Chang Bei noticed He Xiaoyuan’s surprise and tapped his soda lightly with his glass. “Nothing strange about it, right? Same-sex marriage has been legal for years.”
He Xiaoyuan quickly whispered: “I don’t think it’s strange.”
He was just a little taken aback.
Chang Bei smiled, clearly unbothered: “Feelings are what matter. As long as you love each other, who cares about gender?”
Then he asked He Xiaoyuan: “Do you like girls?”
He Xiaoyuan: “Mm.”
Chang Bei laughed: “Then someone like you is really hard to find.”
He Xiaoyuan: ?
Chang Bei: “Not many girls can compare to you in looks.”
He Xiaoyuan smiled, but felt something was off. “Love isn’t about looks—it’s about feelings.”
Chang Bei, ever the gossip, asked: “So, Mr. Handsome, do you have someone you like yet?”
…
Normally, everyone was either working or in meetings, so this rare casual gathering was a chance to talk about life rather than work.
He Xiaoyuan felt a little out of place. Clearly, Yang Yun and Chang Bei knew each other well; he couldn’t contribute much, mostly listening and occasionally laughing at something amusing.
If he gained anything, it was observing Yang Yun and Guan Xingping’s interaction:
They were inseparable. Wherever Yang Yun went to chat, Guan Xingping followed.
Yang Yun would hold drinks for Guan Xingping, put his arm around his shoulder or waist, and when joking or talking, would deliberately meet Guan Xingping’s gaze.
He Xiaoyuan had seen gay men before, but a married couple? Rare, and this was the first time he consciously observed the subtle ways a couple interacted.
At first glance, if he didn’t know they were a couple, their behavior could just seem like close friends—arm around the shoulder, casual touches, nothing unusual among men.
But when Yang Yun returned to the bar after chatting, He Xiaoyuan’s side-eye caught him tucking a strand of hair behind Guan Xingping’s ear, gently patting the back of his head, and leaning close, asking softly if he was tired.
Guan Xingping: “It’s okay.”
Yang Yun: “Want to nap on the way home?”
Guan Xingping laughed: “As if you’re driving.”
Yang Yun: “I’m not driving—I’ll hold you on the way back anyway.”
…
He Xiaoyuan looked away, finally realizing how men in a romantic partnership could interact in ways beyond ordinary friendship.
He instinctively reached up to smooth his hair, then touched the back of his head, suddenly recalling how Lu Chen did the same—patting him while leaning close, speaking softly, eyes fixed on him.
“What are you thinking about?” Chang Bei asked.
He Xiaoyuan came back to reality and put his hand down: “Nothing.”
That night, back at the apartment, he called Lu Chen. He mentioned casually: “So President Yang’s spouse is a man.”
Lu Chen, unsurprised, replied matter-of-factly: “Just realized?”
He Xiaoyuan nodded thoughtfully: “Mm.”
Lu Chen: “Any thoughts?”
He Xiaoyuan: “No.”
He hadn’t really thought about it in concrete terms—just instinctively replaying something in his mind.
What exactly?
He couldn’t say.
But Yang Yun having a male spouse and being a married couple left a strong impression on He Xiaoyuan.
Time flew by, and the year-end approached.
In the last two weeks before the Lunar New Year, He Xiaoyuan carved out time from his busy schedule to have meals with familiar colleagues from management training and work—Xu Ruomeng, Yuan Miao, Zou Fanping, and others. It was lively and cheerful.
So it was only when He Xiaoyuan received a message from his aunt asking when he would go home for the New Year that he realized how different things were now. In the past, he had few friends, felt lonely, and had no one to gather with. Now, after working for over half a year, he had his own little circle.
Lu Chen, on the other hand, planned to return home a week before the Spring Festival. He mentioned that two of those days he would fly abroad to check on elderly family members receiving care overseas.
On the day Lu Chen left, He Xiaoyuan was at work. Lu Chen deliberately chose a night flight. After work, He Xiaoyuan came back to pick up Hega, Lu Chen’s cat, and found Lu Chen’s suitcase waiting outside the elevator.
“Leaving now?”
He Xiaoyuan changed his shoes and entered the living room.
Lu Chen was neatly dressed, sitting on the sofa, petting Hega. His coat was draped over the armrest—clearly ready to go. Seeing He Xiaoyuan return, he stood up with the cat: “Mm, the plane’s waiting.”
He Xiaoyuan took the cat and said nothing else: “Okay, bye-bye.” He bent down to pat the cat, murmuring: “Bye-bye, Hega, say goodbye to Daddy.”
Lu Chen looked at He Xiaoyuan: “Alone?”
He Xiaoyuan smiled, teasing: “No.”
He asked: “If I can’t, you won’t leave? Won’t go home for the New Year?”
Lu Chen smiled, running his hand through He Xiaoyuan’s hair and rubbing the top of his head.
After Lu Chen left, He Xiaoyuan held Hega and walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window. He gazed at the night view, cooing to the long-haired cat in his arms: “Daddy’s gone. It’s just us now.”
Hega: “Meow~”
He Xiaoyuan looked down at the cat: “Miss Daddy?”
Hega: “Meow~”
He Xiaoyuan comforted him: “It’s okay. Daddy’ll be back after the New Year.” He bent down to kiss Hega on the head: “We’ll celebrate together.”
Yet that night, He Xiaoyuan couldn’t fall asleep. He lay flat, eyes wide, and reached for his phone. Over an hour had passed, but he felt no sleepiness.
He flipped over, checked the time again, wondering if Lu Chen’s plane had landed yet. Finally, he sent a message:
【Arrived?】
He Xiaoyuan scrolled through his phone, restless. Eventually, Lu Chen replied:
【Just landed.】
【Not asleep yet?】
He Xiaoyuan’s eyes lit up. He quickly tapped:
【Not sleepy.】
The next morning, He Xiaoyuan sat on the sofa, holding Hega up, face to face with the cat.
“Tell the truth—did you miss your Daddy?”
Hega blinked his big round eyes.
He Xiaoyuan hugged him close, pressing his chin to the cat’s face, squeaking softly: “I missed him.”
He Xiaoyuan realized that he had grown accustomed to the two of them together, which was why he felt a bit restless the first night after Lu Chen left.
Just as he told himself this, his phone buzzed. Lu Chen’s message: 【Up yet?】
He Xiaoyuan put Hega down and picked up his phone: 【I’m up.】
【Aren’t you home for the New Year? Why so early today?】
Lu Chen: 【Missed the cat.】
He Xiaoyuan laughed. Already standing, he turned back to the sofa, picked Hega up, and snapped a photo:
【Photo】
Lu Chen replied: 【Why only the cat’s face, no humans?】
He Xiaoyuan thought: Well, Lu Chen didn’t say he wanted the human either.
He lifted the phone again, this time including both himself and the cat.
Lu Chen sent a voice message, his smooth voice coming through the phone: “What did you have for breakfast?”
He Xiaoyuan set down Hega, lifted the phone to his lips, and replied by voice: “Let me see what’s in the fridge first.”
During the morning at work, Lu Chen messaged again: 【Busy?】
He Xiaoyuan only saw it twenty minutes later, tilted his phone sideways, and took a photo of his workstation to reply.
By lunch, Lu Chen sent a photo: a neatly arranged meal of six dishes and a soup.
He Xiaoyuan, just arriving at the cafeteria and about to get his food, immediately replied: 【Little Dinosaur, wow.jpg】
【Did you make this?】
Lu Chen: 【The housekeeper made it.】
He Xiaoyuan smiled.
Later in the afternoon, a delivery guy brought afternoon tea earlier than expected.
The admin in charge wondered: “I haven’t ordered this. Who did?”
Chang Bei: “Our beloved big boss.”
The admin team immediately exclaimed in delight. Chang Bei theatrically clapped, and everyone followed. He Xiaoyuan watched, amused.
He took the desserts and coffee back to his desk, didn’t eat immediately, and took a photo:
【Photo】
【Thanks, Boss Lu.】
【Little Dinosaur salutes.jpg】【Little Dinosaur bows.jpg】
【Little Dinosaur claps.jpg】
Lu Chen quickly replied: 【Ordered specially for you.】
He Xiaoyuan, aware, teased: 【Everyone in the office got one, though.】
Lu Chen: 【Others are just incidental. You got the benefit.】
He Xiaoyuan laughed.
That evening, still busy and unaware it was already past work hours, Lu Chen called.
He Xiaoyuan answered, phone to ear, still focused on his computer, and heard: “Heading home, you hardworking little bee.”
He Xiaoyuan smiled at Lu Chen’s voice, glanced at the clock, and said: “Just a bit more, almost done.”
Stepping out of the Sipu building into the night, He Xiaoyuan held his phone to his ear.
He was telling Lu Chen, “Last night I stocked up on some canned food for Hega. I forgot to check whether your courier service is still delivering.”
In the apartment elevator, he continued, “Mm, I still have some materials to finish. I won’t have a break until the day before New Year’s Eve.”
Once home, he connected to the smart home system. No longer needing the phone, Lu Chen’s voice echoed clearly through the speakers, filling every corner.
He Xiaoyuan chatted with him as he went upstairs to change into comfortable clothes, then returned downstairs, holding Hega on the sofa. With Lu Chen’s voice in the room, it felt as though he had never left.
That night, He Xiaoyuan didn’t have trouble sleeping.
Two days before New Year’s Eve, on the 28th—the last workday before the holiday—Yang Yun invited He Xiaoyuan over for dinner.
He had assumed Chang Bei and the others would come too, but upon arriving, he realized Yang Yun had only invited him, saying it was just a casual business meal. Yang Yun explained: “Might as well try my spouse’s cooking.”
Guan Xingping greeted him warmly: “No need to bring anything next time. Make yourself at home—it’s all family here.”
He Xiaoyuan politely responded, while his curiosity about Guan Xingping and their home grew. He discreetly observed the villa and the couple’s interactions.
The house was large, but cozy rather than empty. Signs of life were everywhere. With New Year approaching, many “Fu” blessings were posted around the home. The floor heating made it warm and inviting.
After showing He Xiaoyuan in, Guan Xingping went into the kitchen.
Yang Yun continued talking with He Xiaoyuan. Before sitting down, he sprang up and followed his spouse into the kitchen, saying over his shoulder: “Honey, what can I do?”
He Xiaoyuan smiled, both amused and a little envious.
While sitting, he noticed a framed photo on the low table by the sofa. In it, a young-looking Guan Xingping wore a master’s gown and cap, holding flowers, while Yang Yun, in dress pants and a white shirt, had his arm around him. Yang Yun’s hair was still black back then.
He Xiaoyuan didn’t know their full history, but the photo showed they had known each other for a long time.
He quickly snapped a photo of it and sent it to Lu Chen, with the message: 【At President Yang’s house, he invited me for dinner.】
Lu Chen didn’t immediately reply, since his call went directly to Yang Yun, who was in the kitchen.
Seeing Lu Chen’s name pop up, Yang Yun chuckled to Guan Xingping, “The creditor’s coming to collect.”
Guan Xingping glanced at the phone, smiled knowingly, and said, “Go ahead, answer it.”
Yang Yun picked up, greeting with a calm “Hello,” only to hear Lu Chen ask: “How did you manage to bring him home?”
Then Lu Chen said, “Phone for your spouse.”
Yang Yun straightened up. “Wait—why are you calling my spouse instead of me?”
He handed the phone to Guan Xingping.
Standing by the stove, Guan Xingping answered with a few “Mm”s before finally saying: “Don’t worry.”
Yang Yun took back the phone, wanting to say something to Lu Chen, only to find the call had already ended. He muttered, “That capitalist!”
He asked Guan Xingping beside him: “What did he say?”
Guan Xingping calmly replied: “Nothing much. He just asked me to take care of Xiaoyuan.”
Yang Yun leaned close, muttering: “These damn men, these capitalists… They won’t leave young people alone, dragging us into it too.”
Guan Xingping glanced at him: “Yang Yun, should I remind you how you married your spouse?”
Yang Yun immediately placed his hand on Guan Xingping’s shoulder, pressing close: “Of course, I’m different.”
During dinner, He Xiaoyuan quickly realized that Guan Xingping was very talkative, whereas Yang Yun was more reserved, constantly prompting He Xiaoyuan to eat or offering dishes to Guan Xingping.
Guan Xingping ate while chatting, rarely reaching for the plates himself. If his eyes lingered on a dish, Yang Yun would immediately place some on his plate, sometimes even saying “Ah” as he lifted it to his spouse’s mouth.
Guan Xingping would blush and tell him he could serve himself.
Yang Yun, one hand holding the chopsticks under the dish, said: “What’s there to be shy about? Xiaoyuan’s not a stranger.”
Only then would Guan Xingping take a bite.
He Xiaoyuan watched them with a smile, feeling slightly shy witnessing such intimacy. He quietly admired their bond.
After dinner, while drinking digestive tea, He Xiaoyuan asked curiously: “President Yang, how did you and Teacher Guan meet?”
Yang Yun sipped his tea, smacking his lips: “Back then, I was APAC President at a major beauty company. Xiaoxing was interning in one of our high-end labs under their mentor. I think he had just started his first year of graduate school.”
He Xiaoyuan asked: “Was there much of an age gap?”
Yang Yun sipped again: “Not too much… about eight years.”
He Xiaoyuan thought: Eight years is quite a bit.
Yang Yun, in comparison, thought: Not as bad as some capitalists—he’d bridged eleven years.
Then Yang Yun said with a meaningful tone: “Xiaoyuan, looking at me and Teacher Guan now, what insights do you get?”
Insights?
He Xiaoyuan blinked, pondering.
Guan Xingping’s voice came from nearby: “Old Yang, watch your mouth.”
Yang Yun: cough.
He Xiaoyuan blinked, puzzled. Yang Yun hadn’t really said anything provocative—why did Guan Xingping tell him to watch his mouth?
“Am I supposed to get some insight from this?”
He Xiaoyuan replied to Yang Yun’s earlier question, showing a hint of sluggishness, completely unlike his sharpness when handling projects at work.
Yang Yun was about to speak when Guan Xingping walked over: “Xiaoyuan, don’t mind him.”
Yang Yun said to Guan Xingping: “I was just asking casually.” Then he looked at He Xiaoyuan: “For example, think if anyone around you has a big age difference with you…”
Guan Xingping reached out and playfully covered Yang Yun’s mouth. Yang Yun, anticipating it, wrapped an arm around Guan Xingping’s waist and gently pulled him onto his lap.
He Xiaoyuan quickly raised his hands in front of his face, feigning embarrassment and pretending not to look, then slightly separated his fingers as if sneaking a peek. His little antics made both Guan Xingping and Yang Yun laugh.
That evening, leaving Yang Yun’s home, He Xiaoyuan received a call from Lu Chen while driving: “President Yang and Teacher Guan have an eight-year age gap! That’s huge!”
“And President Yang apparently had his eye on Teacher Guan back when he was still a student!”
Lu Chen, calm as always, said: “So what if there’s a big age difference?”
He Xiaoyuan: “It’s… an old bull eating young grass!”
Lu Chen chuckled.
He Xiaoyuan: “Why are you laughing?”
Lu Chen, unhurried: “You called him an ‘old’ bull, which means he has enough experience. Such bulls have high standards—they naturally go for younger grass.”
He Xiaoyuan pressed the left turn signal, turning the wheel soon after: “Huh… when you put it that way, it actually makes sense.” He added, “Old bulls are really clever.”
Lu Chen laughed on the other end.
—
On New Year’s Eve, close to dinner time, He Xiaoyuan drove his X7 to his aunt’s house, carrying gifts for relatives.
Grandpa and Grandma had three daughters and two sons, each with their own families. In earlier years, it had been difficult to gather everyone for New Year’s Eve.
Over time, some elders passed away, others became ill or immobile, making it easier for the remaining families to gather on this night. This year, it was their turn to celebrate at his aunt’s house.
As soon as He Xiaoyuan arrived, the lively household became even more festive. Both uncles, aunts, and his little aunt greeted him: “Xiaoyuan’s here!”
“Why the packages? Just coming by is enough.”
“Yes, did you buy all this especially? Now that you’re earning, no need to spend so much.”
“And Xiaonan, come down with your brother!”
He Xiaoyuan could feel that this visit was met with warmth and natural friendliness. Everyone was happy to help him carry his bags upstairs.
His eldest uncle had a newborn son this year, and upon seeing the baby, He Xiaoyuan handed over a generous red envelope. Amidst cheerful conversation, they also remarked on how grown-up he seemed now that he was working—he truly had changed from the past.
At the dinner table, He Xiaoyuan no longer sat with the children; this year, he was pulled beside his uncle and a few elders, chatting about work and asking about everyone’s situation.
He didn’t expect a few visits to deepen his bond with relatives, but on New Year’s Eve, he acknowledged the sense of festivity, which pushed away loneliness.
He was no longer a child; his mindset had matured. He didn’t expect much, only that everyone could be happy together—and that was enough.
He enjoyed the meal, chatted happily, and even took some time to edit messages and send New Year greetings to colleagues and friends.
Midway through, he received a message from Lu Chen: 【Photo】
Lu Chen: 【Having dinner?】