Chapter 9 - Bar Night Blackout

He Bing wasn't the type to force things out of people. Since Liao Yucheng didn't want to talk about it, he didn't push further. Normally he couldn't care less about other people's love lives, but this time he was dying to know. Even though he didn't bring it up again, He Bing couldn't stop wondering—what kind of person had Liao Yucheng been hung up on for all these years?

She had to be beautiful, right? The sweet innocent type or more sophisticated and elegant? Actually, the bubbly and playful kind was cute too—sweet with a touch of wilfulness. Did Liao Yucheng like that? Or maybe he preferred the ice queen type, untouchable and aloof, and that's why he'd been pining after her for all this time with nothing to show for it?

As He Bing tried to picture the subject of Liao Yucheng's affection, this nasty feeling kept growing in his chest. He couldn't figure out where the discomfort came from. Was he just upset that Liao Yucheng had been suffering through unrequited love? But if it was sympathy, why was there also this sour tinge to it? 

He couldn't make sense of it. Every time he told himself to stop thinking about it, Liao Yucheng's dejected face would pop into his head, and that blocked-up feeling in his chest got even worse.

Liao Yucheng's back hadn't been that injured to begin with, and after the whole incident where He Bing's "massage" got him hard, He Bing didn't dare volunteer for massage duty again. The two men's cohabitation continued like normal. He Bing noticed his workdays felt weirdly stretched out, like it took forever to finally clock off work. Probably because he was more eager to get home these days.

One afternoon before he left work, Liao Yucheng called to say he was going out with friends and wouldn't be home for dinner, and that He Bing should handle his own meal. He Bing told him to have fun, then hung up feeling strangely hollow inside.

By almost 10PM, Liao Yucheng still wasn't back. He Bing had a movie playing on his laptop but couldn't focus on it at all, constantly wondering who Liao Yucheng was out with, where they'd gone, what they were doing, when he'd come home. He remembered those nights he'd worked late, how Liao Yucheng always waited up for him no matter what. So shouldn't he do the same tonight?

He'd lost track of how many times he'd glanced at the time at the corner of his monitor. His phone finally rang at 10. Liao Yucheng's name was on the screen.

He Bing answered with obvious cheer in his voice. "Yucheng, on your way back?"

"He Bing? This is He Bing, right?" An unfamiliar male voice came through.

He Bing was confused. "Who's this? Where's Liao Yucheng?"

"He's completely wasted. I'm his friend. Before he passed out he said he's staying with a friend named He. Found you in his contacts. He staying with you?"

"Yeah! Yeah, he is!" He Bing's anxiety spiked. "Where are you now? I'll come get him right away!"

The man gave him an address. "We're at Blue Face Bar by Songming Lake..."

He Bing cut him off. "Got it, I'm on my way!"

Zheng Zijun tossed the phone back to Liao Yucheng. "That guy's pretty eager. Didn't even have to convince him to come pick you up—he insisted on coming himself. Wait, I thought you were the one chasing him?"

Liao Yucheng caught his phone, swirling his drink, a faint, smug smile on his face. "Chasing? I don't like that word. Call it seduction instead."

Beside him, Xiao Jing asked, "You've liked that oblivious idiot for years without making a move. What made you suddenly decide to seduce him now?"

Liao Yucheng sipped his drink, watching the ice cubes shift gently. "He never liked me back, plus he's straight. I used to think there was no chance for us. From age fourteen to college graduation—all those years should've been enough to accept it. But after we went our separate ways, I realized I still couldn't stop thinking about him. Only him. Tried dating other people, but it didn't work. Then my mom mentioned he'd broke up with his girlfriend, and this headquarters transfer came up. I thought—if I can just this job, I'd go back and try for real this time."

Zheng Zijun replied, "Looks like things are working out pretty well."

Liao Yucheng drained his glass. "Way better than expected. Eventually I'll make him confess to me." He added, "Make him confess first."

They chatted for a while longer before Liao Yucheng checked the time. "Takes about forty minutes from his place. Should be arriving any minute. Everyone to your positions. It's showtime."

Zheng Zijun pursed his lips and headed to a corner. Xiao Jing sidled closer to Liao Yucheng, leaning in like they were having an intimate conversation.

When Liao Yucheng's phone rang and he saw He Bing's name, he immediately slumped forward on the table, whispering to Xiao Jing, "He's here!"

On cue, Xiao Jing launched into his performance—wrapping his arm around Liao Yucheng, whispering in his ear coaxingly, hands wandering and groping shamelessly, taking advantage of his "drunkenness."

He Bing entered the bar scanning for Liao Yucheng. When nobody picked up, he followed the ringtone and found Liao Yucheng passed out with Xiao Jing beside him.

He Bing breathed a sigh of relief. He walked over and patted Liao Yucheng's back. "Yucheng, why'd you drink so much?" No response. He turned to Xiao Jing. "Thanks, man. I'll take him home now."

"What?" Xiao Jing acted offended. "I found him first. You think you can just swoop in and take him? That's not how this works."

He Bing realized this wasn't the guy who'd called. Confused, he asked, "He's my friend. He's staying at my place. How is taking him home 'swooping in'?"

Xiao Jing got aggressive. "You say he's your friend, but does he know that? How do I know you're not lying? Listen, tonight he's mine. You want him? Tough shit."

He Bing's confusion deepened. "What do you mean he's yours tonight? What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? Are you really this stupid or just pretending?" Xiao Jing pointed at Liao Yucheng, then himself. "Him. Me. Tonight. I'm going to sleep with him!"

"You're going to WHAT?!" He Bing's eyes went huge. "You're a dude and you're going to sleep with him?!"

Xiao Jing actually laughed in frustration. "Are you seriously that clueless? Never heard of men sleeping with men? If you don't know how this works, why'd you even walk in here?"

That's when He Bing finally looked around and noticed every single person in the bar was male. People nearby were staring at the commotion. In the corners, guys were making out. It hit him all at once—he'd walked into a gay bar. The second it clicked, He Bing shoved Xiao Jing's hand off Liao Yucheng's shoulder and then yanked Liao Yucheng into his arms protectively. "Don't even think about touching him!"

Xiao Jing smirked. "Oh, so he really is your friend? Still doesn't give you the right to stop me. Maybe he wants to have some fun with me tonight."

Rage burned through He Bing. He roared, "Shut up! A disgusting creep like you doesn't get to lay a finger on him!"

Xiao Jing fake-bristled. "I'm disgusting? What are you planning to do with him once you drag him out of here? Who knows who's the real creep here?"

He Bing lost it. "Either way, it sure as hell won't be you! He's mine!"

That's when Zheng Zijun finally jumped in, playing peacemaker. "Aiyo, I just went to the bathroom—what's going on?"

He Bing glared. "And who are you?"

"I'm Yucheng's friend. I'm the one who called you earlier."

Right then Liao Yucheng managed to lift his head, looking around all confused and bleary, clearly not understanding what had just happened. Then his head dropped again.

He Bing bent down and wrapped his arms around him, hauling him up. Zheng Zijun moved to help, but He Bing blocked him. After what Xiao Jing said, he wasn't letting any man near Liao Yucheng. He spoke softly in Liao Yucheng's ear. "Come on, Yucheng. Let's go home."

Liao Yucheng's heart melted, and his arms loosely circled He Bing's waist in return.