The Idea Guy

Cheng Yue had discovered his sexual orientation in college. He was handsome, with striking features and a small mole beneath the outer corner of one eye. Broad shoulders, long legs, a slim waist, and a height of 186 centimeters gave him a textbook model's build.

Most importantly, he knew how to dress. During college, aside from classes and part-time work, he spent all his time making himself look good.

Watching him turn up looking polished and handsome every day, his roommates, Qi Su included, were equal parts jealous and envious.

Yet the guy just never caught on. Girls from his own year, older students, and younger students pursued him in an endless stream, but Cheng Yue couldn't muster any interest in a single one of them.

It wasn't until another roommate, Wang Heng, teased him about whether he liked guys that everything suddenly clicked.

Once he understood his preferences, Cheng Yue started learning about the gay scene. The deeper he delved, the harder he frowned.

Messy. Incredibly messy.

Living by the philosophy of enjoying the moment, the gay scene largely consisted of people making merry while they could. If someone caught their eye, they could readily have a fling; once they lost interest, they dusted themselves off and moved on to the next.

For an innocent, pure-hearted college student, it was enough to make his vision go dark.

Especially after he tried meeting a few like-minded men and found them suggesting a hotel before they'd exchanged more than a few words. For a while, Cheng Yue almost gave up all hope of love.

That lasted until he met Fang Zhiyou. Their meeting had been an accident: the pretty, cute young man had gone to a bar with friends and was being harassed. Passing by, Cheng Yue stepped in and helped him out.

Everything afterward followed naturally. Fang Zhiyou was lively and outgoing, and under his enthusiastic, bold pursuit, Cheng Yue, an innocent boy who had never been intimate with anyone, stood no chance.

After careful consideration, they made their relationship official one sunny, breezy afternoon.

There was nothing more to it. Cheng Yue simply wanted to experience a sweet romance.

He just hadn't expected that before he could taste any sweetness, the first thing he would swallow was love's bitterness.

"Hey, hey, hey, you're leaving already? Aren't you going in to confront them?"

Lin Shuyang smacked his lips, plainly wishing there had been more to the show.

Cheng Yue took out his phone and photographed the room number on the door, then sent Fang Zhiyou a breakup message and strode toward the elevator.

"No."

There wasn't much point.

It was nearing midnight, and the temperature outside had dropped another few degrees. Cheng Yue let out a long breath and turned to Lin Shuyang.

"Sorry for the trouble today."

He thought he should at least transfer him money for the ride.

"Don't worry about it." Lin Shuyang shrugged with easy irreverence. "I was bored anyway."

With no juicy drama left to watch, Young Master Lin didn't linger. He waved and sauntered away.

After watching Lin Shuyang's car leave, the lobby manager gave them a polite nod and went back into the hotel.

Only the two of them remained by the entrance.

Qi Su sighed softly and patted his shoulder. "Cheng, don't lose heart. Out with the old, in with the new. I'll find you someone better."

You could know someone's face without knowing their heart. Qi Su could still remember how happy Cheng Yue had looked when he introduced Fang Zhiyou to them, like a child who had been given candy.

Who would have thought everything would change in less than two months?

Cheng Yue took a drag on his cigarette in the biting wind and gave a faint smile. "Forget it, Qi Su. Maybe I'm better suited to growing old alone."

"Find someone! Fuck it, I'll find someone! I refuse to believe I can't!"

The scene shifted to multicolored lights, deafening music, and bodies swaying on the dance floor. His eyes hazy, Cheng Yue slammed his glass down on the table with a bang.

Qi Su, who had been slumped on the booth's sofa, suddenly sat upright and raised an arm, making a grand declaration. "Don't worry! I'll get this done for you, guaranteed!"

Cheng Yue raised his empty glass toward him. "My brother, I'm counting on you!"

Qi Su shook his head, grabbed the dice cup, and clinked it against Cheng Yue's glass. "Satisfaction guaranteed!"

It had all started after they caught the cheating boyfriend. Qi Su had plenty of romantic experience and knew all too well how painful it could be. He was afraid his good friend might take it too hard and develop that trendy thing called depression.

As it happened, the next day was Cheng Yue's grand twenty-seventh birthday, so Qi Su put together a gathering and invited a group of friends out. While they were at it, his buddy could drown his sorrows in alcohol and ease the gloom in his heart.

Strangely enough, from the moment they entered the bar, all they saw were sickeningly lovey-dovey couples. Afraid it would push Cheng Yue over the edge, Qi Su came up with a brilliant idea on the spot-the sort of person commonly known as the idea guy.

He announced that he would find his good friend some fun and give him a wonderful night.

Qi Su had his own theory. Wasn't it just dating? What was dating for? That business, obviously.

In that case, all he had to do was solve that problem for his buddy.

Cheng Yue wasn't much of a drinker. After a few glasses and some encouragement from Qi Su, he got carried away and agreed outright.

Never underestimate what a drunk person can do. With enough determination, he can accomplish anything.

Ten minutes later, Cheng Yue followed Qi Su outside in a daze. Both had drunk a little too much, and as they approached the bar counter, they accidentally bumped into a server carrying drinks.

"Well, if it isn't that unlucky little guy."

The bar's second floor offered a broad view of everything happening below.

Leaning against the railing, Lin Shuyang held a glass of liquor listlessly. Watching the woozy Cheng Yue pay for the drinks he'd broken downstairs, he couldn't help laughing.

"When your luck goes bad, even a sip of cold water gets stuck between your teeth."

"You know him?"

At some point, another figure had appeared beside him. The man's cool, clear voice was like ice poured into the boiling air.

Young Master Lin, who had loved watching drama all his life, eagerly recounted the spectacle he had witnessed, even waving his arms around in excitement as he spoke.

"Shame they didn't get into a fight."

Still wanting more, Lin Shuyang turned, only to find that the space beside him was already empty. He looked around and finally spotted his friend heading toward the stairs.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to sleep." Just before stepping down onto the stairs, the other man turned and said calmly, "If you have so much free time, why not apply for a doctorate?"

Lin Shuyang brandished a fist at that maddeningly composed retreating figure. "Fuck! Who do you think I'm doing all this for?"

If His Highness hadn't just returned from abroad and been struggling with jet lag, would Lin Shuyang have been stupid enough to spend the whole night here keeping him company?

And at such a bland, tame bar, too.

"1609! Remember, 1609! I've got everything arranged. All you have to do is enjoy yourself!"

His eyes vacant, Cheng Yue nodded sluggishly. "Okay! 1609!"

The elevator doors slowly closed. Qi Su nodded in approval of himself. "Yep. I'm amazing!"

All done. Time to go home and sleep!

But the moment he got into a taxi, he passed out. In his dream, his good buddy came bearing gifts and thanks amid a fanfare of gongs and drums, two cartons of Chunghwa cigarettes in his left hand and two bottles of Flying Fairy Moutai in his right.

Ah, sometimes you just can't help being too outstanding.

Slumped asleep in the back seat, Qi Su slowly curled his lips into a strange smile.