Chapter 88: Failed Test

You Chong withdrew his gaze and said nothing more.

Fang Qingning stood by and saw everything clearly. What Lin Hexi had picked up was clearly a watch, but what he pulled out of his pocket was a hotel room card.

She wasn’t sure if You Chong had noticed when he walked closer, but she didn’t want to interfere in whatever was happening between the two men in front of her, so she said nothing.

Lin Hexi escorted her to the roadside and helped her into the car, with You Chong following closely behind him.

After the car picking up Fang Qingning left, Lin Hexi turned around to look at You Chong, feeling a bit uncertain about how to start a conversation, like the uneasy feeling of nearing home after a long absence.

You Chong took the initiative and relieved his concern: “Are you still staying at the same hotel?”

Lin Hexi was somewhat surprised. From this, it seemed that the other person probably wouldn’t bring up the past anytime soon. He nodded in response to You Chong’s question.

You Chong said, “I’ll have my assistant bring the car over. I’ll drive you back so you can change your pants.”

Lin Hexi wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, that the sun would dry the pants soon enough, but You Chong had already taken out his phone and called his assistant.

He could only swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue and looked down at his still-dripping pant leg.

The assistant drove the car to a temporary parking spot by the roadside, then got out and gave the driver’s seat to You Chong.

You Chong walked around the front of the car to the driver’s side. Before getting in, he noticed that Lin Hexi was still standing there without moving, so he looked at him over the car and asked, “Is there a problem?”

Lin Hexi did indeed have a problem.

He was hesitating between the front passenger seat and the back seat, so he simply asked directly, “Where should I sit?”

Given that the other party had offered to drive him, he didn’t think You Chong would be so stingy as to not allow his ex-boyfriend to sit in the front passenger seat.

He just didn’t want to sit in the front and smell the lingering scent of women’s perfume, unnecessarily adding more frustration for himself.

You Chong’s reply was equally straightforward: “Do you want to treat me like your driver?”

Lin Hexi didn’t say anything, he simply opened the passenger door and bent down to sit inside.

To his surprise, the car was very clean, without any lingering scent of perfume.

After letting out an unnoticed sigh of relief, Lin Hexi asked, “Do you have any clean tissues?”

You Chong didn’t turn to look at him, instead, he responded with a mildly indifferent tone, “You don’t know where the tissue box is?”

Instinctively, Lin Hexi glanced at him. After a moment, he replied just as calmly, “You’ve changed cars. How would I know?”

At the intersection ahead, the traffic light turned red. You Chong stepped on the brake and said to him, “You can verify it yourself.”

Lin Hexi was momentarily stunned by these words. His instinct told him that there was a deeper meaning behind them, but he also suspected he might be overthinking it. In the end, he didn’t pursue the matter further. Instead, he raised his hand, opened the glove compartment, and pulled out two tissues to blot the water from his pant legs.

The hotel staff recognized the car’s license plate, and You Chong drove straight into the hotel’s underground parking lot.

Once the car came to a complete stop, Lin Hexi unbuckled his seatbelt and got out. Just as he was about to close the door and thank You Chong, he noticed that You Chong had also opened his door and was stepping out of the car.

Noticing Lin Hexi looking at him, You Chong’s expression remained unchanged as he said, “I have a meeting with a client.”

Lin Hexi nodded and stepped into the elevator with him.

Now, he was certain that the conversation they had in the car was just his overthinking. Clearly, even the act of driving him back was simply because it was on the way.

After exiting the elevator, the two parted ways.

Lin Hexi took a few steps forward, but then he remembered what Fang Qingning had told him at lunch and couldn’t help but stop and look back.

However, the corridor behind him had already become empty. You Chong had disappeared without hesitation, having turned into another hallway at the far end.

Staring at the not-so-long corridor for a couple of seconds, Lin Hexi finally snapped out of it and headed toward his own room.

About ten minutes later, there was a knock on Lin Hexi’s door.

The person who came to see him was You Chong’s foreign client. Dressed in casual, loose-fitting sportswear, the client enthusiastically invited him to play tennis at the hotel’s tennis court.

Lin Hexi asked, “Just the two of us?”

Michael replied, “And Mr. You. I ran into him in the elevator when I heard he was here for some business.”

“Ran into him?” Lin Hexi repeated the phrase in English, doubting if he had misheard.

But Michael firmly insisted that it was indeed a coincidence.

Lin Hexi lowered his eyes in surprise, absentmindedly staring at the carpet laid across the corridor floor.

So, You Chong hadn’t just driven him back because it was on the way, and meeting Michael was just an excuse?

Though he couldn’t figure out why You Chong would lie to him, it didn’t stop Lin Hexi’s mood from instantly improving.

When he looked up again, he smiled at Michael and said, “Give me two minutes. I’ll change my clothes.”

He hadn’t brought any casual sportswear suitable for tennis when he returned to the country, and had initially planned to go out in jeans. However, Michael took him to his own room and found another clean set of sportswear for him to borrow.

Lin Hexi didn’t waste time declining and quickly changed. Once ready, he and Michael headed downstairs.

The hotel’s tennis court was indoors, and at this time, there were no other guests using the facility. You Chong had also changed clothes and was sitting outside the court, waiting for them.

As Lin Hexi and Michael approached, You Chong noticed that the sportswear they were wearing was strikingly similar. At a glance, it looked like they were wearing matching outfits, just in different colors, as if they were a couple.

Although Michael was older than them, he was still in his prime and had previously dated younger boyfriends.

You Chong’s expression darkened. He stood up and asked Lin Hexi in Chinese, “You’re wearing his clothes?”

Lin Hexi replied, “I didn’t bring any sportswear back with me.”

Suppressing the irritation rising inside, You Chong said directly to him, “Switch with me.”

Lin Hexi looked down at the sports pants he was wearing. Michael was about the same height as You Chong, and their sizes were nearly identical. Lin Hexi, on the other hand, was slightly shorter by a few centimeters.

The pants were a bit long, but not so long as to hinder movement. Lin Hexi instinctively shook his head, “I can wear them.”

You Chong replied, “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Only then did Lin Hexi realize that You Chong didn’t seem to be concerned about his comfort. His expression paused slightly, and with a touch of nonchalance, he asked, “Then why—”

You Chong, without a change in expression, cut him off, “This outfit I’m wearing is a bit small. I’m about the same height as Michael. Switch with me.”

Lin Hexi was stunned and looked You Chong up and down, unable to see any part of the outfit that seemed ill-fitting.

That thought became even more apparent when Lin Hexi changed into the clothes You Chong had taken off.

The fabric still seemed to retain You Chong’s unique warmth, as if trying to preserve that bit of heat. Standing in the changing room, Lin Hexi couldn’t help but wrap his arms around himself.

He stayed like that until a knock on the door echoed, and You Chong’s voice urged him through the door.

Lin Hexi snapped back to reality, pulled open the door, and walked out.

There were only three of them, so they temporarily brought someone else over to join in the game.

Both Lin Hexi and Michael couldn’t match You Chong’s stamina. After about forty minutes, they both left the court and sat in the resting area, sipping on cold drinks brought over by the staff.

With no one else around, Michael’s gaze towards him became as eager as it had been in the elevator.

At first, Michael was simply asking about his work and hometown. When Michael curiously asked why he was staying in a hotel instead of going home, Lin Hexi didn’t pay much attention and answered honestly.

However, when Michael asked about his sexual orientation, Lin Hexi, slow to realize, finally sensed that the person in front of him might have some interest in him.

During his time studying in the U.S., he had encountered plenty of bold, direct advances from foreigners. He never had any intention of hiding his sexual orientation, and this moment was no different.

“I don’t like women,” Lin Hexi said.

As if receiving a satisfying answer, Michael’s smile widened. “If you were to date someone, what age difference could you accept?”

Lin Hexi glanced up at You Chong, who was dominating his opponent on the court, then shifted his gaze back, answering somewhat absentmindedly, “Within a year, I guess.”

Hearing this, Michael shrugged with a smile and suggested, “Maybe you could try something different.”

Lin Hexi shook his head, intending to thank him and make it clear that he wasn’t interested in trying something new.

Seemingly noticing the refusal written on Lin Hexi’s face, Michael smoothly shifted the conversation. “Then let’s change the subject.”

Lin Hexi, already not keen on continuing the conversation, picked up his now-empty glass and stood up. The excuse he had carefully prepared was already on the tip of his tongue, but Michael beat him to it, seizing the opportunity to continue.

Looking up at the already-standing Lin Hexi, Michael asked bluntly, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Before Lin Hexi could answer, a hand pressed down on his shoulder.

You Chong pushed him back into his seat, gripping his shoulder as he looked at the man across the table. In a deep voice, he answered in English, “He has a boyfriend.”

Michael’s gaze shifted between their faces.

After a moment, realization dawned on him. He stood up, full of apology, and before turning to leave, he said regretfully, “I was being presumptuous.”

After Michael left, You Chong removed the hand resting on Lin Hexi’s shoulder.

Sensing from You Chong’s tone that he was in a bad mood, and recalling the earlier lie, a small spark of curiosity ignited in Lin Hexi’s heart. He suddenly felt an urge to test You Chong.

And so, he did just that.

Remaining seated, Lin Hexi slowly tilted his head back and looked up at You Chong with a meaningful gaze. “Thank you for helping me out.”

To his surprise, You Chong didn’t respond. It was also evident that his mood hadn’t improved after Michael left.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the faint stir in Lin Hexi’s heart quickly quieted down, and once again, he found himself feeling uncertain.