"I Like Men."

"What nonsense are you talking about?!"

Yu Qingbie's face changed instantly, like a spilled paint palette. First, it went pale with shock, then darkened with anger. His big puppy eyes widened in disbelief as he glared at Shen Mingjin.

"How could this be fake?!"

He slammed his palm on the bed frame, making a loud bang, as if that would bring back his confidence.

"I spent over a hundred thousand on this Hainan Huanghuali wood bed! My parents personally went to inspect it! We paid real money for this—how could it be fake?!"

Yu Qingbie repeated the words again and again, convincing himself that Shen Mingjin was just talking nonsense—trying to act like he knew everything. His eyes narrowed sharply as he stared at Shen Mingjin, full of suspicion.

"...The wood grain is rough, the pores are too large, and the color is yellowish with no luster. These are all clear signs of Dalbergia cochinchinensis."

Shen Mingjin didn't bother arguing. He simply grabbed a random cloth, wiped the bed frame, and let the light from the window highlight the grain patterns. He spoke in a calm voice:

"Hainan Huanghuali wood became rare as early as the Ming and early Qing Dynasties. Even if you somehow had the connections to buy it, the amount available would be extremely limited."

His tone was casual, without any trace of mockery, but his eyes clearly said: Impossible. He flicked his fingers against the bed frame.

"A hundred thousand? Forget a bed, you wouldn't even be able to afford a chair."

Yu Qingbie stared at Shen Mingjin, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"..."

He was stunned. Completely dumbfounded.

Shen Mingjin's explanation was too logical, too well-structured—he couldn't help but believe it.

But how could this be?!

Yu Qingbie refused to accept that his relative—who worked overseas—had scammed him. His lips moved, still wanting to fight back.

"How do you even know all this? Are you some kind of expert?"

Shen Mingjin blinked, thought for a moment, and then replied seriously:

"I'm not an expert."

He tapped his temple and said earnestly:

"But these things are just in my head. I see it, and I remember."

Yu Qingbie: "..."

Why did this guy suddenly seem unreliable again…

So should I believe him or not?!

Yu Qingbie stood frozen, his face shifting between emotions, his mind in chaos—like a headless fly buzzing around. He couldn't figure out what to do.

Meanwhile, Shen Mingjin had already moved on. He fetched some water from the bathroom and continued cleaning his small room with ease.

Yu Qingbie hesitated, watching his movements. His expression was complicated. After a moment, he quietly left.

Deep down, he knew that Shen Mingjin had no reason to lie.

So… most likely… Shen Mingjin was telling the truth.

—

Settling In

For the next few days, Shen Mingjin stayed in the small room Yu Qingbie arranged for him.

The room was tiny—after placing a bunk bed, there wasn't even space for a table. But Yu's mother, being kind, paid to install a wall-mounted wardrobe for him.

...Though the money for the wardrobe would be deducted from Shen Mingjin's salary.

He didn't mind. He was actually worried about where to store his clothes, and this solved his problem.

The night before officially starting work at the food stall, Yu's mother gave Shen Mingjin half of his salary in advance and gave him a half-day off to buy necessities.

While browsing a store for sleepwear, he unexpectedly spotted a rabbit-themed pajama set.

It was soft and fluffy, with a little pom-pom tail stitched on the back. The hood had two floppy ears, making it look like a lop-eared rabbit.

Shen Mingjin stared at it, and for some reason, he suddenly thought of Xu Duwan's tearful eyes.

She… kind of looked like a rabbit.

He touched the fabric and chuckled softly.

The saleslady beside him noticed his reaction and immediately seized the chance.

"Hello, sir! This is a couple's design, but of course, you can wear it alone too. It's comfy and easy to wash!"

Seeing Shen Mingjin hesitate, she continued her sales pitch.

"And since it's our anniversary sale, you can get two sets for a 30% discount! It's a great deal~"

Shen Mingjin hesitated for a few more seconds, then, under the pressure of the saleslady's enthusiastic smile—and perhaps, a bit of his own guilty pleasure—he gave in.

"Alright… please ring it up."

The saleslady beamed, eyes shining.

"Right away!"

—

As night fell, streetlights flickered on, merging into a sea of dazzling colors. The city bustled—cars sped by, their headlights leaving streaks of light in the air, only to be swallowed by the next passing vehicle.

With more people getting off work and going for walks, Yu's family set up the food stall.

Yu's father put on his chef's uniform, washed his hands, and started cooking with his apprentice.

Meanwhile, Shen Mingjin helped Yu's mother move the tables and chairs outside.

The moment he stepped out, several young female university students wandering nearby for dinner immediately took notice of him.

They nudged each other, whispering excitedly, before deliberately sitting at the table Shen Mingjin had just set up.

Yu's mother had been running this food stall for years, but this was the first time customers arrived the second the tables were set. She raised an eyebrow, glancing at the students.

Seeing them nervously stealing glances at the completely unaware, gentle-looking Shen Mingjin—who was now politely handing them menus—she let out a helpless chuckle and went back inside.

"What would you like to order?"

Shen Mingjin didn't expect customers to arrive so quickly, but he maintained a professional attitude. He took out a notepad and pen, ready to take their orders.

One of the girls hesitated before speaking:

"Um… two pounds of crayfish, some side dishes, and three bottles of beer, please."

A few female students sat together, dressed in elegant and tasteful outfits. Based on their clothing and fabric choices, it was clear they came from well-off families. They didn't seem like the type to visit a street food stall like this often. They hesitated as they looked at the greasy menu, pushing the decision onto each other. In the end, they ordered conservatively, playing it safe—but to avoid standing out too much, they added three bottles of beer to their order.

"Alright," Shen Mingjin quickly jotted down their order on a piece of paper. As he tore it off, he glanced down at the girls, who were whispering and giggling among themselves. He hesitated for a moment before suggesting,

"If you're not used to drinking, how about I change it to iced tea for you?"

Seeing their confused expressions, Shen Mingjin smiled and explained,

"If you're not good with alcohol, you might get tipsy after just a little, and that could make it hard for you to get back to school later."

"Oh… oh!"

His words carried an obvious hint, and the girls' faces turned slightly red. They realized that this handsome guy in front of them had figured out they weren't regulars at a place like this. Embarrassed yet touched by his kindness, they quickly nodded like little chicks pecking at rice.

"Iced tea, then!"

"Alright." Shen Mingjin nodded, casually making the change on the paper before heading toward the kitchen.

"Hey, thank you!"

As Shen Mingjin walked away, one of the bolder girls stood up and playfully called out to his back,

"Not only are you handsome, but you're also really nice!"

Shen Mingjin: "..."

He glanced at the customers outside who had turned their heads at the sudden noise. Not wanting to make a scene, he could only smile helplessly.

"Thanks."

As night fell, more and more people came in after work, and Shen Mingjin became so busy that he barely had time to breathe. Naturally, he didn't notice that his earlier interaction with the students had been witnessed by someone across the street.

Across the road, a Rolls-Royce Phantom was parked silently in its spot. The dark-tinted windows reflected the silhouette of a man with pale skin.

He had delicate features and a slender frame. His naturally clear, innocent-looking almond eyes should have given him a gentle aura, but his slightly furrowed brows instead made his expression sharp and unapproachable.

The moment he saw several people sneakily taking photos of Shen Mingjin with their phones, Xu Duwan clicked his tongue in annoyance. He tapped the steering wheel impatiently, his fingers pressing harder and harder as if he wanted to poke out the eyes of those people staring at Shen Mingjin.

"Come on, if you miss him, then just go see him. What's the point of sulking at your car?"

Jiang Ruoling, sitting in the passenger seat, sighed, feeling sorry for the car that was suffering from this abuse.

"I already looked into it for you. This morning, he fainted while buying breakfast—for you. That's why he was late. He wasn't meeting anyone else. So tell me, what are you even mad at him for?"

"You're telling me this now? What's the point?" Xu Duwan turned his head and shot Jiang Ruoling a cold glance. The streetlights outside cast a shadow over his eyes, making them appear dark and unreadable.

"What were you doing earlier?"

His tone was calm, but with his naturally downturned almond eyes and his emotionless expression, he gave off an unsettling aura.

"..."

Knowing he had no excuse, Jiang Ruoling awkwardly scratched his nose and fell silent.

Then, Xu Duwan suddenly tossed the car keys into Jiang Ruoling's lap and got out.

"Here. You take the car."

He pulled the keys out of the ignition, opened the door, and stepped onto the pavement.

"I'm not going home tonight."

"Cough—"

Jiang Ruoling almost choked on his own saliva. After a few seconds of shock, he quickly leaned over the window and shouted after Xu Duwan's retreating figure,

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"I'm chasing a man, not flying a plane."

Leaving behind a completely out-of-character, jaw-dropping statement, Xu Duwan walked straight into the bustling street food stall, completely ignoring Jiang Ruoling's stunned expression.

Dressed in a high-end tailored shirt and polished leather shoes worth thousands, Xu Duwan stepped into the down-to-earth, smoky atmosphere of the food stall. He stood out like a pearl dropped among grains of sand—far too eye-catching.

Meanwhile, Yu Qingbie was also here tonight. He had been busy trying to contact a well-known antique appraiser to authenticate the wood material of his bed. Taking a break from that, he was now sneaking some peanuts at the counter.

Hearing the commotion at the door, he tossed a peanut into the air, opened his mouth to catch it, and casually peeked outside to see what was happening.

However, the moment his gaze shifted to the entrance, Xu Duwan, that cold and noble-looking man, happened to turn his head. Their eyes met.

"Pfft—"

The peanut got stuck in Yu Qingbie's throat. He choked so hard that he almost coughed his lungs out.

Damn it, why is he here again?!

At that moment, Shen Mingjin was carrying a tray of food, his shirt slightly damp with sweat from being so busy. The thin fabric clung to his chest and back, outlining his lean waist and well-defined abs.

"You okay?" Shen Mingjin noticed Yu Qingbie coughing violently and walked over, bending down to pat his back.

"Do you need water?"

"..."

Yu Qingbie, still coughing, pounded his own chest a few times to dislodge the peanut bits. But even as he coughed, his eyes flickered nervously toward the entrance.

"Shen-ge…"

His gaze wavered as he swallowed hard and took a step back, distancing himself from Shen Mingjin.

"Your boyfriend is watching us at the door."

And then, with his usual flair for dramatics, Yu Qingbie put on a flustered expression and whispered,

"What we're doing… it doesn't look good in front of your wife."

Shen Mingjin: "?"

For some reason, at the exact moment Yu Qingbie finished speaking, Shen Mingjin felt a sudden chill down his spine.

He turned his head instinctively—only to lock eyes with Xu Duwan, who was now sitting at a table, staring coldly at the hand Shen Mingjin still had on Yu Qingbie's back. His expression was frozen like a block of ice.

Shen Mingjin: "..."