Decayed Vulgarian chapter 2

Meng Yuan Ning

Shen Xun’s blind date took place in a well-known flower-themed restaurant in Huafu City, a western restaurant called “Flower Sea.”

Purple wisteria vines hanging from the ceiling, and roses in glass vases, and heart-shaped greenery clustered beside wooden chairs.

Most of the flowers were in season, with only a few fake flowers mixed in. They were so well done that the restaurant had become a popular spot for blind dates, of course, raising the average cost per person.

Shen Xun was allergic to romance. As a loyal pragmatist, he believed that the primary and only criterion for a dinner date was good food, not the elaborate and useless decor of the dining venue.

Yes, he had forgotten that this was a date.

So, this restaurant wasn’t Shen Xun’s choice; it was his mother’s.

Shen’s mother, after rejecting multiple proposals for dinner dates such as hot pot restaurants, barbecue joints, and fine dining places, went on TikTok herself to check out the restaurant. Then she sent Shen Xun a link to explore with a voice message that was her final ultimatum, “This restaurant is located right in Huafu City, isn’t it? That’s perfect, the girl will definitely like it.”

Shen’s mother even worried that her son might find it too expensive and sent a few hundred yuan as a compensation red envelope.

Shen Xun thought to himself, “How worried are you that I won’t want to go?”

Of course, he didn’t accept the money his mother sent, and he obediently reserved a table.

However, Shen Xun did think that this western restaurant was grossly overpriced. After all, he was going to eat, not to look at flowers. It wasn’t that he was stingy, he just felt that the money was not well spent.

It would be just this once, Shen Xun thought. After this blind date, he wouldn’t have to go to Flower Sea Restaurant for at least two months.

The agreed-upon time was 12 o’clock, and Shen Xun arrived twenty minutes early, sitting alone at the table, waiting.

But he hadn’t expected that after waiting for twenty minutes, he would have to wait another twenty minutes.

The waiter came up for the third time, holding the menu, and said, “Sir, would you like to order now?”

The tone of the waiter sounded like an urging to Shen Xun, implying, “If you want to order, order. If not, get lost. There’s a line of people waiting to dine.”

Shen Xun believed that, on a date, it was a sign of respect for the other person to let them order first.

So, he said, “The person I’m meeting hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll wait a bit longer.”

The waiter forced a professional fake smile and walked away.

With his gaze turned away, Shen Xun picked up his phone and glanced at the locked screen, reading “12:21.” He pondered for a moment and then looked through his and Meng Yuan Ning’s scant chat history.

He hadn’t sent the wrong message; the appointment was at twelve.

So, why hadn’t she arrived yet?

Was she having trouble finding the place, or did something come up at the last minute?

Should he send a message to ask? Or maybe call?

He had Meng Yuan Ning’s phone number, but he hesitated, as he didn’t know her very well.

Shen Xun had a touch of social anxiety, and he would avoid making phone calls to strangers if he could.

In the end, he sent a WeChat message: “Have you arrived?”

One minute later, there was no reply.

He told himself she might be stuck on the highway. He could wait a little longer.

Besides, if she really stood him up, there was no need to get angry. He hadn’t wanted to go on the date in the first place. From a different perspective, he was saving money.

Playing with his phone seemed pointless, so Shen Xun began resting his chin on his hand, idly looking around.

Most of the restaurant’s customers seemed to be couples, and it appeared that other than couples, they were still couples. They were sweetly affectionate, being dramatic, laughing, and their public display of affection as if no one else was around.

Shen Xun didn’t feel much watching them. If he wanted a relationship, he would have had one by now.

After all, when his high school days ended, Shen’s mother, who had initially been strict about early romances, transformed into a pusher for dating. But, who would have thought that her son, an accomplished student with excellent grades, would be single by the time he reached his fourth year in college?

Shen Xun’s response was, “I didn’t meet anyone who made my heart flutter in college, so I’m not dating.”

Shen’s mother tried to convince him, saying, “Feelings develop over time. If you don’t give it a try, how will you know if it works?”

Shen Xun was fully aware of himself, and this rule simply didn’t apply to him. “For me, absence makes the heart grow fonder. The closer you get, the more I’ll dislike you.”

When he had finished, he had indulged in a little daydream about his future. “I do have a bit of impractical idealism and romanticism in my heart. I think I’ll only fall in love once in my lifetime, and the person I meet will be the right one. We’ll be able to spend the rest of our lives together.”

“I know this idea may sound like daydreaming in broad daylight, and I’m not disappointed if I can’t do it, but I do aspire to it.”

Shen’s mother had listened, while her eyes darkened. From then on, her son’s emotional situation became a major concern.

She even said that Shen Xun’s heart was made of stone and that he was downright unfeeling. She predicted that, if he ever fell in love, it would be a miracle, like a cactus blooming.

Returning to reality, Shen Xun checked his phone again; it was 12:25, and there was still no sign of anyone.

He had waited for forty-five minutes.

So, he concluded, not only did dating cost money, it also cost time.

When he had arrived, the sun was shining, but now the weather had suddenly turned gloomy, and light rain began to fall outside the window.

Another guest entered, and the sound of the door swinging shut could be heard. The person put away their umbrella, then rushed inside with hurried steps.

Probably due to boredom, Shen Xun glanced at them.

They were tall, in a white shirt, black dress pants, and a deep gray overcoat.

The black umbrella they held seemed like the cane of a European medieval aristocrat.

They had a remarkable presence.

So, when that person walked further inside, Shen Xun couldn’t help but steal another glance.

This time, his gaze captured the person’s profile – a smooth and delicate curve from their forehead to their brow, from their lip line to their chin, with a high-bridged nose supporting a pair of silver-rimmed glasses.

It seemed like they noticed they were being watched, and the person turned their head.

In a hurry, Shen Xun lowered his head to avoid their gaze, inexplicably feeling flustered.

The image of that person, still fresh in his short-term memory, was quite clear. Shen Xun pondered, and the person’s appearance and demeanor seemed to match his preferences, right down to the slender-rimmed glasses. Ah, his kinks.

He wanted to sneak another look, but he remembered almost getting caught, so he restrained himself.

However, in that moment, certain thoughts crossed his mind –

Like, did I just… have a crush?

And, maybe I could initiate getting their WeChat?

There was a restlessness within, but he didn’t show any of it on the surface. Shen Xun sat there with a poker face.

After a short-lived impulse, he calmed down. He told himself that the so-called crush was just the result of almost getting caught.

As for asking for their WeChat, after all, homosexuality was a minority in society, and from their perspective, being suddenly asked for WeChat by a stranger could be seen as offensive and weird.

Besides, they could have had a mix-up in table reservations, and people coming to a western restaurant either had someone already or were on the way to having someone. They also looked like they were not very young, very handsome, and likely not single.

With a complete set of logical arguments, Shen Xun successfully convinced himself. He knew very well that he just didn’t dare to.

He didn’t dare to make the first move, he didn’t dare to think about how the person would react if he asked for their WeChat, and he didn’t dare to think about how people around him would look at him.

As long as he didn’t take action, he could deal with all those concerns.

He was like the fox in Aesop’s fables that convinced itself that the grapes were sour, using that to cover up the slight trace of loss hiding deep in his heart.

Not sure how many times he had unlocked his phone, Shen Xun’s gaze lingered for a long time on the chat box between himself and Meng Yuan Ning. The last message was a green bubble that said, “Have you arrived?”

Still no reply. Shen Xun sighed.

Suddenly, a clear and pleasant voice sounded in his ear.

“Hello, are you Mr. Shen Xun?”

Shen Xun looked up to find that the handsome guy, who had been so far away just a moment ago, was now unexpectedly close.

He was a bit dazed and said, “…Yes.”

“I’m Meng Yuan Ning’s brother, Meng Yuan Cen.” Meng Yuan Cen extended his hand to Shen Xun.

So, his name is…Meng Yuan Cen.

Shen Xun repeated the name in his mind and casually touched Meng Yuan Cen’s knuckles with his right hand, quickly moving it away. Not many people would initiate a handshake with him. Oh right, Meng Yuan Cen didn’t know he was a forensic pathologist.

“Sorry, my sister had a little problem on the way and can’t make it. I thought you might already be on your way or even at the restaurant, so canceling the blind date at the last minute would be impolite. That’s why I’m here on her behalf,” Meng Yuan Cen explained.

“I see.”

Shen Xun looked down at the palm of his hand and slowly nodded, feeling somewhat absentminded.

Shen Xun wondered, “Oh no… This iron tree of mine might actually be blooming this time.”