TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 12

As he looked back through the conversation, Zhuang Yanyu realized that his buddy initially asked if he was free tonight.

He thought for a second—did Chenxi need him tonight?

[Zhuang Yanyu: Do you have something planned for tonight?]

[Zhuang Yanyu: If you do, I can tell them we’ll go another time.]

Between colleagues and his buddy, was there even a choice to make?

His buddy would always come first!

Beneath his glasses, Wen Chenxi’s eyes, previously tinged with slight frustration, softened when he saw Zhuang Yanyu’s message.

He adjusted his glasses, a slight smile forming on his lips.

Admittedly, Zhuang Yanyu’s immediate choice of him lifted his mood unexpectedly.

But Wen Chenxi wasn’t a self-centered person. He believed that, in this world, one needed friends in their circle.

Especially since Yanyu was just starting out, he needed friends for support and encouragement to keep a positive mindset and go far in his career.

So, knowing that Yanyu was going out with colleagues, he deleted what he had planned to say.

[Wen Chenxi: No.]

[Wen Chenxi: But I do have plans tomorrow night.]

[Zhuang Yanyu: What’s planned?]

[Wen Chenxi: Ji Zhiyuan wanted to treat you to dinner. Are you interested?]

In reality, Zhuang Yanyu wasn’t close with Ji Zhiyuan; the invitation was probably related to last night’s fruit delivery.

[Zhuang Yanyu: Will you be there?]

Seeing this message, Wen Chenxi smiled again and sent a voice request. When Yanyu answered, he asked, “If I’m not there, you won’t go?”

Zhuang Yanyu replied with certainty, “Why would I go if you’re not there?”

Wen Chenxi’s tone was noticeably cheerful, “I’ll be there.”

“Oh,” Yanyu agreed without hesitation, “Then I’ll go too.”

Wen Chenxi: “Okay, I’ll drive. I’ll wait for you in the underground parking lot.”

“Alright.”

With the plan set for tomorrow, they started chatting casually.

“Are you having dinner with colleagues from the same department tonight?”

“No, one’s from my department, and the other is from engineering.”

Wen Chenxi: “Getting close with the engineering department already?”

Zhuang Yanyu thought for a moment. He wasn’t close to Qin Yiyuan at all and simply explained, “Senior Qin is just very outgoing.”

Wen Chenxi remarked, “Going out with colleagues more often isn’t a bad thing.”

Zhuang Yanyu frowned, sounding a bit troubled, “But it disrupts my schedule.”

Thinking of Yanyu’s peculiar compulsions, Wen Chenxi’s eyes softened even more. “Are you like this every day?”

Zhuang Yanyu asked, “Like what?”

Wen Chenxi: “Eating at fixed times, doing things at fixed times.”

Yanyu responded seriously, “No fixed schedule. Today, I woke up 3 minutes and 2 seconds later than yesterday. To avoid affecting my subsequent plans, I had to shorten my walk by 3 minutes and 2 seconds.”

Wen Chenxi: “Hmm? How did you shorten it?”

Zhuang Yanyu: “From my house to the bus stop, it usually takes 7 minutes and 11 seconds based on a stride length of 60 centimeters and 0.8 seconds per step. To reduce the 3-minute-and-2-second delay, I increased my stride length to 72 centimeters and my step…”

Before he could finish, Zhuang Yanyu noticed something and stopped mid-sentence, asking in confusion, “Are you laughing?”

Wen Chenxi moved his phone slightly away, trying to suppress a smile, and replied in a serious tone, “No, I’m drinking water.”

He didn’t know what had come over him.

Just listening to Zhuang Yanyu’s explanation, he could picture Yanyu frowning, meticulously calculating every second. If something didn’t align perfectly, Yanyu might fall into the same low-energy state he’d experienced before.

The image was just too amusing to him.

Zhuang Yanyu remained silent.

Wen Chenxi realized his excuse was flimsy, and a clever person like Yanyu wouldn’t buy it. Sitting up straighter, he lowered his voice, “Are you mad?”

In reality, Zhuang Yanyu wasn’t mad; he was simply confused.

“No, I’m not mad,” he answered directly. “Is this strange?”

Lacking much social experience, most of what Yanyu understood about human behavior came from research. Twice now, Wen Chenxi had laughed when he mentioned this, making Yanyu wonder if his actions differed greatly from what’s normal—or if they were just unintentionally funny.

Hearing the uncertain tone in the young man’s voice, Wen Chenxi’s response was serious and firm, “Not strange at all.”

Zhuang Yanyu: “Really?”

Wen Chenxi: “Of course. There are no two identical leaves, just as there are no two identical people. Out of billions on this planet, each person’s appearance, voice, and personality are unique—that’s what makes everyone special.”

Relieved, Zhuang Yanyu felt at ease again. He had worried that he might be too unusual, something others might notice.

Wen Chenxi said softly, “I’m sorry for earlier.”

Zhuang Yanyu replied, “No need to apologize. If you’re happy, I’m happy too.”

Realizing that Yanyu genuinely didn’t mind, Wen Chenxi relaxed a bit more, leaning back into his chair.

He replied in a low voice, “Yes, I am very happy.”

After work, Zhou Quan took Zhuang Yanyu and Qin Yiyuan to the restaurant they’d chosen.

It was a popular Cantonese restaurant, bustling with people, especially during peak dining hours.

Zhou Quan handed the menu to Yanyu to order.

Yanyu chose one dish and left the rest to them.

Seeing he’d only ordered one dish, Qin Yiyuan asked, “That’s all you want?”

Yanyu explained, “I only eat one dish at home.”

One dish?

Qin Yiyuan couldn’t help but glance again at Yanyu.

He was somewhat thin but carried a lean, youthful look with striking features, especially his eyes, which seemed to hold a galaxy of stars.

It was hard not to be moved by his appearance.

Clearing his throat, Qin Yiyuan shifted his gaze, saying, “You’re too thin—one dish isn’t enough. You should eat more. Look at those slender arms and legs; you won’t manage in engineering projects with a frame like that.”

Yanyu replied, “My physical fitness is fine.”

Qin Yiyuan didn’t argue and simply ordered a few more dishes.

As they ate, Qin noticed something.

While he and Zhou Quan devoured their food, Yanyu was…

…chewing. Chewing. Chewing.

They’d both finished one bowl of rice and were halfway through a second, yet Yanyu was…

…still chewing.

Qin Yiyuan had never seen anyone eat so slowly and so politely.

Unable to resist, he started serving Yanyu food with shared utensils.

“Xiao Yu, can I call you that? Here, try some soup—it’s good.”

“This seaweed stew is nice too. Let me get you another bowl.”

“I’ve deboned this sweet-and-sour fish with shared chopsticks. Want to try it?”

As Yanyu continued chewing, he looked up and saw his bowl piled high.

Yanyu: “?”

He swallowed a bite and said, “You should eat too. I can’t eat this much.”

Qin Yiyuan piled on more food, “We’re all eating! Don’t worry, eat until you’re full, right, Zhou Quan?”

Zhou, deeply engaged with his food, nodded, “Yes, yes,” then resumed his meal.

Glancing at the mound of food in front of him and then at Qin Yiyuan, Yanyu decided not to refuse and quietly kept eating until he was stuffed.

Qin drove them back, saying it was on his way. He dropped off Zhou first and then headed to Yanyu’s place.

Looking at the time, Yanyu asked where Qin lived. After getting the address, he commented, “This isn’t on your way; it’s almost half a city out of the way.”

Qin Yiyuan: “Uh.”

Usually, saying “on the way” was just an excuse to drive someone.

He didn’t expect Yanyu to point it out so bluntly, leaving him momentarily at a loss.

After a brief pause, just as he was about to say, “I wanted to take you home,” Yanyu asked, “Are you unfamiliar with the roads?”

Qin Yiyuan: “…”

Qin Yiyuan could only say, “Ahem, we’re not that close, I suppose.”

Zhuang Yanyu: “Hmm, my analysis was correct. Thank you.”

Qin Yiyuan: “…”

After thanking Qin Yiyuan, Zhuang Yanyu prepared to head home and politely reminded Qin Yiyuan to drive slowly on his way back.

Qin Yiyuan: “Wait!”

Zhuang Yanyu turned back, “Is there something else?”

Qin Yiyuan: “When I get home, can I reach out to chat with you?”

Zhuang Yanyu: “We don’t have any work that needs coordination, do we?”

Qin Yiyuan: “No, not about work. Just chatting about hobbies or life or something.”

Zhuang Yanyu: “?” Why would he want to chat about that?

Zhuang Yanyu: “Don’t you have close friends?”

He himself did, after all. Those things are what friends are for!

Qin Yiyuan: “Uh??”

Zhuang Yanyu: “You can talk to your friends about that.”

Qin Yiyuan: “…”

Zhuang Yanyu: “Good night.”

Qin Yiyuan: “…”

Qin Yiyuan watched as Zhuang Yanyu walked away, feeling a bit disheartened. This guy… is really so dense.

The moment Zhuang Yanyu arrived home, Wen Chenxi’s call came.

“You home?”

Lying motionless on the sofa, Zhuang Yanyu, whose plans had once again been disrupted and who was feeling overstuffed, replied listlessly, “Just got here. Ate way too much.”

Wen Chenxi was surprised. Knowing Zhuang Yanyu’s usual healthy eating habits, he’d never overeat under normal circumstances.

Wen Chenxi: “How’d you end up overstuffed?”

Zhuang Yanyu explained what happened that evening to his friend.

Due to his lethargic state, he spoke with a softer tone than usual.

But on the other end, the more Wen Chenxi listened, the more things seemed off. Was this Qin Yiyuan interested in Zhuang Yanyu?

And Zhuang Yanyu hadn’t noticed?

“He kept offering you food and pouring soup?”

“Yes, he told me to eat more.”

“He even went out of his way to drop you off home?”

“Yes, he’s not familiar with the area.”

“And he said he wanted to chat with you?”

“Yes.”

Wen Chenxi was silent for a few seconds. “Doesn’t that seem odd to you?”

Zhuang Yanyu: “What’s odd about it?”

Wen Chenxi fell into a deeper silence.

A strong vibe of obliviousness washed over him.

Suddenly, he had a bad feeling.

—

PS:

Wen Chenxi: So, did you never actually try to flirt with me?

Zhuang Yanyu: He actually wants to talk about life with me. Poor guy must be lonely without close friends!

Qin Yiyuan: Forget I said anything.

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