Chapter 101: Extra – Zhuo Yisi’s Slice of Lemon

That day, in the restroom of the Japanese restaurant, Lin Hexi had turned down the senior designer without clearly stating whether he was a “1” or a “0.”

He didn’t feel it was necessary to disclose that detail to the other person.

However, since that day, rumors about Lin Hexi had spread throughout the entire company.

He was a “1,” but he had a boyfriend.

This news left those colleagues in other departments who had hoped to “take advantage of proximity” thoroughly disappointed, and their gaze toward him was no longer as enthusiastic and eager as it had been on his first day.

Of course, there were still one or two persistent individuals who held out hope every day that Lin Hexi would break up with his boyfriend, creating an opening for them to make a move.

It’s worth mentioning that while the entire company firmly believed Lin Hexi was a “1,” there was one person who remained skeptical, he’s the fellow designer who hadn’t shown him a friendly face since the welcome dinner. This designer was adamant that Lin Hexi was only pretending to be a “1” to get attention and was lying about having a boyfriend.

After all, the boyfriend Lin Hexi mentioned had never once shown up in front of their colleagues.

Speaking of this wary designer, he was young, tall, and strikingly attractive, even more so than most women. A graduate student from University A, he enjoyed dressing up every day, never skimping on makeup or accessories, with a particular fondness for sparkly jewelry.

His last name was Zhuo, and his English name was Joyce. Over time, colleagues had taken to calling him “Zhuo Yisi,” or even more affectionately, “Sisi.”

In contrast, Lin Hexi, whose desk was next to Zhuo Yisi’s, seemed every bit the “straight man” among straight men—whether in his desk setup, his attire, or his behavior.

It was no wonder, then, that in a design department brimming with “Zhuo Yisi’s style,” Lin Hexi would be mistaken by others as a “1.”

Though Zhuo Yisi didn’t like him, he kept a closer eye on him than those in the department who did.

Despite sitting close to each other, the two had never interacted outside of work.

Their first face-to-face confrontation took place in the empty break room.

At that moment, Lin Hexi was making coffee when Zhuo Yisi strode in, giving him a once-over with a disdainful tone. “Your little act might fool those who’ve never seen a real ‘1,’ but it doesn’t work on me. If you’re a ‘1,’ I’ll walk out of here on my hands.”

Lin Hexi turned to face him, arms crossed, thoughtfully concluding, “So that’s why, on my first day, everyone was watching me, but you didn’t have any interest.”

Zhuo Yisi’s face flushed slightly in anger, and he turned on his heel, cup in hand, and stormed out.

From that day on, Zhuo Yisi began to clash with him at every turn. Unable to find proof that Lin Hexi was pretending to be a “1,” he resorted to various methods, overtly and covertly, trying to expose that Lin Hexi didn’t have a boyfriend.

Zhuo Yisi pointed out that he didn’t have a couple’s wallpaper on his phone.

Though he felt he’d outgrown obsessing over carefully chosen phone wallpapers, Lin Hexi had to admit Zhuo Yisi had a point. So, he went back and searched for a photo on You Chong’s phone.

Auntie didn’t come by that day, so You Chong came home early from the company and was cooking in the kitchen.

Lin Hexi lay sprawled on the sofa, reaching for You Chong’s phone left on the coffee table.

Catching him in the act, You Chong teased as he passed by, “Trying to secretly check your boyfriend’s phone?”

Lin Hexi showed no sign of being caught, casually tilting his head and asking, “Is that not allowed?”

You Chong strode over, sat down on the edge of the sofa, and said, “Depends on your performance.”

Lin Hexi understood immediately, sat up from the sofa, and leaned in to press his lips to You Chong’s.

Just as his lips were about to touch You Chong’s, Lin Hexi suddenly stopped. “Maybe not,” he said with a playful smile, pulling back from You Chong’s face. “I wasn’t actually planning to check your phone. I just wanted to see the photos on it.”

You Chong raised his hand and hooked it around Lin Hexi’s neck, preventing him from pulling back any further. “Looking at photos is the same.”

Lin Hexi wasn’t so easily fooled. “I’m in those photos too, so I own half the rights to them.”

You Chong silenced his endlessly chattering mouth with a kiss.

When they finished, Lin Hexi said, “Now can I look?”

But You Chong shook his head, smirking, “That just now didn’t count as your performance—it was mine.”

Lin Hexi chuckled softly, wrapped his arms around You Chong’s neck, and kissed him again.

Then they both tumbled into the sofa, and things quickly spiraled out of control.

Lin Hexi’s shirt was already pushed up to his chest when You Chong suddenly remembered the food waiting in the kitchen. Just before things went too far, he pulled back, climbing off and helping Lin Hexi up from the sofa, carefully pulling his shirt down and straightening it.

The way he looked was exactly like back in the day when he used to wake Lin Hexi up to go to the library.

As You Chong stepped into the kitchen, Lin Hexi followed close behind with his phone in hand.

He unlocked the phone’s screen and saw that the lock screen wallpaper was still that photo of their silhouettes against a sunset beach.

Recalling the misunderstanding they’d had at the hotel a while back, Lin Hexi tapped the phone screen and asked You Chong, “Where did you get this lock screen picture? It’s pretty well shot.”

You Chong turned around and studied him for a couple of seconds, confirming he genuinely didn’t know. Then he answered concisely, “Yang Juan gave it to me.”

“Yang Juan took this?” Lin Hexi’s mind raced. “Who did Yang Juan take it for?”

You Chong replied, “For me.”

“You?” Lin Hexi narrowed his eyes in displeasure, about to say something more.

You Chong interrupted him, amused yet exasperated, adding, “And for you.”

Lin Hexi instinctively lowered his head to look at the photo, his voice filled with deep confusion. “You and me? Did we ever kiss on the beach? I don’t remember that happening.”

“It’s just a perspective trick.” Now it was You Chong’s turn to press him, trapping him against the counter, his voice growing dangerously low. “You can’t even recognize our photo?”

Lin Hexi’s gaze darted everywhere but You Chong’s face, still trying to defend himself. “It’s just two dark silhouettes from the back. It’s normal not to recognize them.”

You Chong’s hand slid to the small of Lin Hexi’s back as he lowered his voice. “Can’t recognize it? Then tonight, you’ll have to obediently accept your punishment.”

With nowhere to retreat, Lin Hexi held onto his arm, blinking slowly. “Confession earns leniency.”

You Chong considered for a moment. “Alright.”

“Then let’s not wait until tonight. Let’s start now.” Lin Hexi lifted his shirt swiftly, his tone brimming with amusement. “Forget dinner, come and eat me.”

As expected, dinner didn’t happen. Instead, Lin Hexi was thoroughly “devoured” by You Chong—twice.

The details of the process don’t need elaboration. In short, afterward, when Lin Hexi accused him of breaking his word, You Chong simply patted his face and said, “Exactly. It was supposed to be four times, but with leniency for your confession, it was only twice.”

Lin Hexi was left speechless.

The next day at the office, Lin Hexi’s phone had the same lock screen wallpaper as You Chong’s.

Zhuo Yisi then remarked that everyone else in the company who had a boyfriend got picked up after work—yet Lin Hexi had never been picked up by anyone.

A few days later, it happened to pour with rain. Lin Hexi had worked overtime until late and hadn’t brought an umbrella when he left home in the morning. Now, he stood under the eaves by the door, sheltering from the rain.

Zhuo Yisi, who also hadn’t brought an umbrella, was likewise standing under the eaves outside the building. Noticing that Lin Hexi hadn’t taken out his phone to call anyone, Zhuo Yisi couldn’t resist a smug remark, “If you have a boyfriend, why isn’t he coming to pick you up?”

Lin Hexi smiled brightly and shot back, “Aren’t you in the same boat? No one’s picking you up either.”

Zhuo Yisi’s face immediately fell as he pulled out his phone and opened a ride-hailing app. However, the sudden downpour had filled the area—located in the city’s financial district—with people also trying to book rides. Zhuo Yisi found himself in the thirty-third spot in the queue.

Feeling frustrated, he glanced over to see that Lin Hexi was also using the same app to book a ride. Trying to sound casual, he asked, “What spot are you in?”

Lin Hexi replied, “Fortieth.”

Zhuo Yisi’s expression brightened immediately. “I’m ahead of you in line.”

Lin Hexi found it amusing but didn’t dampen his good mood.

However, after a few minutes of waiting, Lin Hexi’s phone rang before Zhuo Yisi’s.

Under Zhuo Yisi’s incredulous gaze, Lin Hexi flashed a slight smile at him and calmly answered the call.

It wasn’t the driver calling—it was You Chong.

He had just finished a meeting and was asking if Lin Hexi had made it home.

Lin Hexi told him he hadn’t, as he couldn’t get a car.

You Chong told him to wait outside the company entrance and drove over to pick him up.

Within five minutes, You Chong’s car had already arrived at the building, while Zhuo Yisi was still waiting for a driver to accept his ride request.

Without waiting for You Chong to get out, Lin Hexi dashed through the rain, opened the passenger door, and got in.

You Chong handed him a towel from the car to dry his hair, then prepared to drive off.

But Lin Hexi stopped him, lowered the passenger-side window, and, with a cheerful smile, called up to Zhuo Yisi, who was standing on the steps, “Need a lift?”

Zhuo Yisi looked slightly uncomfortable as he turned his face away, declining briskly, “No need.”

Lin Hexi nodded, looking unsurprised. Just before rolling up the window, he called out slowly, “Zhuo Yisi.”

Feigning impatience, Zhuo Yisi turned back. “Didn’t I already say I don’t need a ride—”

After turning to give You Chong a quick kiss on the cheek, Lin Hexi looked back, interrupting Zhuo Yisi with a smile in his voice, “I just wanted to tell you that I didn’t manage to book a ride either—the one who came to pick me up is my boyfriend.”

Even without seeing his boyfriend’s face clearly, Zhuo Yisi’s expression froze, and he couldn’t help but scowl.

Watching the car that picked up Lin Hexi disappear from sight, he saw the ride-hailing app’s queue inch forward at a snail’s pace, with no sign of the rain letting up.

Standing there, he suddenly felt as sour as a lemon.