What Are Your Tastes? chapter 36

 We Will Always Be Good Friends

Lu Yunchu didn’t plan to stay long, not wanting to disturb Zhou Yanchuan’s rest. He also had a class later and couldn’t delay. After delivering the items, he left.

By the time he reached the studio, the rain had just stopped, but the sky was still overcast. The pink sunflowers on the flower rack were wilting, looking like they were about to wither.

It was already December, and the flowers had lasted longer than expected, perhaps due to the warmth of the enclosed terrace providing a suitable environment.

Class hadn’t started yet, but Tao Jin had arrived earlier than the other kids, seemingly on purpose.

Since the gay bar incident, he enjoyed chatting with Lu Yunchu and seemed in better spirits, the gloominess almost gone. He was becoming more relaxed around Lu Yunchu, even acting like a friend his age.

“How have you been lately?” Lu Yunchu invited him to have coffee on the terrace.

“Good.” His voice was stronger, and there was an unconscious smile on his lips.

“Anything good happen?

“I don’t know if it’s a good thing,” he said, his lips moving as he slowly under Lu Yunchu’s curious gaze, “Mr. Lu, you know what? He apologized to me.”

Lu Yunchu immediately understood who ‘he’ referred to and speculated whether Tao Jin’s good mood was related to that boy. He asked tactfully, “Did you make any progress with him?”

“No,” Tao Jin smiled shyly. “He just apologized. He didn’t… turn gay because of me, and I think I’ve come to terms with it.”

“Really?”

“After he apologized, I suddenly felt it wasn’t a big deal. I mean, my feelings for him,” Tao Jin said. He didn’t know any other gay people and had no one to confide in daily, so he poured out his emotions to Lu Yunchu. “I was so repressed back then, I saw him as a ray of hope. But after everything, I realized he’s just an ordinary person with fears and flaws like everyone else. I liked an idealized version of him, not the real him. I don’t know why I developed such an unhealthy dependence.”

Lu Yunchu listened silently, nodding occasionally. In any case, not placing one’s hopes on others was a good start for the kid.

“Thank you for talking with me so many times,” Tao Jin said, his gaze shifting back to Lu Yunchu. “I feel much more at ease now.”

“You’re welcome.” Tao Jin was young, and some things would become clear with experience.

“By the way,” his smile faded, “how’s Mr. Zhou’s health?”

“You know about it too?”

“Yeah,” he said, “I saw it in the news.”

“I visited him in the hospital; he’ll be discharged the day after tomorrow.” The case reported to the public was a retaliatory dispute triggered by a failed acquisition negotiation, with other personal grievances unknown to the public.

Tao Jin didn’t ask about Zhou Yanchuan’s injury. Instead, he glanced thoughtfully in Lu Yunchu’s direction a few times. Teenagers aren’t good at hiding things; his straightforward gaze was easily noticed.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Yunchu had a hunch that Tao Jin’s thoughts were related to him. “Is there something else you want to ask?”

“Oh,” Tao Jin shook his head awkwardly, realizing his unnatural state, and took a breath resignedly. “Teacher Lu, are you and Mr. Zhou… dating?”

Lu Yunchu almost choked on a mouthful of coffee, his face scrunching in bitterness.

“Of course not,” he relaxed his expression. “Why would you think that?”

“Really?” Tao Jin’s face seemed tinged with regret. “That day… I felt he was very protective of you. You two seemed close.”

The last time Tao Jin saw Zhou Yanchuan was probably at the entrance to the gay bar. Lu Yunchu himself didn’t notice much out of the ordinary and couldn’t imagine Tao Jin would bring it up like this.

“Zhou Yanchuan… he doesn’t like men.” His words carried another layer of meaning; their relationship couldn’t progress further solely because of the other’s orientation.

Lu Yunchu neither denied his own feelings nor intended to change Zhou Yanchuan’s orientation.

Even if their relationship remained as ordinary friends, it didn’t stop him from continuing to like the person.

Tao Jin was not dull; he caught the implied meaning from Lu Yunchu’s expressions and suggestive remarks, but didn’t know how to continue the conversation. Being ten years younger than Lu Yunchu, he still had a somewhat junior mentality.

Lu Yunchu knew about Tao Jin’s romantic experiences. Unintentionally revealing his own feelings to him, he didn’t realize anything inappropriate. After putting down his coffee cup, he comforted the confused Tao Jin instead: “That’s right, Mr. Zhou and I will always be good friends.”

Tao Jin took a slow deep breath, his hand holding the cup remained motionless. “Teacher Lu, is it really impossible for straight guys to accept these things?”

“Haven’t you figured it out already?” Lu Yunchu smiled. “Why are you still tangled up in this?”

“It’s not about me,” he lifted his head, repeating his earlier words, “I just think you two look good together.”

It would be even better if they could be together.

“Thank you.” Hearing such thoughts from someone else made him happy, even if it wasn’t realistic. “Alright, help me pack up then.”

The sun was out before class, whether it was psychological or not, Lu Yunchu felt the flowers on the shelf were revived.

After leaving the hospital, Zhou Yanchuan’s right arm remained in a cast, only able to move with his left hand, temporarily working from home.

He declined Zheng Xun’s request for mediation, no longer caring about it and leaving it to the company lawyers to handle.

Mo Ziyang came to his house to see him, advising him to find a housekeeper to take care of daily life, but Zhou Yanchuan refused.

He didn’t like being waited on by others. His injured arm didn’t affect him much; he could order takeout for meals and have things delivered.

Furthermore, he didn’t want outsiders staying at his place. Mo Ziyang had children and needed to find a nanny, but having someone around him twenty-four hours a day was awkward for a single guy like him.

“I’m just afraid you won’t even know if you fall…” Mo Ziyang nagged, “Why are you so stubborn?”

“Alright, alright, just go,” Zhou Yanchuan got annoyed and pushed him to the door, “Say hi to Tao Tao and your wife for me.”

“Tsk, you’re still giving Tao Tao a hard time.”

Mo Ziyang stepped out, and across the hallway, a young man opening the door heard the commotion and turned around.

“Hey, aren’t you…” He had just seen Lu Yunchu at the hospital two days ago and vaguely remembered him.

“Yeah, hello.” Lu Yunchu’s gaze passed Mo Ziyang, focusing on Zhou Yanchuan following him to the door.

“So you live next door.”

Zhou Yanchuan often ran into Lu Yunchu in the corridor. At this time after work, it was normal, so he shooed Mo Ziyang away and smiled at Lu Yunchu again, “Just got back?”

“Yeah,” Lu Yunchu looked at the bandage on his arm, “Have you eaten?”

“I have.” That day’s dinner was ordered from a nearby hotel, and Mo Ziyang was with him during dinner.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Huh?” Zhou Yanchuan just casually exchanged pleasantries, intended to leave before hearing his words, and paused, “Help with what?”

“I mean, if there’s anything inconvenient for you…” Lu Yunchu’s gaze lifted to meet his eyes, “As long as I’m home, I can help you.”

Zhou Yanchuan realized Lu Yunchu was like Mo Ziyang, concerned about his injury.

Actually, he didn’t really think he needed extra care. The only inconvenience was maybe taking a shower and changing clothes, but that wasn’t something you could ask someone to help with.

“It’s okay,” Zhou Yanchuan lifted his left hand to gesture, “If something comes up, I’ll let you know.”

After closing the door, he found it amusing. Why did everyone treat him like he was so fragile?

Zhou Yanchuan had a good physical foundation, and coupled with the injury being minor, the cast was removed in less than a month.

Healing bones and tendons took a hundred days. Although his right arm couldn’t bear heavy weights like before, it hardly affected his daily life anymore.

The new year was approaching soon.

Last week, on the eve of Christmas, a two-story Christmas tree was set up in the central garden of the neighborhood, and it hadn’t been taken down even after Christmas. The new year and the Chinese New Year were approaching, perhaps to create a festive atmosphere. Soon after, red lanterns were hung on the lampposts around.

Zhou Yanchuan passed through the garden when he went out, feeling that everything was overly fancy and neither here nor there.

On New Year’s Eve, there would be a fireworks display by the river in the suburbs—a holiday tradition in Sen city for five years.

On Wednesday, Zhou Yanchuan received a message from Lu Yunchu.

【Do you want to go see the fireworks tomorrow?】

He had gone two years ago; it was crowded then, and he used to enjoy the hustle and bustle, but now he preferred peace and quiet.

【You go ahead, I’ll just rest at home.】

Several hours later, there was still no reply. It wasn’t until just before going to bed that WeChat notifications popped up again.

【Shall we celebrate New Year’s Eve together at home? How about having hotpot?】