Chapter 36#

Playboy (6)#

Rong Huan didn’t take this sentence seriously when he saw it. After all, many people advised him to try finding someone—his parents, his relatives. He replied: It’s not that easy to find a boyfriend. If finding a boyfriend were as easy as making money, there wouldn’t be so many single people in the world.

After typing that line, he also sent a meme from the “Care for Single Dogs Association.” Young people nowadays seemed to really like using memes. To keep up with trends, Rong Huan, this “older generation” guy, had also collected hundreds of memes from colleagues who loved sending them, just to make himself look younger.

Lu Yi’s fingers swiftly tapped on the keyboard: If it’s really hard to find one, you could just find a fake boyfriend to deal with it.

Rong Huan’s heart tensed. He was torn, but his fingers seemed to act on their own, replying instantly: There’s so much news online. Just two days ago, I saw a story about a girl who worked a part-time job and got scammed by a man. What if someone who’s straight pretends to be gay just for money and scams me? That’s just asking for trouble.

Lu Yi said: Simple—find someone you know, someone you know well. If you’re worried your acquaintance will be exposed by your parents, I can introduce someone to you.

Rong Huan’s fingers froze. A jumble of chaotic thoughts flashed through his mind. When he saw this message, the implication was…?

Normally, the best approach in this situation would be to firmly refuse. But for him, refusing someone often meant that they couldn’t remain friends.

He had been enjoying his conversations with Lu Yi these past few days. Although Lu Yi hadn’t gotten certified yet, his knowledge of music was impressive. When Rong Huan found out that the other was just a student and had only recently started focusing on music again, he became even more envious of Lu Yi’s clever mind.

People naturally admire strength, and Rong Huan was no exception. Even though the other person was several years younger, Rong Huan often felt that Lu Yi was the more mature one—steady, decisive, and tolerant.

He thought about how to refuse without hurting the heart of this excellent friend. After all, exams were coming up. If he caused the other to fail because of this, wouldn’t the piano world lose a promising talent?

He was still hesitating when he heard a ding. The other had sent another message.

Lu Yi: Image1.jpg, Image2.jpg, Image3.jpg. These are photos of a few people—high-def, no filters—all from our school. I think you’d get along with them. They have great personal conditions and are all single.

Rong Huan opened the images. They were indeed clear photos, and the guys weren’t bad-looking.

But none of them were photos of Lu Yi. That meant he had misread things again.

Rong Huan felt deeply embarrassed. He adjusted his mood and replied: Thanks for your kindness, but I’m not interested in any of them.

Lu Yi looked at the photos. These were all high-quality guys: If it’s about age, don’t worry. They’re a few years older than me.

To be precise, they were several years older than his current shell.

Rong Huan calmly typed on the Bluetooth keyboard connected to his phone: I don’t like their type.

Lu Yi stared at that line for a while before pressing further: Then what type do you like? I can keep an eye out for you.

These days, even wanting to be a matchmaker wasn’t easy.

There was a long silence on Rong Huan’s side before the “typing” indicator reappeared.

After a while, Rong Huan’s message came through: I don’t think there’s a type I like in this world.

Lu Yi thought to himself, if that were truly the case, fine—as long as he wasn’t interested in that Li Tang.

But someone like Rong Huan couldn’t possibly have no type at all. More likely, his standards were just too high: There are so many people in the world; you’re bound to meet someone you like. Just tell me what kind you like, and if I get a chance, I’ll keep an eye out.

This was where having an online chat tool was great. Behind the screen, he could type these words without any psychological pressure. If he had to say such matchmaking things face-to-face, he really wouldn’t be able to get the words out.

Rong Huan typed a few words: I like…

He hesitated, then deleted and retyped: Thanks for your kindness, but I don’t think it’s necessary.

Lu Yi pressed: Then what will you do if you’re forced into blind dates again?

Rong Huan said unhappily: That’s my own business. You don’t need to worry so much about it.

With that, he logged off.

After turning off the computer, he felt that his mood wasn’t great. He had been overly sensitive and taken it out on the other.

He brooded for a few minutes, then logged back onto the computer, opened Feixun, and clicked on Lu Yi’s avatar. The chat window popped up.

He edited and re-edited his message before finally sending an apology: Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you just now. I was just a bit upset.

The notification dinged, and Lu Yi replied instantly.

Lu Yi: Hello, I

It was an auto-reply. Rong Huan stared at the screen for a moment, feeling a bit disappointed. Then another message came through.

It was the real person now, not an auto-reply.

Lu Yi: I didn’t think it through enough. I should be the one apologizing.

Sensitive topics weren’t suitable for repeated probing. But behind the screen, he couldn’t see the other’s expression. Relying on just a few lines of text made it impossible to fully gauge the other’s thoughts.

After they both apologized, the matter was settled.

Lu Yi focused on preparing for his exams and, in his free time, monitored the stock market trends and adjusted his investments.

His household registration was still under the Lu family’s name. After graduation, he planned to find a job first and transfer his registration out, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the original owner’s family. Only then would he consider expanding his efforts in his familiar field.

As for Li Tang, after his previous embarrassing departure, he hadn’t come to cause trouble again.

Having stirred up such an unpleasant scene, even if he remained confident in himself, he didn’t want to come back and invite more misfortune.

Anyway, he had no shortage of men around him. Just as Lu Yi’s roommate had said earlier, without Lu Yi, he quickly found a new fling.

As Li Tang’s ex-boyfriend—and one who had attempted suicide over him—there were always some busybodies who deliberately or unintentionally passed news to Lu Yi. He didn’t even need to put in the effort to find out; he could easily learn everything about Li Tang’s new lover.

A junior from the art school, barely of age. He had fair skin, and when he smiled, a small dimple appeared on his right cheek, making him especially endearing.

The junior came from a good family and was an outstanding person. At least from what outsiders said, he was far better than Lu Yi.

Younger, better-looking, and capable of singing and dancing. Sure, Li Tang was a jerk, but he was handsome and rich, and his sweet talk was never-ending.

When Lu Yi had been with Li Tang, many people had been jealous. When Li Tang wasn’t around, Lu Yi had even been mercilessly mocked by Li Tang’s friends.

The original owner had silently endured all of this because he knew that even if he told Li Tang, the other wouldn’t distance himself from those friends.

The original owner had never mentioned this to his roommates before. But these days, Lu Yi had grown closer to his roommates. Unless he deliberately hid something, the other three would know about any little stir.

During the art performance, the four roommates sat together. A few people came by to mock and provoke, making snide remarks before heading to the front.

They were all art students. When they walked, they unconsciously swayed their hips. Even a blind straight guy would find them ridiculously gay.

To them, Li Tang—handsome, cool, and rich—was clearly a high-quality top. Lu Yi had been the one to mess things up, biting the hand that fed him.

Wang Wang immediately got angry: “What do these people mean? They love eating shit themselves, and when someone else jumps out of the cesspit, they get all sarcastic. What’s so great about that stinking pit?”

Zhang Zhihong’s sarcasm was sharper: “Look at how shiny and clean the outside of that pit is. Everyone wants to take a squat.”

Qin Lu nudged his roommate, signaling him to shut up because Li Tang and his new boyfriend were walking nearby. Lu Yi was glued to his phone. Qin Lu worried that if his roommate kept talking, it would distract Lu Yi from his phone and make him look up and see Li Tang.

Lu Yi was currently chatting with Rong Huan about the exams. Since he had exams coming up in a few days, he naturally wanted to discuss this topic with the other.

Rong Huan: As long as you keep a calm mindset, this exam is super easy. Even second-graders can pass it. For you, it’s a piece of cake.

Lu Yi replied: When I was in second grade, I was much more focused than I am now.

Maybe it was the harm caused by electronic devices. As a child, he could concentrate intensely on one thing. But these days, he found himself constantly checking for replies from the other person.

He would be doing his own thing, then lose track of time chatting, often delaying his real work. For him, this was an abnormal signal.

But maybe it was because chatting with Rong Huan was so enjoyable. He kept reassuring himself that he was in college now, with plenty of free time. After graduation, he’d devote himself fully to his career.

Thinking about it, he had already spent enough time on work. Now that he was Lu Yi in this world, he could occasionally relax—for example, by chatting with a friend or having a meal together.

The roommates had quieted down, but someone clearly didn’t want to remain so inconspicuous in front of his ex-boyfriend.

“Lu Yi.”

Lu Yi heard his name and instinctively looked up, only to meet Li Tang’s enlarged face.

Because he was a guest judge for the competition, Li Tang was wearing a silver-gray suit today. The tailored cut showed off his slim waist, and his sly smile made him look dangerous and charming.

Li Tang had regained his usual suave demeanor. He introduced his new boyfriend to his ex: “Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Wen Shu.”

“Pfft, who gave him that name? ‘Wen Shu’—sounds like ‘always lose’,” Wang Wang snorted.

Li Tang’s expression turned cold. “Say that again, Wang Ergou. You don’t get a say here.”

When others said Wang Wang’s name, they always felt like they were imitating a dog’s bark. So his nickname was “Wangzai.” Those who didn’t get along with him called him “Wang Ergou” instead.

Wen Shu, the pretty young man, had looked a bit uncomfortable at first, but seeing his boyfriend defend him, he smiled sweetly. True to the rumors, he had an adorable dimple when he smiled.

Faced with the provocative dog-food display from his ex and his ex’s new boyfriend, Lu Yi nodded politely. “Oh, I see. I wish you happiness.”

His expression was perfectly calm, and his tone cold and distant, as if he were facing a complete stranger.

Li Tang hadn’t brought his new boyfriend here to see Lu Yi like this. He wanted to see Lu Yi heartbroken and upset. The more pain Lu Yi showed, the more satisfied Li Tang would be.

After greeting them, Lu Yi’s phone screen lit up again. Evidently, Rong Huan, who had stepped away for a moment, had returned.

Lu Yi immediately dismissed Li Tang from his mind and focused on replying to Rong Huan’s message.

Li Tang watched Lu Yi’s demeanor and became more convinced that Lu Yi was just putting on an act. But acting couldn’t last forever. Otherwise, why would the other keep staring at his phone screen without looking away?

He deliberately said, “Lu Yi, we’re still friends, right? When are you going to bring your boyfriend to meet us? Graduation’s almost here. If you don’t find someone in college, it’ll be harder later.”

Without lifting his head, Lu Yi replied, “Thanks for your concern. If I find someone, I’ll definitely introduce him to you.”

On the other end, Rong Huan said: There’s a new movie out. One of my nephews said he bought too many tickets and gave me one, but I also bought one. Now I have two. Do you want to watch it with me this Saturday night?

Lu Yi replied: Sure. But is this considered a date?

Rong Huan answered: If you want to think of it that way, you can. But my nephew will be there too.

Lu Yi instantly replied: Then wouldn’t that be awkward for me?

Rong Huan: Not at all. My nephew is bringing his friend. I’m not really familiar with that friend either. To avoid awkwardness, I’ll bring a friend too.

Lu Yi became curious about Rong Huan’s so-called nephew: How old is your nephew? You’ve mentioned him several times.

Rong Huan thought for a moment and typed a long paragraph: My family situation is a bit complicated. He’s the son of my stepmother’s son, so we’re not blood-related, but he’s quite likable. Actually, he’s not that much younger than me, probably around your age.

He remembered Lu Yi saying he didn’t have many friends at school.

He continued: He studies at your school. He’s a very outgoing person.

Lu Yi asked: Who is he? Maybe we know each other.

Rong Huan said: Let me keep it a secret for now. Are you coming tomorrow? If you do, I’ll introduce him to you. Maybe there’ll be a surprise.

Lu Yi definitely wanted to come—such a great opportunity to strengthen their bond: Then I’ll dress up really well tomorrow and not embarrass you.

Rong Huan stared at the screen and smiled foolishly: Dress up? It’s not like you’re meeting someone important.

Lu Yi replied seriously: Of course it’s important. It’s your family, Teacher Rong. I have to dress up with great care.

Rong Huan’s heart pounded. But then he remembered something and felt a bit disappointed. This guy kept unconsciously flirting with him. He had said he liked men, and since the other was the same, he should know how lethal such words were to a single older man.

But if he tried to break through this ambiguous window paper, he worried about failure. What if he was just reading too much into things? He had finally found such a great friend to talk to, and he didn’t want to lose this cross-generational friendship—though Lu Yi wasn’t that much younger than him.

He replied to Lu Yi and said: “Then it’s settled. See you tomorrow.”

After finishing the chat with Lu Yi, he switched to another chat window—a friend he had made on a forum. This friendship existed only in the 2D world. He knew the nickname but not the real name; they had never met in the 3D world.

Being gay was still a niche. He had put a lot of effort into getting his family to understand.

Qin Yin: I’m going to watch a movie with him tomorrow.

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: That’s great. What movie?

Qin Yin: A biopic about a music master.

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: Seriously? That’s way too artsy. You should have chosen a romance—imagine when the leads kiss, tsk tsk. Or a horror movie—when something scary happens, you just throw yourself into his arms.

Rong Huan felt the other had a point, but he had already agreed.

Qin Yin: …And my nephew will be there too.

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: That’s not good. Why bring a nephew? Little brats are annoying. If you like someone, go for it! Our circle is already niche. If you’re not brave, do you want to die alone?

That hit home. Although Rong Huan always said he wanted to stay single, he actually hoped to have someone by his side. But he just hadn’t found the right person. This circle was pretty chaotic. His parents had introduced a few people, saying they were good and nice.

But when he casually checked, they were either sex addicts or bisexuals. He only wanted someone who liked men exclusively. If the person could also accept women, then as they got older, the other might cave under pressure and marry a woman—disgusting.

Some were genuinely nice, true innocents who had never even been in a relationship. But besides being nice, their soft conditions had major flaws. He didn’t have many requirements for family background; what mattered was compatible values and shared interests.

However, most people working at music stores were women. The few men were already married with children. He wasn’t very outgoing, and coupled with the psychological trauma of coming out back then, he had very few friends.

With limited exposure, even though he had great conditions within the circle, he was still left single. And people said he had set his standards too high.

After all, in a circle full of self-identified “zeros,” if there were any high-quality “ones,” they would have been snatched up long ago. How could they wait for a twenty-seven-year-old old man like him?

Qin Yin: My nephew is about his age, and he’s bringing his boyfriend too. I said I didn’t want to be a third wheel, so I invited him.

Qin Yin: I know. But you know, I told you before—I’m seven years older than him. So I’m really hesitant.

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: Twenty is not young. I had already experienced everything by twenty.

Qin Yin: He’s not like that. He goes to an engineering-type university—very rigorous and serious. He sent me documents like this when he first asked me questions. Screenshot1.jpg Screenshot2.jpg Screenshot3.jpg.

After he added me, he didn’t contact me for half a month. Then he sent me this. Even though he’s young, he feels very mature and steady, someone you can rely on. And his tastes are similar to mine. His aesthetic is amazing…

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: Stop bragging, stop bragging. I’m jealous. Anyway, if he’s high-quality tender grass, just go for it. What are you hesitating for?

Qin Yin: I’m just worried that if I say something, we won’t even be friends anymore.

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: Does he have a boyfriend?

Qin Yin: He had one, but it was a jerk. Apparently, he was scammed by that guy. After that, he cut ties completely. His parents weren’t good to him either. Maybe he couldn’t take it at that time and did something stupid—like hurting himself. But he’s fine now, and he’s much more open and calm than before.

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: So he’s been hurt. You idiot—hurry up and comfort him while he’s still healing. Hug him, and then he’ll be yours.

Rong Huan hesitated. He took screenshots of their Feixun avatars (blurred) and sent them to Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da.

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: I bet this guy is into you. But maybe he’s been hurt before and is afraid of being scammed again. Tomorrow, dress nicely—something with a hint of allure. During the movie, put your hand over. If he holds it, you’re in.

Qin Yin: What if he pulls back?

Huang Gua Qie Zi Lai Yi Da: First time, he might think it’s a misunderstanding. Try two or three times. If he pulls back each time, just say it was a misunderstanding. No harm done.

What the other said made a lot of sense. Rong Huan’s little heart wavered. He stood up and started rummaging through his closet: Should I wear the black one or the white one?

Come Saturday evening, the two first met for dinner, then went to the movie.

When he saw Lu Yi, Rong Huan’s eyes lit up. But he didn’t say anything because they had to wait for the movie. He ate dinner somewhat absentmindedly.

Lu Yi asked him: “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your nephew?”

“Not so early. They’re watching a movie elsewhere.” Actually, his little nephew had invited him, but he had refused, using the excuse of not wanting to be a third wheel.

At the time, his nephew had said: “Your boyfriend is way more important than your little uncle. If you come to eat with me, you can meet him later.”

But Rong Huan had refused. He didn’t want his nephew to be a third wheel between them.

Of course, he didn’t need to tell Lu Yi all this.

After a fairly pleasant dinner, it was about time.

Lu Yi and Rong Huan went in first. A little while later, his so-called nephew and the nephew’s boyfriend arrived.

They sat next to Rong Huan. Since the theater was already dark, Rong Huan lowered his voice and first introduced: “This is my nephew.”

Then he introduced to his little nephew and the nephew’s boyfriend: “This is my friend. You two go to the same school.”

Six eyes met. Plop. The little nephew’s pretty boyfriend dropped his milk tea.

The little nephew, who harbored designs on his non-biological uncle, also dropped his eyes. Li Tang said, somewhat losing his composure, “How is it you?!”