"Nothing too flashy with the colour, leaning toward brown, perhaps."
Tony lifted a strand of hair, examining it before smiling. "You're quite fair, you know. Have you considered a lighter shade?"
Zheng Yu'an looked up from the colour chart, smiling at his reflection in the mirror. "Can't do that, I'm afraid. My job requires a less conspicuous hair colour. Something darker, please."
Three years at the teller window, two as a client manager, plus two years on loan to the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. After Zheng Yu'an's return, his career trajectory soared. This March, he finally secured the position of director of the corporate department at JZ Bank.
The banking sector has always been a place where seniority and connections matter. To climb to middle management in eight years, Zheng Yu'an's luck could hardly be considered bad.
After the opening of May, Zheng Yu'an finally had time to get his hair done at a familiar salon. Tony, the co-owner, had worked with him for a long time and understood his hairstyle best. After a period of absence, some pleasantries were exchanged.
"We should be calling you Director Zheng now," Tony said in a slightly effeminate manner, using a flamboyant hand gesture to smooth Zheng Yu'an's hair. "You haven't been around for ages. Our business has suffered."
Zheng Yu'an tilted his head slightly to make it easier for Tony to work, speaking with his eyes closed. "Nonsense. If I didn't book in advance, there's no way I'd get a spot today."
Located in the heart of Huxi in the industrial park, the shop space was incredibly expensive. Any business operating here had to be doing well. Tony's NIHOME styling salon had a Japanese style, with white-collar customers accounting for 80 per cent of its clientele. Appointments were essential, and female customers were particularly appreciative.
Zheng Yu'an's hair was naturally soft, with a slight curl, giving his short hairstyle a permed look. After a clean cut, many people around him couldn't help but glance at him, overtly or covertly.
Tony gestured for him to rinse his hair.
Zheng Yu'an stood up, his height impressive, his proportions near perfect. His long legs, encased in jeans, were pleasing to the eye. However, it was his appearance that truly captivated. With his double eyelids and high brow bones, Zheng Yu'an had a somewhat mixed-race look from the side. Occasionally, when dining out, he was approached and asked if he was a foreigner.
"Handsome guys get special privileges here," Tony said solicitously, massaging his scalp. "Especially handsome guys like Director Zheng."
Zheng Yu'an had grown accustomed to such compliments. From the moment he developed a sense of aesthetics, wherever he went, whomever he met, people were immediately drawn to his appearance. Even during his early days as a bank teller, his good looks gave him an advantage at work.
The iron ladies in the accounting department, who had spent half their lives dealing with more money than people, would become gentle and charming when he came to apply for a loan. It was evident that a handsome face was sometimes more pleasing than money.
Tony dyed his hair a taupe colour, and although the fringe was trimmed short, it wasn't swept up, making Zheng Yu'an look younger than his actual age when not wearing formal attire.
Zheng Yu'an adjusted his collar and went to the counter to swipe his card. Tony followed, asking, "Fancy grabbing a drink tonight?"
"I can't go to the bars you frequent," Zheng Yu'an said, glancing at him with a candid smile.
Tony wasn't embarrassed by the exposure, just sighed with regret.
Zheng Yu'an patted him on the shoulder. "If you want a drink, we can find a street food stall. Hit me up on WeChat when you're free."
Tony was overjoyed, reverting to his effeminate manner, poking Zheng Yu'an's shoulder with his finger. "Director Zheng, you're so naughty. I was just starting to get over you."
Zheng Yu'an chuckled. "If the boss heard you say that, he'd probably ban me from making another appointment."
Tony brazenly winked at him, nonchalantly saying, "You're straight, aren't you? He won't worry."
Zheng Yu'an first learned that he was also attractive to men from his previous girlfriend.
An Dai was the only art-related girlfriend Zheng Yu'an had ever had. She owned an exhibition media company and flew all over the country every year to put on art exhibitions. Zheng Yu'an had attended one or two with her when they were dating, the most memorable being a private villa pottery exchange. Through An Dai's introduction, he met the potter Bai Jian.
An Dai was very gossipy in front of Bai Jian. "Yu'an is your ideal type."
Zheng Yu'an didn't react for a moment. He looked at Bai Jian, who was a man with a delicate appearance and a gentle and elegant demeanour.
"Too bad he's straight," Bai Jian said, not denying the ideal type comment. He was very generous. "Don't mind, do you?"
Zheng Yu'an naturally understood. "Of course not."
He really didn't mind. Homosexuality was nothing new to him. Zheng Yu'an was not old-fashioned. He had two years of exchange student experience, going to England. Although he had not formally met people from "that side," he vaguely knew something about it.
An Dai always said that he was an atypical straight man. After getting to know him for a long time, she knew that Zheng Yu'an was not just a pretty face.
"Your boyfriend is a gentleman," Bai Jian said with envy. "Confident, charming, more attractive than his face."
Unfortunately, An Dai still broke up with him.
"You're too good," Zheng Yu'an always remembered An Dai saying to him at the end. "I feel like women still prefer bad boys."
Zheng Yu'an was good in that he had no exes who had fallen out with him.
An Dai still had friendly relations and friendships with him. After Bai Jian, he came to Suzhou several times to open a personal pottery exhibition, and the three of them would get together from time to time.
Artists always seemed to like to drink coffee, and Zheng Yu'an always met them at a newly opened or niche boutique coffee shop.
Sparrow was on Shiquan Street. The shop was small, with an iron bench leaning against the wall at the entrance. Because it was very close to Soochow University, many young students would come to explore the shop, take some photos, and then post them on WeChat.
"I just saw Director Tang off," An Dai said, wearing a plain pleated long skirt and a simple black top. "She was asking me about you."
There were many rich people who came to Sparrow. Director Tang was one of them, a high-net-worth client of JZ Bank, whose family ran antique finance, and who had been a good girlfriend of An Dai for more than ten years.
Zheng Yu'an ordered a Kenya and took out a cigarette, handing one to An Dai.
The woman elegantly exhaled smoke. "You're too popular."
Zheng Yu'an said, "Director Tang is a busy person. She just came over to buy a cup of coffee. She only asked about me when she saw you."
An Dai smiled, resting her head on her hand holding the cigarette, and sighed. "How are you so good?"
Zheng Yu'an said jokingly, "I'm so good, but you still didn't want me?"
An Dai's personality used to be somewhat sensitive and inferior, while Zheng Yu'an had always been tolerant. Women were always more perceptive, and when they encountered too perfect an object, their feelings of love would fade a lot.
When they were dating, they didn't seem to be in love, so they were more comfortable as friends.
"If you weren't straight, Bai Jian would probably have made a move a long time ago," An Dai said, feeling very relaxed after smoking a cigarette. "Did you know that he's coming to Suzhou to open a studio?"
Zheng Yu'an took a sip of coffee, somewhat surprised. "Is it confirmed?"
An Dai nodded. "The government here has cultural fund support, and the taxes are very favourable, and the atmosphere is good. He's wanted to come for a long time."
"That's great," Zheng Yu'an smiled. "I'll have him open an account at our bank later."
An Dai glared at him. "Director Zheng doesn't care about this small amount of money?"
Zheng Yu'an said, "It's different. The friendship between friends is different."
An Dai seemed to be goosebumps by his smooth and gentle nature, and shook her arms in a very affected manner.
May wasn't very hot yet. After Bai Jian arrived, the three of them chatted for a while. Sparrow was small, and as more people came in the afternoon, the environment became noisy, so Zheng Yu'an considered sitting outside.
He seemed to have been in the service industry for a long time, and even as a leader, he had a discreet thoughtfulness that came from his bones, subtle and unobtrusive.
For example, Bai Jian didn't smoke, so Zheng Yu'an wouldn't smoke in front of him.
This habit didn't distinguish between men and women for Zheng Yu'an. Just like Bai Jian said, he was indeed a gentleman.
An Dai, influenced by him, smoked a little further away with another group of people. She had changed to a burst bead, and in fact, compared to Zheng Yu'an's conventional Suyan, she preferred something spicier.
Note: Suyan is a high-end cigarette brand.
Bai Jian and Zheng Yu'an talked about opening an account, explaining some things in general, and Bai Jian had a good idea in his mind.
"The government has supporting projects, and we will connect with the government," Zheng Yu'an said, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a coffee cup. He was half a head taller than Bai Jian, and at this moment, he looked at him with his chin slightly lowered, his eyes gentle. "Teacher's work is so excellent, there is no need to worry about anything."
Bai Jian felt a little hot under his gaze. Zheng Yu'an had been calling him teacher since he met him, and would only call him "Mr. Bai" when he needed to introduce him on formal occasions.
"Director Zheng, don't call me teacher, I feel embarrassed."
Zheng Yu'an raised his arm and took a sip of coffee. He was wearing a cotton and linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his beautifully shaped forearms. He said, "It's polite for teacher to call me Director Zheng."