To have one's preferences thoroughly understood is often not particularly pleasing, especially for adult men with considerable financial means, social standing, and a regard for personal space. It's akin to a lion's territory being violated, its boundaries marked by a hyena's urine – there's always a slightly unsettling, rank odour.
Except Yan Shuwang executed this "rankness" with such imperceptible subtlety.
Zheng Yu'an, lacking substantial resources, had fought his way up through the ranks of the bank. Before joining the Banking Regulatory Commission, he'd progressed from teller to client manager, from small clients to large corporations, cultivating a keen and adaptable mind, a temperament resistant to both soft and hard tactics. After all, banks, as financial byproducts, primarily function as service industries, and no matter how assertive he was, he was still in the position of serving others.
But Yan Shuwang was different.
In Zheng Yu'an's view, Yan Shuwang could be considered a golden boy, a graduate of one of the country's top two universities, who had started his own business during his student days. Baidu Baike even featured news reports from foreign media about him, though their authenticity was questionable.
Such a Yan Shuwang truly had no need to curry favour with anyone, especially not with such a subtle and understated approach.
Zheng Yu'an's mood was, in short, rather complex. In An Dai's words, he was the "restricted area" of that circle. Any Yan Shuwang with a modicum of sense wouldn't dare to provoke him.
Moreover, even within the realm of heterosexuality, Yan Shuwang was among the top tier of the most eye-catching men. Zheng Yu'an wasn't so self-absorbed as to believe everyone was in love with him.
When two discerning and agreeable people dine together, the outcome is naturally a pleasant experience for both host and guest.
Zheng Yu'an took the packaged box of mung bean cakes and, before leaving, thanked Yan Shuwang once more. The latter, with a cigarette in hand, appeared serene in the moonlight, saying, "You're too kind, Director Zheng."
The private restaurant was located in Cang Street, its entrance adorned with several night-blooming cereus plants. The flowers were in full bloom, their blossoms hanging from the branches, partially draped over Yan Shuwang's hair.
Zheng Yu'an watched for a moment, then couldn't resist reaching out to brush the flower away. Yan Shuwang, holding his cigarette, remained still, his eyes and eyebrows resembling the moonlight reflected in the flowers, exuding a rich sweetness.
Yan Shuwang suddenly smiled, exhaling a smoke ring, and said calmly, "It's a pity I'm not a woman, or else Director Zheng wouldn't be able to go back tonight."
Zheng Yu'an was silent for a moment before replying, "I know you're a man."
Yan Shuwang's gaze fell upon his face, with an indefinable quality. He lazily finished his cigarette, his voice low and deep, "It's getting late, Director Zheng should go back."
Besides being a director, Qin Hanguan's greatest hobby was caring about the love lives of his subordinates.
Especially since things weren't so busy after the successful start to the year, Zheng Yu'an naturally became his primary target of concern.
"Haven't you been seeing any young ladies lately?" The two were taking a cigarette break together on the small balcony during lunch. Zheng Yu'an, using one hand to swipe across his phone screen, nearly choked on his smoke when he heard Qin Hanguan's question.
He always felt that Qin Hanguan's inability to control his urges would eventually lead to trouble, but since the other man was his superior, he couldn't be so blunt.
"I have no interest in dating," Zheng Yu'an said. "Are you still in contact with the young lady from WE GO?"
Qin Hanguan didn't care: "I just added her on WeChat, nothing really happened."
Zheng Yu'an didn't quite believe him and could only indirectly advise, "After all, they're clients. Be a bit more discreet, don't mess around."
Qin Hanguan didn't seem to take the advice to heart. He scrolled through his WeChat moments for a while, then suddenly asked, "How are things with Yan Shuwang? Besides playing ball, have you been having dinner together lately?"
Zheng Yu'an had smoked half his cigarette, the rest still in his mouth, and said in surprise, "How do you know?"
Qin Hanguan showed him his phone: "I'm old friends with Jiao, he's mentioned it several times, saying you and Yan Shuwang get along well."
Zheng Yu'an glanced at Qin Hanguan, thinking, You, a straight man, actually meet up with a bunch of gays to play mahjong every week, you're pretty open-minded.
Zheng Yu'an couldn't say anything behind the mahjong players' backs. If Jiao Tang hadn't come out to Qin Hanguan, he would be a bigmouth revealing someone's privacy, which would be unkind.
Qin Hanguan's love for playing cards and mahjong wasn't new. He had invited Zheng Yu'an several times before. Zheng Yu'an knew how to play, but wasn't enthusiastic. He would play on and off, and Qin Hanguan would only think of pulling him in to fill the numbers when they were really short.
"Yan Shuwang doesn't like playing these things either." Qin Hanguan lit another cigarette, placing the trash can in front of him to flick off the ashes. "You two are quite similar in that regard, preferring to spend your weekends in the gym. Too disciplined, it's no fun."
Zheng Yu'an remained noncommittal, "The stakes are too high in gambling, I can't afford it, I have a mortgage to pay off."
Qin Hanguan gave him a "who are you kidding" look, saying, "So, are you coming this Saturday night? We're one person short."
"No." Zheng Yu'an refused subconsciously. He thought for a moment and found another reason, "I have plans."
Qin Hanguan: "Don't you have no girls, what plans?"
Zheng Yu'an: "A friend is opening a pottery exhibition at the Benshi Art Museum that day, I'm going to show my support."
Qin Hanguan scoffed, "You're really virtuous and talented."
Zheng Yu'an wasn't ashamed at all, politely saying, "Don't mention it, just joining in the fun."
Qin Hanguan narrowed his eyes at him for a long time, then said, "Yan Shuwang seems to be going too, did you guys make plans again?"
Zheng Yu'an smoked his cigarette, neither admitting nor denying it. Qin Hanguan's expression was strange, and he couldn't help muttering, "Your progress is a bit fast, dating one another, even couples in love during the honeymoon period aren't as clingy as you guys."