Blazing fire is hard to extinguish chapter 1

Encounter

That day, Lin Chi was pulled in by a friend to cover a shift.

His friend, whom he met at film sets, called him, begging for an emergency favor to cover a two-hour shift at a bar.

“What are you up to?”

Lin Chi was still lying in bed when he took the call. He had just finished a photo shoot yesterday, spending half the day in the wind on top of an abandoned building. Thanks to his good physical condition, he didn’t catch a cold.

He had no intention of going out today; he just wanted to stay home and sleep.

“My girlfriend is going on a business trip today, and I need to see her off. It’ll be quick. You just need to cover for a bit over an hour.” Tan Shuo replied.

Oh, geez.

A mouthful of dog food.

Lin Chi couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

He snuggled further into his blanket, really not wanting to go out, and struggled a bit more, “You couldn’t find anyone else to cover?”

“No, my other two musician friends are busy, and our bar owner has high standards for looks. She only hires good-looking people. She even thought I wasn’t handsome enough during the interview.”

At this, Tan Shuo was almost dredging up sad memories and self-doubtfully touched his face.

Lin Chi stifled a laugh.

Alright then.

Covering a shift wasn’t a big deal.

He scratched his messy hair and reluctantly crawled out of bed.

“Remember to treat me to a late-night snack.”

The other side laughed and agreed wholeheartedly, not forgetting to flatter him, “I knew our Lin Ge was the most reliable.”

“Get lost.”

Lin Chi yawned and stood barefoot on the floor.

Because the curtains were drawn, the room wasn’t very bright, but it was enough to see the furnishings: plain wallpaper, a low stool tilted to one side, and a few clothes casually hung on a single sofa.

He bent down and took a clean shirt out of the cabinet.

His main job was a model, so he had an exceptionally good figure. At 184 cm tall, his muscles were not exaggerated like those built in a gym but formed a thin, beautiful, and smooth line. His waist was particularly slim, with two shallow dimples near the waistline.

He casually buttoned a few buttons on his chest, freshened up, and then ran his hand through his hair in front of the mirror. On his left ear, a golden earring dangled, with a spike-like end and a black obsidian in the middle, making his skin look especially clean and fair.

Pretty handsome.

Lin Chi whistled at the mirror, grabbed his car keys, and went out.

His mode of transportation was a small motorcycle, second-hand, that had been through thick and thin with him. It looked a bit worn out, but it could always cut through traffic jams.

While waiting at a red light, he checked the address Tan Shuo had sent him again.

182 Wanhua Avenue.

Lin Chi thought for a moment and remembered it was a small bar by the sea, a place he had occasionally visited before.

Over an hour later, he arrived punctually at the soon-to-open small bar.

There weren’t many customers in the bar yet. The windows were open, allowing a view of the sunset on the beach from inside, perfectly peaceful.

….

Li Tingyan received a call from Xu Mu while he was sitting in his car.

It was sunset outside, and the orange-red light fell on the shimmering sea, as if paint had been spilled, pouring into the ocean and creating a grand painting.

He heard Xu Mu talking about tomorrow’s wedding and that night’s party, even habitually smiling a bit.

“Can’t you really come tonight?” Xu Mu asked him.

Li Tingyan loosened his shirt collar, feeling stuffy and oppressive in the car, possibly because the windows were closed.

“Sorry, I’m really busy today. I have to rush out of town tonight and can’t make it back. I can only congratulate you on your wedding tomorrow,” Li Tingyan tried to keep his voice normal, even adding a hint of laughter, “I’ll make up for it with the grandest wedding gift.”

“Who wants that?”

Xu Mu laughed softly, but knowing how busy Li Tingyan was, he didn’t want to push too hard. Xu Mu had always been a good-natured person.

“Then make sure you’re on time tomorrow. If you have a plus-one, bring them. I don’t mind others stealing the spotlight at my wedding. The more couples, the better. If you really can’t find someone, I don’t mind setting you up on the spot.” He added.

This time, Li Tingyan couldn’t even muster a smile, a trace of fatigue crossing his brow.

His voice remained calm, “Thank you for your kind intentions, but I’ll pass. You know I’m not fond of family life like you.”

Xu Mu sighed, “You’re really difficult. Out of all our friends, only you and Yunzhe are still single.”

But he smiled, not saying anything more, just chatted a bit longer before hanging up.

As the groom who was getting married tomorrow, he had many things to take care of. That night was his bachelor party, and most of his friends were attending. On the other side of the hotel, the bride was popping champagne with her bridesmaids.

It was a beautiful day.

It should have been the same for everyone attending the party.

Except for Li Tingyan.

To witness the person he loved getting married would be painful for anyone.

But now, sitting in the back seat of the car driving along the vast coastal highway, he gazed at the sunset outside the window, his face showing no emotion.

The car was quiet.

The driver, who had been with Li Tingyan for many years, knew that when his boss didn’t speak, he didn’t want to be disturbed. So, he focused on driving, avoiding looking in the rearview mirror.

This kind of quiet usually calmed Li Tingyan, allowing him to feel a rare sense of relaxation.

But today, he slowly lowered the car window, the slightly salty sea breeze hitting his face, each gust as sharp as a blade.

“Stop up ahead.”

He spoke to the driver.

The driver was momentarily stunned, glancing to the side. They were near the beach, with a road leading to a set of stone steps.

He immediately pulled over.

Li Tingyan sat in the car for another half minute before pushing the door open.

The road near the sea was now sparsely populated, but there were quite a few young men and women strolling on the beach, with children running around.

“Park the car in the lot. I won’t be returning tonight. I’ll inform you tomorrow,” he said to the driver.

The driver nodded and agreed.

Li Tingyan walked down the steps. His black suit was out of place on this relaxed beach, but he didn’t intend to go onto the sand. He walked for a bit and saw a small bar.

The bar was unremarkable, notable only for its seaside location. The sign above the door, with its wobbly handwritten letters and a few flickering light bulbs, wasn’t bright even at dusk.

But for Li Tingyan, it was just right.

A bar far from his usual life, with strangers, by the sea, under the night sky, with a dim interior where faces couldn’t be clearly seen, was perfect for his current state of desolation.

….

When Li Tingyan walked in, Lin Chi was taking a short break.

He had just finished a cocktail he was given by the owner, with a hint of peach flavor, and was crouching at the edge of the stage, smiling as he answered a few questions.

When he looked up again, he noticed Li Tingyan.

A tall man dressed in black, with perfect proportions, broad shoulders, and long legs, his wrists exposed at the cuffs hinting at a strong build beneath the clothes.

Lin Chi didn’t have a particular preference for male beauty; looking good was enough.

Being constantly around fashion shoots and film sets, he should have been immune to attractive men.

But the moment he saw Li Tingyan, his heart skipped a beat.

There was no other reason; Li Tingyan’s handsomeness was just too striking.

Even in the dimly lit bar, with a faint mist in the air, it seemed all the light was focused on Li Tingyan at that moment.

Clearly, someone in the bar wanted to chat him up, but he looked too aloof and cold, discouraging any approach. He walked straight to the bar counter and ordered a drink.

As he lowered his gaze, Lin Chi got a clear look at his face—handsome, noble, with features like they were carved by a sculptor. His eyes were particularly captivating, with thick eyelashes like shadows of trees around a lake, cold yet alluring.

Lin Chi saw Li Tingyan’s gaze sweep across the stage for a second.

Even though he knew this man wasn’t looking at him, Lin Chi’s heart still pounded.

“This is just too unfair.”

Lin Chi muttered to himself, feeling like it hit him right in the heart.

He finished the halftime break and started singing the next song, but his gaze couldn’t help lingering on Li Tingyan. Even his voice was slightly off-key, rendering the romantic song he sang more hoarse.

His eyes stuck to Li Tingyan, wishing he could jump off the stage now and strike up a conversation.

Unfortunately, he still had over half an hour of work left and couldn’t leave early.

Lin Chi could only sing while lamenting, staring at the bar counter. He glanced once, then again, afraid that the man who fit his preferences so well might disappear in the blink of an eye.

…..

After enduring for over half an hour, Lin Chi finally waited for Tan Shuo to come and take over.

Tan Shuo kept his word and rushed over immediately after sending his girlfriend off.

“Thanks, buddy.”

Tan Shuo patted Lin Chi on the shoulder. “I’ll treat you to supper after I finish. You wait down here for a bit. If you want any drinks, put it on my tab. We get staff discounts.”

But Lin Chi was absent-minded, just nodding in response. He waved to Tan Shuo, “Got it, go ahead, I’m fine on my own.”

He paused, then added vaguely, “I might leave before supper, so let’s put that on hold.”

Tan Shuo hesitated, “Why? Didn’t we agree?”

Before he could finish, Lin Chi pushed him towards the stage, grabbing his shoulder.

Once Tan Shuo left, despite the continued chatter of the guests around him, the air seemed to suddenly quiet down.

Lin Chi stretched his muscles, his gaze still fixed on the figure near the bar counter.

When he was on stage just now, he had already attracted the attention of many guests. As soon as he stepped down, someone immediately invited him to their table.

Normally, even if he didn’t accept, he would respond with a flirtatious smile, eyes shimmering, making others shy and flustered.

But today, he didn’t have the heart for it.

Lin Chi walked up to the bar counter, pulled out the chair next to Li Tingyan, and spoke softly, yet audibly enough to be heard.

“Hello, may I sit here?”

In front of Li Tingyan, a row of glasses had already been set out. He had been in this bar for over an hour, drinking alone in silence.

His phone screen was lit up, displaying a large group photo. A cluster of similarly aged young people sat apart on several black sofas under bright indoor lighting. There were bottles on the table and trays with leftover food, although many bottles were empty, no one was heavily intoxicated, just chatting and enjoying themselves, far from debauchery.

It was just sent to him by Xu Mu, probably to share the joy with him.

Li Tingyan took a puff of smoke, and in the faint smoke, the smiling face of Xu Mu in the photo became blurry.

It was at this moment that he suddenly heard a voice next to him, asking if he could sit down.

Li Tingyan thought it was someone coming to chat him up again, and couldn’t help but frown. But when he raised his head and saw the face of the person opposite him clearly, he was subtly stunned.

Lin Chi stood smiling under the light, slightly bending.

He was unstoppable in social circles, a conqueror of all, relying first and foremost on his appearance.

As a model, he was naturally gifted with broad shoulders and a slim waist. His face was no less attractive than that of a celebrity in the entertainment industry, with a high nose and thin lips, slightly sunken eye sockets, a sharp-angled face, captivating eyes, and an especially vivid expression when smiling, naturally exuding tenderness.

The photographers he had worked with described him most frequently as sexy.

Unparalleled sexiness.

Exuding desire and arrogance from the bones, it was strong and irresistible.

Li Tingyan relaxed his brows.

He thought that with such looks, this person probably didn’t intend to harass him, and he didn’t need to be overly sensitive.

“Feel free,” he said. The seating in the bar was casual, and asking permission was already polite.

Lin Chi immediately sat down but didn’t immediately start a conversation with Li Tingyan. Instead, he ordered a martini as well.

When half of the drink was gone, he asked Li Tingyan, “Are you a tourist here to have fun?”

Li Tingyan glanced at him, didn’t reply, and subtly shook his head.

Lin Chi wasn’t discouraged, shrugged, and said, “Just curious. Most people who come to this bar are regulars. I’ve been here many times myself, but it’s the first time seeing you.”

He paused, took a sip of his drink, the cold liquid wetting his lips, sliding down his throat all the way into his stomach, making him let out a satisfied sigh.

He asked Li Tingyan, “You’ve been drinking alone for quite a while here. Did you go through a breakup?”

It wasn’t until now that Li Tingyan looked directly at Lin Chi.

“Why do you think so?” His expression remained unchanged, making it hard to tell if he had been touched by the remark.

Lin Chi shrugged, “People who come here to drink alone are either unlucky in life or heartbroken,” he looked Li Tingyan up and down, “but you don’t look like the former. If there were a major setback, you’d be working to resolve it, not running to a small bar like this. So, it must be the latter.”

He smiled at Li Tingyan, “Am I right?”

Having immersed himself in the fashion industry for so long, he could tell at a glance that Li Tingyan was probably wealthy. His suit lacked obvious logos, but the fabric and cut were expensive and exquisite, and his watch was a Richard Mille. Such a person shouldn’t normally appear in this small bar.

Li Tingyan remained silent for a moment, then chuckled lightly.

“Yes.”

Indeed, he had been drinking alone for a long time because of a breakup. Alcohol initially numbed the pain, but eventually, it felt like it piled up in his heart, making it hard for him to breathe, urgently needing an outlet to temporarily shift his collapsing emotions.

So, unusually, he responded to Lin Chi.

He looked up at Lin Chi, who had somehow produced a cigarette, held between his lips without being lit, curiosity openly visible in his eyes.

But Lin Chi’s gaze was so candid and maintained a certain distance that it didn’t come across as intrusive.

Lin Chi raised an eyebrow. With one hand supporting his chin, he curiously asked, “Although I guessed right, I’m still quite puzzled. Who’s so capable of dumping you? Looking like this, and yet you can still be rejected?”

Li Tingyan glanced at Lin Chi.

Such remarks could only come from someone too young, or perhaps Lin Chi’s appearance had made him invincible in the dating scene, shielding him from rejection.

Having a striking appearance wasn’t a universal pass.

But he still answered Lin Chi’s question, “There’s nothing strange about it. The person I like simply doesn’t like men at all, and they’re getting married tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what I look like.”

He could tell Lin Chi was “of his kind”. This was yet another unfamiliar remote bar, so he didn’t bother hiding his orientation.

Lin Chi was momentarily stunned but upon reflection, it made sense. After all, who could refuse such a good looking man unless they were as straight as steel?

He certainly couldn’t.

“Well, I understand. Falling for straight guys is a common mishap,” he said, recalling Li Tingyan’s earlier words before sneering, “But don’t think straight guys are oblivious to a handsome face. Many so-called straight guys like to challenge themselves with a little excitement and prefer picking the good-looking ones.”

His tone dripped with disdain and mockery.

Li Tingyan scrutinized him, his gaze lingering on Lin Chi’s fair and slender neck and those soft lips, as he asked lightly, “Have you ever been pursued by such ‘straight guys’?”

Lin Chi frowned, hesitating before replying, “Not pursued exactly, but I’ve been harassed by men who have girlfriends, more than once. I’m sure they’re not really gay, just looking for some cheap thrills.”

Just thinking about it made Lin Chi feel disgusted.

Though he was open-minded and casual, he had no interest in meddling with others’ relationships, and he had high standards.

Ever since he discovered his sexual orientation, those who caught his eye could be counted on one hand.

But even so, it couldn’t stop some flies from buzzing around him.

The thought of it made him nauseous. He took out a lighter from his pocket and lit a cigarette for himself.

Click.

An orange spark blossomed in the air, reflecting in his dark eyes.

It seemed like he remembered something, and he looked at Li Tingyan suspiciously, “The person you like isn’t one of these scumbags, right?”

It was a somewhat bold question, but straightforward.

Li Tingyan pondered.

In this noisy bar, on this night that left him restless, having someone like this nearby was better than nothing.

He shook his head, “The person I like is a good person. He’s my high school classmate, always been easy-going since school. I broke his beloved chess set once, and he wasn’t even angry. He’s devoted in relationships; he pursued his current fiance for three years before they decided to marry. People around him say he has no flaws, just a bit slow.”

Lin Chi thought he sounded like a good guy, but also incredibly boring.

He didn’t say it out loud though.

He flicked the ash off his cigarette, remembering that Li Tingyan had mentioned earlier that tomorrow was the wedding of that person.

He asked softly, “Are you going to attend his wedding tomorrow?”

Li Tingyan’s hand paused for a moment, then he nodded gently.

“Yes.”

He said, “He’s been my friend for many years. How could I not be there?”

“No wonder,” Lin Chi understood, “You’ve been drinking so much.”

Witnessing his crush exchanging rings with someone else would indeed feel like torture.

Even someone as carefree as Lin Chi couldn’t help feeling a bit sympathetic. He had come here originally to flirt with Li Tingyan, harboring thoughts of a spring fling, but at this moment, he restrained his intentions.

He disliked getting involved with those who already had someone in their hearts.

Pain could be contagious, and he clearly wasn’t intimate enough to comfort.

Glancing at Li Tingyan’s empty glass, he raised his hand to signal the bartender for two more drinks. When they arrived, he pushed one towards Li Tingyan.

“This one’s on me.”

He introduced to Li Tingyan, “This is the signature drink of this bar, called ‘Go to Hell’. It’s said to have been concocted by a bartender going through a heartbreak. He said he hoped that every poor soul who drank this could leave behind their past and start anew.”

He smiled at Li Tingyan, his features lively and attractive. Despite the noisy environment behind him, he sat there like a scene that brought peace of mind.

He said to Li Tingyan, “Wishing you a fresh start as well.”

With that, he lightly clinked glasses with him.

A clear ‘ding’ sounded.

Li Tingyan brought the glass to his lips and took a sip.

The rose-scented liquid moistened his lips; he licked the corner of his mouth, his tongue as agile as a snake, inexplicably alluring.

He chuckled at the name for a second.

The drink was exquisite, its red liquid with rose petals floating on top, truly suitable for wishing one to let go of the past.

He slowly held the glass, took another sip.

Originally, he had just wanted to find a place to drown his sorrows, losing control only that night. By tomorrow afternoon, he had to tidy himself up, disguise himself impeccably. But now, a stranger had invited him to drink, wishing him a fresh start, which turned out much better than he had initially expected.

He looked at Lin Chi, his gaze softer than when he first entered the bar, and whispered, “Thank you for your kind words.”

Lin Chi looked at Li Tingyan, somewhat stunned.

Should he say it or not, Li Tingyan was indeed his type.

Originally, he was about to leave. Since he gave up on hitting on Li Tingyan, he should leave decisively.

But he glanced at his watch. It was only nine o’clock in the evening, far from his bed time, so he changed his mind.

Playing with a lighter in his hand, he looked at Li Tingyan, “I happen to have no company tonight, and meeting you could be considered fate. Although I can’t change the outcome of your breakup, if you happen to want someone to talk to, I happen to be free. Would you like to chat?”

Li Tingyan raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Lin Chi.

The two locked eyes.

Lin Chi had a face that looked untouched by setbacks, young, handsome, uninhibited, sexy, yet also seemed dangerously unpredictable, a natural born troublemaker.

Normally, Li Tingyan would definitely refuse such an invitation.

But perhaps due to excessive alcohol intake, or perhaps because of a suppressed, unspeakable emotional burden weighing on his heart, ultimately dreary and damp, he also wanted an outlet.

He finally said to Lin Chi, “Okay.”