Petting the Dog

Xie Yibai arrived at the small private room Zou Yan had reserved ten minutes before their meeting, making up for the discourtesy of being late to the audition that afternoon. It had taken him a great deal of talking to shake off Xing Zhanyun. As soon as he sat down, he gulped down two glasses of lemon water and nearly choked to death.

His eyes were red from coughing. Through his bleary vision, he glanced toward the door as it swung open. Zou Yan walked in first, followed by a server carrying menus.

"Hello, Teacher Xie. Let's formally introduce ourselves. I'm Zou Yan." A hand reached out to him.

Xie Yibai stood and shook it. "Hello. I've heard a lot about you."

"Please, sit down," Zou Yan said courteously. "I come here often. Some of their signature dishes are excellent. You have to try them."

"Sure, you order. I'm not picky." Xie Yibai smiled. A faint redness lingered around his eyes, and his dark eyes gleamed. When he smiled, he showed a glimpse of bright white teeth. Under the overhead light, he looked like a luminous shell holding pearls.

He was more than beautiful. He was captivating.

Zou Yan was entranced, more convinced than ever that inviting him to dinner had been the right choice. Like Sheng Ke, he had graduated from a directing program. Although he had become a producer, his aesthetic judgment hadn't failed him. He was certain that a top-tier face like this shouldn't be buried under heavy skin-smoothing filters. Only someone as stubborn as Sheng Ke would complain that an actor was too good-looking. In fact, what audiences wanted was simple: they liked beautiful people, and even more beautiful people.

Fortunately, he was someone who oversaw the whole picture. An excellent producer usually had three or four projects underway at once. Since Sheng Ke couldn't recognize talent, Zou Yan would be the talent scout to spot a fine steed.

Xie Yibai also knew he was the steed being assessed tonight, so he put on an exceedingly docile act. No matter what Zou Yan said, he only smiled and nodded. The reason was simple: he didn't want to listen to his agent and spend the rest of his career acting in web dramas. For the moment, at least, Zou Yan was a promising avenue.

Everyone liked someone good-looking and obedient. Xie Yibai knew the preferences of people in power well, and deliberately blinked his eyes and played dumb. Zou Yan found him innocent and adorable. They enjoyed their conversation, and Zou Yan kept putting food on his plate and pouring him wine.

Xie Yibai had the sort of constitution that let him eat without gaining weight. He never dieted and never turned down good food. Zou Yan exclaimed, "You're the least restrained idol actor I've ever met."

"If I don't eat my fill, I don't have the energy to work. When I'm on set, I have to think about how I look on camera, so I can't eat much. I get such cravings that I watch eating broadcasts every day." Xie Yibai put down his chopsticks and readily raised his glass. "Thanks for the meal, Brother Yan."

"Don't stand on ceremony. We're friends. Speaking of which, I felt close to you the moment I saw you. Have we met before? My memory isn't very good."

"I don't think so, but you're not the first person to say that. The director who discovered me said I had the kind of face audiences liked, so it's normal for me to look familiar."

After two bottles of wine, Zou Yan grew more talkative. "Tell me honestly, how did you feel after the audition this morning?"

Xie Yibai hesitated. "I just felt... you weren't seriously considering me."

"Hahaha, your instincts were pretty accurate. That brat Sheng Ke is proud and arrogant. He doesn't think anyone is good enough and only trusts his own judgment." Zou Yan thumped his chest. "But I'm different. I put more faith in the audience. You're the most popular male actor chosen by the public. I'm sure you'd be perfect."

"Brother Yan, are you drunk?" Xie Yibai ventured.

"No, I'm perfectly sober."

"Then can you recite my phone number?"

Zou Yan scratched his head. "139, 9... Huh? What was it again?"

Xie Yibai wanted to laugh but held it in. He sighed. "You never even saved my number."

Zou Yan pointed at him and laughed heartily. "Trying to trick me, huh? I'm not drunk, really. Sheng Ke's right next door, entertaining a table full of important people. Want to come with me and propose a toast?"

Xie Yibai thought it over. "I'd better not. I have something to do later, so I can't drink any more."

He was meeting Zou Yan privately, and they hadn't discussed business, so it didn't involve any commercial interests. He had the right to refuse. Besides, he wasn't an idiot. Having him drink with someone was expensive. If he did it for free even once, he could forget about charging for it in the future.

Zou Yan knew how to handle people and didn't press him. "All right. Is someone coming to pick you up?"

"Yes." Xie Yibai had eaten and drunk his fill, and both Zou Yan and the restaurant had left a good impression on him. He exchanged a few more pleasantries before saying goodbye.

Zou Yan paid the bill and barged into the large private room at the other end of the corridor, carrying half a bottle of wine and a glass. He made a round of the table, toasting everyone. Though his head was spinning, he retained a sliver of clarity and asked, "Where's my brother? Where did Sheng Ke go?"

"Director Ke is a busy man. He's outside taking a call."

The second-floor private room had a long, narrow balcony filled with lush ornamental plants. Sheng Ke stood beside a cluster of green leaves, the deep night before him and the light and shadows of the party behind him. He listened distractedly to the call, letting the breeze carry away the smell of alcohol. His gaze drifted down to the street with it and settled on a slender figure seen from behind.

The white garment reflected a faint, luminous blue in the night. A hand crumpled it, squeezing and releasing it repeatedly amid the shoving. Then half a face turned around, its clear features and complexion like a night-blooming cereus that appeared only at night, accompanied by the muffled sound of an argument: "Keep your hands off me, or I'm going to make you leave."

"Yibai, I was wrong..."

Recognizing the person involved and putting a few things together, Sheng Ke couldn't help laughing. The person on the other end of the call had heard no response from him for a long time and angrily called his name. Sheng Ke dealt with him in a few words, then watched the two below leave, still entangled with each other.

The next second, an arm came down across the back of his neck. Zou Yan hung off him like a puddle of fermenting sludge and slurred, "What are you... doing out here alone?"

Sheng Ke asked in return, "Did you enjoy your dinner?"

"Of course!" Zou Yan's cheeks were flushed as he recalled it. "It was downright tender and sweet..."

"Then I won't spoil your mood." Sheng Ke pried the arm off and said with a hint of sympathy, "Lust is a knife hanging over your head. Be careful you don't get taken in."

Chapter 4: Petting the Dog

Xie Yibai had a dachshund named Little Biscuit, bought from a roadside pet shop a few years ago. Xing Zhanyun had named the dog, saying he looked like a cookie from the side.

Since he had claimed the right to name Little Biscuit, Xing Zhanyun considered himself one of the dog's guardians too. He persistently insisted on going home with Xie Yibai to see him.

Xing Zhanyun had been spoiled by his family. He was willful and reckless, and not much smarter than a dog. He wasn't clever, but he wasn't ill-intentioned either. Worn down by his persistence, Xie Yibai agreed to let him see the dog.

Unfortunately, a dog's memory wasn't as good as a person's. After four years apart, Little Biscuit had long forgotten who Xing Zhanyun was. He was six now, a mature dog. He came to the door to greet his owner enthusiastically, then barked warily at the unfamiliar visitor. Once he'd confirmed Xing Zhanyun wasn't an intruder, he ran back to the living room to continue playing with his stuffed lion and bouncy ball.

Xing Zhanyun had an ulterior motive for coming over. He played with the dog for five minutes, then, finding that the dog didn't care to pay him attention, swaggered around the apartment. He looked first at the furnishings, then at the fixtures. "Did you buy this place or rent it?"

"Bought it." Xie Yibai topped up the dog's bowl with half a bowl of food and replaced his water with fresh purified water. When he wasn't home, the housekeeper looked after the apartment and his pet. When he was home, he did it himself. These little chores let him empty his mind and were a great way to relieve stress.

"The north-south orientation of your place isn't very good, and the layout isn't open or bright enough. Why don't you get someone to check the feng shui?" Xing Zhanyun suggested, thinking himself clever. "My dad knows a really capable Taoist priest. Have him come give you some advice on the décor, and I guarantee everything will go smoothly for you and you'll stay popular."

"You should leave," Xie Yibai said, sitting on the carpet and hugging the little dog as he rubbed his head. "People who believe in feudal superstitions aren't welcome in my home."

That approach having failed, Xing Zhanyun tried another. "I'm a little thirsty. Do you have anything to drink?"

Xie Yibai wanted to see how many tricks he had up his sleeve. "There's stuff in the fridge. Get it yourself."

Since he hadn't been told to leave again, Xing Zhanyun happily strode into the open kitchen. With a little scheme in mind, he took two cans of beer.

One entire wall of the living room was a clear floor-to-ceiling window. Surrounded by other buildings like stars around the moon, the apartment was on the highest floor and had the farthest view. The vast sea of city lights was like a dazzling painting in a rectangular frame. Sitting before that colorful, starlit picture and playing with the little dog, Xie Yibai seemed to become part of the scenery.

When he saw the beer Xing Zhanyun had brought, Xie Yibai offered no comment. When Xing Zhanyun opened a can and handed him the cold beer, Xie Yibai accepted it and drank.

Bubbles rose in the beer and fizzed as they burst. The atmosphere grew hushed and intimate. Xing Zhanyun watched the cold bring a flush of red to Xie Yibai's lips. "Can we be good again?"

"What do you mean? Aren't we good now?"

"I mean that kind of good."

Xie Yibai shifted his legs and sat facing Xing Zhanyun. "I can't date, as you know. It comes with the nature of my work."

Apparently not expecting that answer, Xing Zhanyun stared blankly. "Then do I still have a chance?"

"What kind of chance?"

"I mean, when the day comes that you want to... when you can date, will you consider me?"

Xing Zhanyun asked so cautiously that the edges of his cool, tough look immediately softened. Even his hair seemed to droop, and the downturned corners of his eyes betrayed his hurt. Who didn't like seeing a good-looking person show vulnerability? Xie Yibai had an eye for beauty too. He generously patted his vacant thigh, where Little Biscuit had been sitting moments ago, leaving a few short dog hairs behind.

"I'm not a dog..." Xing Zhanyun muttered, but he couldn't resist getting close to him. He moved reservedly to Xie Yibai's side and glared at him.

Xie Yibai merely raised a hand, and the narrow, thin face pressed against his palm. He stroked Xing Zhanyun's stiff hair as though petting a dog. Xing Zhanyun lay down and rested his heavy head on Xie Yibai's leg.

He's just a child who wants someone to coax him, Xie Yibai thought.

"I promise, I'll never argue with you again..." Xing Zhanyun rambled on. "I was young back then and didn't know any better. I was always fighting with you, but I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. I really like you. I've liked you since the first time we met. The years you lived at my house were the happiest days of my life. I know time can't be turned back and we can't go back to the past, but I'll change. I really will."