Qin Yu received the WeChat ID. After a moment of internal struggle, he recalled the client’s instructions and clicked on the profile picture of this guy with a green grassland¹“头上长草” (tóu shàng zhǎng cǎo) means that one has been cheated on or cuckolded. The literal translation is “grass growing on one’s head,” which originates from the notion that someone is oblivious or unaware as if they wouldn’t notice grass sprouting from their own head. atop his head.

The avatar showed a man’s back facing a snow-capped mountain, vast and lonely. Qin Yu’s first impression was that this guy liked to show off.

Why choose such a profile picture? Pretending to be artistic. But the man in the photo had an impressive physique – slim waist, long legs, a body of solid muscle hidden beneath clothing, barely visible. His height looked quite striking from this angle. Exactly Qin Yu’s type.

Expressionlessly, Qin Yu long-pressed the image, expressionlessly clicked save, and expressionlessly saved it to his phone gallery.

After exiting, Qin Yu then checked the man’s Moments.

The first post, surprisingly, was from just ten minutes ago.

“Heading home.”

Just two words, accompanied by a photo of the sky taken from an airplane window.

It was quite simple.

Qin Yu looked puzzled. As an outsider, he couldn’t really comment. He scrolled down, briefly browsing the Moments before losing interest and exiting.

Unexpectedly, the man messaged him a few minutes later.

[I should arrive in C City in about half an hour]

C City? What C City? He didn’t know. The client hadn’t mentioned it.

Phew. Fortunately, Qin Yu was in T City, quite far from C City. He probably wouldn’t come knocking to settle scores.

[You must be tired. Let me know when you arrive safely. Get some rest early.]

Qin Yu felt he was being thoughtful, using a tactic he’d only ever imagined using in a real relationship.

[Okay.]

That single word with a period ended the conversation. Awkward, truly awkward. Did he say something wrong? Well, young people shouldn’t overthink. He’d been polite, but the other party seemed a bit ungrateful.

Seven minutes passed.

The other party finally messaged again.

[Sorry, I had something to deal with on the plane.]

Qin Yu glanced at it, deciding not to reply to this guy.

The client only asked him not to strain the relationship, not to act like a lovesick bottom fawning over the guy. If it was a contest of who could be more aloof, he shouldn’t give too much face. He should maintain an air of indifference, as if the other was beneath him.

Turning off his phone screen, Qin Yu, with nothing else to do, took out a cigarette from the pack on his desk and stood up, intending to relax on the balcony.

But just as he was about to push himself up from his gaming chair, he hesitated.

Cigarette between his fingers, he fell into thought.

Was he acting from the perspective of a fellow top or from a bottom’s viewpoint? Was it because they were both tops, fellow kind, that he wanted to treat him this way?

If he were a bottom, shouldn’t he be less cold? After all, tops were quite precious in their circle. Even if one were humble in love, it probably wouldn’t be to this extent.

After thinking about it, Qin Yu softened. He opened his phone and typed a reply.

[Mm, I understand. Be careful on your way.]

This stranger, brother, I can only pity you this much.

Qin Yu continued with the cigarette in his mouth, heading to the balcony without looking back.

He left his phone on the desk, feeling no need to reply to any further messages.

After all, for a nominal fiancé arranged by elders, unseen for seven years, how deep could the feelings be?

If the feelings were deep, the client wouldn’t be looking for a rental partner on the app, wouldn’t be abandoning their so-called fiancé to go on a honeymoon with their “darling.” And Qin Yu wouldn’t have the chance to earn this 12,000 yuan.

For some reason, he still felt a bit sorry for this guy. Qin Yu leaned his elbow on the railing, his long fingers holding the lit cigarette, bringing it to his mouth for a deep drag.

The exhaled smoke blurred his vision for a moment, but soon his eyes were clear again.

Let’s go, back to making money.

That’s what Qin Yu told himself.

TL Notes

• 1
  “头上长草” (tóu shàng zhǎng cǎo) means that one has been cheated on or cuckolded. The literal translation is “grass growing on one’s head,” which originates from the notion that someone is oblivious or unaware as if they wouldn’t notice grass sprouting from their own head.