1 THE STRANGERS AT THE PUB

Pingjing is a small, nondescript town that lies on the outskirts of Beijing, and at the back of the prestigious Bulang University.

Because of its location, Pingjing's inhabitants are, for the most part, Bulang University students.

This meant that during the holidays, most of the students returned home to their families. Leaving Pingjing desolate and lifeless.

This holiday was no different.

Although it was the night of the eve of the Chinese New Year, the whole of Pingjing stood still in silence and desolation. Excepting the French Red Wine Pub, from which gleeful music seeped into the streets, disturbing the quiet of the town.

Outside the French Red Wine Pub, a conglomerate of red lanterns shamelessly splattered their lights on the streets.

Inside it, Hua Zhendan favored a barstool facing the counter over the lime-green-colored booths that finished the pub's furnishing. Occasionally, he took a sip from a glass of alcohol on the counter. At other times, he took a drag from the stick of cigarette nestled between his fingers.

Observing his surroundings, Hua Zhendan twisted his head from side to side--until a group of five people performing Karaoke giddily captured his attention. As he surveyed them, the scene evoked beautiful memories in his mind's eye. Memories of when everything had been smooth and blissful. Of when love had meant more to him than an idea that could sell.

The sweetness of the images that assaulted his memories filled him with nostalgia--and guilt. His lips subconsciously formed a small, sad smile, and he made a mental note to call Shen Rui the minute he returned home from Pingjing. Hopefully, this time around, he would follow through with the call. Xuan Tianyi, who gawked at Hua Zhendan under the dim lights of the pub, failed to catch the small, sad smile.

Earlier, when Xuan Tianyi had entered the bar, he had scanned the room like a predator in search of prey. He had scanned the room for someone who would fulfill the cravings of his appetite. A person who would help him forget, if only for a few minutes, that he was good-for-nothing.

In no time at all, Xuan Tianyi's gaydar had honed in and settled on Hua Zhendan. Then, to make sure he had picked the right prey, Xuan Tianyi had sat in a booth and scrutinized Hua Zhendan.

As Xuan Tianyi eyeballed him, he noticed that although Hua Zhendan had combed his hair to the side neatly, some rebellious strands still fell out of place and over his eyes; accentuating his strong, graceful chin.

Xuan Tianyi noticed how particular Hua Zhendan was about the ash from his cigarette, taking extra care so it didn't spill. The sheer discipline of it made him smile.

Xuan Tianyi observed Hua Zhendan as he ignored a gorgeous girl, who under the pretense of asking for directions, flirted with him. That was the last nudge for him.

Satisfied he had picked the right prey, Xuan Tianyi made his way to the empty barstool next to Hua Zhendan and took a seat. The latter didn't notice and continued staring into space rather thoughtfully.

As Xuan Tianyi glanced at him, he got a strong, sudden urge to push those rebellious strands of hair from his prey's face so he could see it more clearly. Realizing how creepy that would come off, he contained himself, released a deep breath, turned to the bartender, and flashed him a brilliant smile.

"What can I help you with?" the bartender asked, his tone neither polite nor impolite.

Reflexively, Xuan Tianyi pointed at Hua Zhendan. "I'll have whatever this handsome man is drinking."

The beat of Xuan Tianyi's crisp voice threw Hua Zhendan off his train of thought. Inquisitively, he swerved his head towards Xuan Tianyi and stared at him. Xuan Tianyi's face seemed familiar to him, yet, he recognized he had never met him before.

Xuan Tianyi flashed Hua Zhendan a flirtatious smile as the bartender passed him a colorless drink which had three pieces of olive in it.

Hua Zhendan returned Xuan Tianyi's smile with a pensive one. He judged it strange and reckless that a man was flirting with him in a straight bar. This led him to conclude that Xuan Tianyi either had a precise gaydar or was particularly brave. Either way, Xuan Tianyi had grabbed his attention.

Unable to shake off the sense of familiarity Xuan Tianyi gave him, he asked, "I'm sorry, have we met before?"

Xuan Tianyi mistook Hua Zhendan's question for a bad attempt at flirting. With a small smile on his face, he scratched his left ear and said, "You know, we're two strangers in a bar on Spring Festival's eve. There's no need to try that old trick on me. You can be straightforward with me."

Hua Zhendan laughed softly. Certainly, he didn't know this guy because he didn't know anyone this shameless, he reflected.

"Are you a local?" Xuan Tianyi asked.

"No," Hua Zhendan shook his head.

"What are you doing here then?" Xuan Tianyi probed further. He then took a sip from his glass.

"I lived here when I studied at Bulang University."

Xuan Tianyi nodded. Typical, he thought.

Hua Zhendan continued, "Pingjing resonates better with my spirit during this period. Quiet and almost entirely free of the hustle and bustle of the season. So, I'm spending a couple of weeks at the Pingjing Hotel."

The Pingjing hotel, Xuan Tianyi noted. Pingjing only had two hotels. While the Pingjing Hotel was the older, tackier and cheaper one; the other was newer, sophisticated, more expensive, and more popular among visitors. Xuan Tianyi smiled. His prey was financially independent enough to afford a holiday, but not enough to stay in the better of both hotels. Precisely the way he liked his men.

"If you're trying to avoid the festivities, then why did you come here?"

Hua Zhendan glanced around and smiled. No more than an estimated thirty people were in the pub. Still, it was easily the liveliest and most festive place in the town. "No one is ever completely devoid of a festive spirit, right?"

Xuan Tianyi nodded in agreement.

"What about you, what are you doing in Pingjing?" Hua Zhendan asked.

"I live here," Xuan Tianyi said. He tacked on, "together with my twin sister."

"Oh, are you a local?" Hua Zhendan asked, surprised at how much he was enjoying Xuan Tianyi's company. He couldn't remember the last time he had connected with someone so quickly.

Xuan Tianyi's mood took a fast trip downhill, and his countenance changed. Neither was his tongue built for telling lies nor could he speak the truth in this case. He didn't want to divulge his poor financial status to someone he was trying to seduce. "We... graduated from Bulang as well. Last year. But the standard of living here is a lot more..." Xuan Tianyi paused. Somehow, his lie was starting to lead to the truth. With a sigh, he said, "I should get going. My sister will be furious if I get home late."

Hua Zhendan had noticed the low self-esteem build up and hit its peak. He held back a snicker. What was embarrassing about being broke?

Xuan Tianyi wiped his hands on the thigh of his trousers and stood up to leave.

Hua Zhendan didn't want him to go. Still, he understood it was inappropriate to sit Xuan Tianyi down and explain to him that his financial status was no reason to be ashamed. Taking a page from Xuan Tianyi's book, he tried a more shameless approach. "Are you a top or a bottom?" he asked. The words echoed throughout the bar, drawing more than a few stares to their direction.

Xuan Tianyi smiled and returned to his stool. Embarrassed, he scratched his left ear which had turned pink.

Amused and satisfied, Hua Zhendan chuckled. He had never met anyone who was a fierce combination of shameless and shy before now. This was a first for him. Turning away from Xuan Tianyi, he lit a new stick of cigarette.

Xuan Tianyi leaned towards Hua Zhendan. Seductively, he ran a hand over his prey's thigh. Then, in a whisper, he spoke. "I can be whatever you need me to be. Top or bottom."

Hua Zhendan coughed violently as he choked on smoke. Xuan Tianyi handed him a drink to soothe his throat.

Xuan Tianyi's comeback had been so shameless Hua Zhendan had swallowed a puff of smoke in surprise. Unexpectedly, little Hua Zhendan--probably surprised as well--had risen and was starting to push up against its owner's jeans. Unsettled, Hua Zhendan's eyes fell to his zipper. A random stranger had never aroused him before now. The strange occurrence stunned Hua Zhendan so much, it almost confused him.

Xuan Tianyi's gaze followed Hua Zhendan's eyes. With a naughty smile, he asked. "Aren't you ready to leave? Please, let me walk you to your room."

Hua Zhendan glanced up at Xuan Tianyi and caught the latter's gaze trained on his crotch.

All at once, he deduced that he wanted Xuan Tianyi and Xuan Tianyi wanted him.

He discerned that they would both return to his hotel room and ravage each other.

Hua Zhendan believed that he could stop it and common sense dictated he should, yet he knew, with strange certainty that he wouldn't. That was his strength and character flaw. Once he decided on something, nothing could change his mind about it. And tonight, he had decided to give himself to this stranger he had only just met. In a pub.

"I would like it very much if you could walk me to my room." Hua Zhendan listened to himself say.

Xuan Tianyi smiled as he rose. "I hope this isn't a turnoff, but... My drink is on you."

Hua Zhendan laughed softly. There it was again. Xuan Tianyi's subtle shamelessness that both amused and amazed him. Bluntly, he replied, "Somehow, everything you say or do is a turn-on for me."

 ***

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