran glances at the couple next to them, their faces sweet and flushed, having no idea how many times they’ve touched each other during the movie.

Yang Yunran doesn’t dare to touch them and quickly pulls Jiang Yi away.

Jiang Yi says he needs to use the restroom and subtly slips his hand away from Yang Yunran’s grip. He thinks Yang Yunran lacks discretion, but he doesn’t directly point it out to him.

Yang Yunran might be lacking a sense of security, feeling too lonely. He’ll return to his country in a few days and will find new good friends.

Jiang Yi drives and drops him off at home. Just before they arrive, Yang Yunran yawns and says, “I still need to walk the dog when I get home.”

Jiang Yi: “It’s already 9:30, you still need to walk the dog?”

Yang Yunran: “Yeah, usually someone helps me, but today he’s out on a date.”

Zhao Youmo just messaged him, saying he might not be able to finish his date by 9:00, so he might come to walk the dog around 11:00. If Yang Yunran can’t accept it, he’ll end the date early.

Of course, Yang Yunran doesn’t force him to end it early. He just says, “Okay, you go on your date first, I’ll head home soon.”

When they reach his door, Jiang Yi presses down the car window after Yang Yunran says goodbye and asks, “Will you be down in a few minutes?”

Yang Yunran bends down, “Huh? Isn’t the date already over?”

Jiang Yi remains expressionless. His face, outlined by the shadow of the car, looks distinct and profound. He says, “Walking the dog at this late hour isn’t safe here.”

Although Yang Yunran lives in a relatively safe area, the probability of encountering danger at night is still high due to the legality of carrying firearms.

Yang Yunran only intends to take a short walk in the small park downstairs. Jiang Yi wants to accompany him, which he doesn’t object to. Smiling, he says, “Park the car properly and come up with me. The park is closer from the other entrance of the apartment.”

Jiang Yi turns off the engine and gets out. He’s tall, his shadow casting over Yang Yunran’s face.

Yang Yunran isn’t sure if Jiang Yi has been to his place before, so he doesn’t ask. He uses facial recognition to open the door, takes the elevator upstairs, and then retrieves his keys.

“the keys open the door, and a warm and enthusiastic Samoyed leaps on him.

“Harry! Harry!” Yang Yunran falls to the ground, his face licked all over, looking a bit embarrassed. He hugs the dog and heads to where Jiang Yi is.

Jiang Yi stands at the doorway, not entering, with a commanding presence. From Yang Yunran’s perspective, he seems exceptionally tall, with attractive features in his skull and jawline.

“Jiang Yi, come in, I’ll wash my face, and then I’ll close the door.” There are elderly neighbors nearby, and Yang Yunran is worried about disturbing them, so he urges Jiang Yi, “Come on in.”

Jiang Yi closes the door and stands on the doormat.

“There are slippers in the shoe cabinet,” Yang Yunran tilts his head, pushing the dog away. He can’t resist, but he’s also genuinely happy, “Okay, okay, stop licking me. I’ll take you out in a minute.”

Yang Yunran sits on the floor and directs Jiang Yi, “In the second drawer of the entrance cabinet, there are snacks. Could you get a big bone or cod intestine for me?”

Jiang Yi, being quite obedient and compliant, opens the drawer and pulls out something, “This one?”

Yang Yunran doesn’t see it clearly, “No, not that.”

Jiang Yi sees it clearly—it’s a sex toy, still in its packaging, likely for women’s use, and hasn’t been opened yet.

His brows furrow lightly, feeling as if he’s been scalded, Jiang Yi quickly and somewhat awkwardly throws the item back into the drawer, looking at Yang Yunran at the same time.

How could a guy have this kind of thing at home?

Yang Yunran is still unaware of what he saw. Although he carefully looked through the belongings of the original owner, he didn’t pay much attention to items that looked like snacks. Yang Yunran says, “You opened the wrong drawer. It’s the one below, the second one.”

Jiang Yi, with a stern face, opens the drawer and observes the packaging of the Shepherd’s dog on it for a moment, confirming it’s the right one, then takes out the cod intestine and hands it to him.

Yang Yunran feeds the dog, and while Harry eats the cod intestine, he gets up, “Make yourself at home.” With that, he goes to the bathroom to wash his face.

Jiang Yi doesn’t come in, still standing at the door, lost in the chaos of seeing that toy.

Jiang Yi’s gaze shifts to the open bathroom door, where Yang Yunran is washing his face meticulously with facial cleanser.

Yang Yunran may have called a prostitute from the red-light district or may have a regular partner, which is why there are such things at home.

Of course, that’s none of his business. Jiang Yi scans his living room, neat and rich, filled with vibrant colors of life. There’s an electric guitar in the corner, a computer, and books on the table, and it seems there are also music scores.

Shortly after, the two go downstairs together to walk the dog in the small park. Yang Yunran wears a hat, scarf, and gloves, but he doesn’t find the opportunity to hold Jiang Yi’s hand.

He feels Jiang Yi is a bit awkward in this aspect, not at all proactive. Didn’t they just interact closely in the cinema?

Do you want to kiss him yourself? Why aren’t you reacting now?

Jiang Yi holds the dog’s leash and helps him walk.

The holly trees in the small park are adorned with fairy lights and colorful decorations, and there are a few people strolling around, couples or elderly.

So Yang Yunran reaches out and loops his arm around Jiang Yi’s, causing Jiang Yi to stop and look at him.

Yang Yunran blinks, “The security here is too poor, I’m scared.”

Jiang Yi doesn’t like this. He loosens his arm slightly, wanting to go back early, so he asks him, “Are you cold?”

Yang Yunran nods, “Yes.”

He thought Jiang Yi would hug him or hold his hand and put it in his pocket to warm it up, isn’t that what other couples do? But Jiang Yi doesn’t.

Jiang Yi’s expression remains unchanged, “Hmm, let’s go back then.”

Yang Yunran is a bit puzzled. He tilts his head up. What’s wrong with this guy? Jiang Yi lets go of him and walks back while walking the dog.

Soon he sends Yang Yunran back.

“I’m leaving.” Jiang Yi doesn’t enter the house. The corridor is bright, stretching his tall shadow. He says, “Get some rest.” It’s his only gesture of thoughtfulness.

Yang Yunran unconsciously tilts his head to the right. Forget it, he won’t dwell on it. He calls out to Jiang Yi, “Wait for me.”

Yang Yunran grabs an apple, one of the many Zhao Youmo bought today. He hands one to Jiang Yi, “Merry Christmas, here’s a peace apple.”

Jiang Yi wasn’t expecting this. When he takes it, he seems a bit surprised, saying, “Thank you.”

Yang Yunran also notices he wasn’t prepared. Don’t couples exchange gifts on Christmas when they’re dating? Or is he just stingy? He’s not stingy, though. He spends a lot of money on meals without batting an eyelid. Yang Yunran is a little confused. He walks Jiang Yi to the elevator, and Jiang Yi says, “You don’t have to escort me, I know the way.”

Yang Yunran: “Goodbye.” He returns to his room, opens his phone, and sends a message to Jiang Yi: “Drive slowly, let me know when you’re home.”

Then Yang Yunran receives a notification from the dating app:

[500 people like you already! Come and chat with them!]

Yang Yunran accidentally taps on it. He didn’t use a frontal photo when registering on the app, only a side profile photo stored on his phone. The original owner had a new phone, so there weren’t many photos, just one that was decent.

You need to match to chat, but Yang Yunran hasn’t matched with anyone. Jiang Yi’s ambiguous behavior makes him feel restless. Does Jiang Yi feel that he’s different now? This makes him feel irritated, so he matches with a few people on the app and starts chatting aimlessly.

There are Chinese and foreigners, and the conversations are all dull, asking about his hometown, and university, some even start with compliments.

Cute, pretty, beautiful, asking about height, where they live. Some even start sending private messages/photos directly. Yang Yunran’s face darkens, and he deletes them.

He types quickly, chatting with four or five people at the same time.

At this moment, a message pops up from Jiang Yi at the top of the screen: “I’m here.”

Yang Yunran immediately exits the app and replies: “I had a great time eating and watching movies today. Can you come pick me up tomorrow? I’d like to have dinner at your place.”

Jiang Yi replies: “Sure.”

Just two words, nothing else, no typing indicator, no follow-up, as if they were just ordinary classmates. Jiang Yi’s indifference stirs up Yang Yunran’s competitiveness, so he deliberately leaves him hanging for thirty minutes and chats with someone else.

After half an hour, Yang Yunran realizes he’s wasting time. The purpose of chatting on the dating app is actually to head straight for the topic of going to bed.

He exits the app and goes to take a shower.

Halfway through, he checks his phone three times, but there’s no message from Jiang Yi.

This guy really can endure loneliness. His boyfriend hasn’t replied for almost an hour, yet he can endure it.

Yang Yunran can’t hold back anymore and starts typing. He feels he might be a bit obsessed with Jiang Yi’s face and figure and is unwilling to spend time on others. What he’s looking for is a muse, not a bed partner.

Yang Yunran: “I just went to read. Are you asleep?”

Jiang Yi: “Getting ready.”

It’s already eleven o’clock.

Although Yang Yunran’s eyelids are heavy, his mind is active. He lies on the bed and types: “Are apples tasty?”

“Not yet eaten.”

Yang Yunran: “Remember to eat then.”

“Okay.”

Yang Yunran: “I’m going to bed now.”

“Yeah.”

Jiang Yi locks his phone, tosses it on the bedside table to charge. There’s a large single bed in the apartment, and outside the window is the night view of the deep blue Charles River.

He leans back on the pillow, turns off the light, and the screen lights up again, it’s still the professor’s nephew.

He asks: “Jiang Yi, why don’t other big brothers say goodnight? Why don’t you?”

Other big brothers?

Jiang Yi doesn’t know what he means. He doesn’t understand Yang Yunran’s family situation. Seeing the toys at his place today, he thinks maybe he’s a bit rebellious, but Yang Yunran is an adult, so it’s understandable.

The message seems unreasonable, but Yang Yunran is probably just lonely, being single in a foreign country, it’s normal. Jiang Yi understands and replies: “Goodnight.”

He locks the screen to sleep, but another message comes in.

Jiang Yi maintains his dwindling patience.

“Brother, sweet dreams.” Jiang Yi remembered his younger brother back in China. His brother was a few years younger than Yang Yunran, but during adolescence, he was rebellious, unlike Yang Yunran, who had a gentle personality.

Jiang Yi powered off his phone.

Yang Yunran, seeing that Jiang Yi didn’t question the phrase “other big brothers,” couldn’t understand it at all! Wasn’t there a hint of jealousy?

Jiang Yi is portrayed as a scumbag who dislikes the poor and loves the rich, although he doesn’t seem like it. So… maybe Jiang Yi doesn’t really like him, only his money?

Yang Yunran felt he had found his elusive answer.

But in the past two days with Yang Yunran, he hadn’t spent any money on him. On the contrary, he’d been freeloading off meals and drinks, even hitching rides!

Could it be that he had spent a lot before? Did he just renew his membership?

He couldn’t know for sure. He searched online with heavy eyelids: “How to train/teach a boyfriend.”

Netizens said that some men need to be taught. If you don’t teach them, they won’t know how. They won’t even say sweet words, let alone give gifts.

So, Jiang Yi should only receive gifts when he comes over, with no sense of obligation to give gifts.

Yang Yunran is a quick learner. He earnestly read through a bunch of posts and tutorials on his phone. At one in the morning, he sent Jiang Yi a new voice message.

“I want to wake up to you saying ‘good morning’ to me. Is that okay?”