Yuan Maoqiu, wearing a coat, was chatting and laughing with two receptionists on the hotel’s first floor.
“Just you two lovely ladies on night shift?” Yuan Maoqiu looked outside. “There isn’t even a security guard—how dangerous! I need to mention this to your boss; you shouldn’t skimp on safety.”
The ponytailed receptionist giggled. “It’s not that the boss is stingy; it really isn’t necessary.”
The curly-haired receptionist rested her chin on her hand, her big eyes fluttering. “We often have brave police officers staying here. Who would dare to cause trouble?”
It made sense. This hotel was right next to the Nanyi City Public Security Bureau, no more than fifty meters away, and had a long-term cooperation with the bureau. Out-of-town colleagues on business almost always stayed here, making it almost like a police guesthouse. Any shady characters would think twice before approaching; they’d be running away instead of offering themselves up.
If there was any trouble downstairs, a group of heavily armed officers would rush down to uphold justice. It was easier than waiting for a rabbit to come to them. Therefore, this hotel had hardly had any incidents since its opening.
“That’s pretty good. It’s nice to have such strong backing. Your boyfriends can rest easy knowing you’re on night shift,” Yuan Maoqiu said with a smile, naturally steering the conversation toward personal matters. The two receptionists smiled even brighter, with a hint of shyness, and explained that they didn’t have boyfriends and hadn’t met anyone they liked, especially someone as handsome as Officer Yuan.
The conversation became smoother, and in just a few minutes, Yuan Maoqiu had managed to learn all sorts of details about the receptionists’ birthdays, zodiac signs, daily routines, and interests. His flirting skills were impressive. If Sheng Guoning were present, he’d probably beg Yuan Maoqiu to write a book on the subject.
As it approached 1 a.m., the ponytailed receptionist looked curiously at the glass door. “Officer Yuan, why hasn’t your guest arrived yet?”
Yuan Maoqiu shrugged. “I don’t know either. They called earlier saying they were on their way, so they should be here soon.”
“Must be tough, working late. Are they someone important, maybe a criminal?” the curly-haired receptionist asked.
The ponytailed receptionist nudged her elbow, her tone suggestive. “It can’t be a criminal; it’s a big bed room they booked.”
The curly-haired receptionist giggled. “So, it must be a couple?”
“Uh…” Yuan Maoqiu rubbed his chin. “Let’s just say it’s not a criminal. Don’t worry about it; it’s not something you need to concern yourselves with.”
Just then, footsteps were heard at the door. A tall figure entered, coat draped over his arm, with water dripping from his hair and clothes. His chest and abs were faintly visible under a semi-transparent shirt, giving him the appearance of a male model drenched from the rain.
Yuan Maoqiu was surprised, glancing outside and then at Lin Heyu. “What happened to you?”
“Fell into the water,” Lin Heyu replied briefly, stepping aside to reveal the person he had brought with him.
The person behind him was also quite wet, though slightly better off than Lin Heyu due to his coat being wrung out. He was slender with narrow shoulders and a slim waist, his head slightly bowed. His pale, almost translucent face was framed by dark, ink-like hair, damp strands clinging to his forehead and cheeks. His delicate features were almost lifeless, making the surrounding air seem thin and quiet as he stood behind Lin Heyu like a flawless sculpture.
Yuan Maoqiu gasped. He hadn’t noticed this before at the café, but seeing him up close now, it was clear that this young man’s striking appearance was exceptional, leaving other men with no chance at all!
Yuan Maoqiu also admired Lin Heyu, thinking to himself, “Lao Lin, you’ve made an incredible catch. How did you find such a divine-looking boyfriend?”
Even the two receptionists’ faces turned red as they subtly stole glances at the cold, handsome stranger, occasionally whispering to each other.
“Is the room ready?” Lin Heyu asked.
“Of course,” Yuan Maoqiu said, gesturing to the ponytailed receptionist. “Just give him the card.”
“Sure thing,” the ponytailed receptionist quickly handed over the room card. “216, at the end of the second floor. Check-out is by noon tomorrow.”
Lin Heyu took the room card. Yuan Maoqiu, with a sudden impulse, asked, “So, is there enough time?”
This question caught Yi Shi’s attention. He looked up at Yuan Maoqiu with his usual cold indifference. The receptionists’ eyes also sparkled with curiosity, while Lin Heyu looked exasperated, as if he was dealing with a lunatic.
To cover the awkwardness, Yuan Maoqiu cleared his throat and turned around. “Alright, it’s late. Let’s head to our rooms. You guys enjoy yourselves, I need to get some sleep.”
The atmosphere was beyond just awkward.
Lin Heyu remained silent, suspecting that Yuan Maoqiu must be lonely after a breakup and had no outlet for his flirtatious skills, which led to his strange behavior. Otherwise, why would he think of such odd schemes?
After going upstairs, Lin Heyu handed the room card to Yi Shi, telling him to head to the room while he went to his own room to get a change of clothes. Yuan Maoqiu waited until Yi Shi’s figure disappeared around the corner before pulling Lin Heyu aside to ask quietly, “Hey, what’s going on? Why the late-night wet clothes situation?”
“Fell into the water.”
“Are we the only ones who know?”
“Just the truth.”
Seeing that Lin Heyu wouldn’t elaborate, Yuan Maoqiu shrugged and asked, “Is he the one you’re always texting? Killing two birds with one stone?”
“…Yes, Yi Shi, ‘Yi’ as in ‘easy,’ ‘Shi’ as in ‘time.’”
“Yeah, Yi Shi, like a stone. But this stone is really beautiful. What kind of jade is it? Sheep fat white jade? A beauty like this is rare…”
Yi Shi (易时) is made up of two characters: “Yi” (易), which can mean “easy” or “change,” and “Shi” (时), which means “time.”
Yuan Maoqiu then plays on the similarity in pronunciation between “Yi Shi” and “石” (shí), which means “stone” in Chinese.
Lin Heyu focused on finding clothes, which were mostly plain and simple in black, white, and gray—very old-fashioned. Yi Shi’s outstanding appearance and fair skin suited brighter colors, which Yuan Maoqiu had. But thinking of putting them on Yi Shi made Lin Heyu decisively abandon the idea.
He eventually picked out a shirt, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and two pairs of casual pants. Yuan Maoqiu leaned in, teasingly asking, “Planning to take a bath together? If you’re going to bed afterward, what clothes are you going to use…”
“…” Lin Heyu didn’t even look at him.
Yuan Maoqiu squatted beside him. “Seriously, are you ready? The hotel stuff is expensive and not good quality. Why are you looking at me like that? This isn’t my personal experience; it’s what I heard from Lao Hong and the others when they did raids!”
Lin Heyu took out his phone, finding Chief Yuan’s number, and held it up, ready to dial. “Is there anything else you need to remind me? Say it now.”
As long as Yuan Maoqiu dared to speak, Lin Heyu dared to call.
“…” Yuan Maoqiu, feeling defeated, rolled away. Wrapped in his blanket on the bed, he stared at Lin Heyu, looking like a scorned lover. It was only because he was an older virgin that he had tried to give a kind reminder, but it ended up being harshly rebuffed. What kind of person was this? The friendship was over.
Lin Heyu, carrying a small bag with the clothes and some paper and pens, knocked on room 216. After a few seconds, Yi Shi opened the door. As soon as Lin Heyu entered, he was taken aback by the sight of the only large bed in the room.
…He should have given Yuan Maoqiu a good talking-to earlier. How could he expect this guy to handle anything properly?
“It’s not what you think,” Lin Heyu explained awkwardly.
? What does he think? What shouldn’t he be thinking?
Yi Shi’s reaction was calm as he pressed the mattress and said, “The bed is nice, quite soft.” He glanced at the bag in Lin Heyu’s hand and took off his coat, “I’m going to take a shower.”
“…Alright.” Lin Heyu touched his nose. Although he had intended for Yi Shi to take a shower to warm up, the atmosphere had become awkward, making even the word “shower” seem suggestive.
Yi Shi went straight into the bathroom, and soon the sound of water could be heard. Lin Heyu awkwardly looked at the bag in his hand. He hadn’t taken the spare clothes into the bathroom. Before he had time to think further, Yi Shi’s voice came from the bathroom asking where the clothes were.
“They’re with me, I’m by the door.”
“Oh, come in.”
Lin Heyu hesitated for a couple of seconds. After considering that the bathroom, being part of the standard hotel room, had frosted glass partitions where nothing could be seen, he felt a bit relieved. He grabbed a new pair of underwear from the hotel’s cabinet and put it in the bag.
When he opened the door, he was met with a foggy shower area. The transparent glass clearly displayed the scene he had imagined earlier. Lin Heyu was taken aback and thought again about how he should have hit Yuan Maoqiu— the design of the double bed room was evidently meant for couples, considering even the little details.
He turned his gaze away, put the bag on a shelf, and quickly left the room, feeling a bit parched. He opened a bottle of water to quench his thirst.
After about fifteen minutes, Yi Shi came out, still covered in steam. He was wearing the T-shirt and casual pants, which were clearly too big for him. The T-shirt’s shoulder seams slid down his upper arms, the wide neck couldn’t even cover his collarbones, and the sleeves were rolled up, dangling loosely. The pants were also too loose, and the legs were rolled up, resting on top of his slippers.
“…It’s quite a difference.” Lin Heyu observed Yi Shi, surprised at how much the clothes didn’t fit. Combined with what he had seen in the bathroom, he confirmed Yi Shi was not as “muscular” as he had claimed.
Yi Shi tugged at the hem of the shirt, “Should I take it off?”
Lin Heyu stopped him, “No need to take it off, it’s fine as it is.” He wanted to avoid any further awkwardness; in such a scenario, if the Public Security Bureau came to check, it would be hard to avoid complications.
He went into the bathroom himself, intending to quickly shower and get out. Unexpectedly, Yi Shi followed him to the door, crossing his arms and staring at him intently.
“…?” Lin Heyu paused in unfastening his pants, “What’s up?”
“Waiting for you to finish.”
“What for?” Lin Heyu unusually felt nervous, with a bit of sweat forming on his palms.
“To take the clothes for washing,” Yi Shi said innocently, “Aren’t yours going to be washed?”
“…” Lin Heyu felt awkward yet again tonight. He quickly said that Yi Shi should just handle his own clothes. Yi Shi seemed confused but wasn’t one to meddle, so he took his clothes and went to the laundry room downstairs.
The front desk girls were bored and discussing the handsome guy they had seen earlier. They were excited when Yi Shi walked in and asked for the laundry room’s location.
Curly-haired girl pointed out where it was and after Yi Shi left, she excitedly said to her friend, “He’s so handsome! And his voice is so pleasant! Did you see that collarbone and waist? Amazing!”
Ponytail girl nodded vigorously, “Yes! It’s definitely fresh out of the shower, but isn’t it dangerous with such a large collar? Beautiful boys should learn to protect themselves!”
“Right, that collar is so big— I saw half of his bare chest!”
“His clothes are clearly too big. I have a bold idea~”
“Me too, I’m all set for this!”
…
Unaware of the front desk girls’ fantasies, Yi Shi stood by the coin-operated machine, frowning at the coins in his pocket.
The one-yuan coin had its numbers and flowers reversed. He had forgotten that in this mirrored world, all objects related to him would appear with mirrored reflections.
“Handsome guy, do you need help?” The ponytail girl poked her head out, her eyes shining.
Yi Shi thought for a moment and asked, “Can I borrow five coins?”
“No problem.” The ponytail girl took out a handful of coins and walked into the laundry room. Seeing the coin Yi Shi had, she was surprised, “Hey?! Why is the printing reversed? How strange… Is this the legendary misprint coin? Wow, I’ve heard that’s very valuable!”
Yi Shi gave a smile and handed her the coin, “It’s for you.”
The ponytail girl was stunned, her plans to tease the handsome guy forgotten. She hesitated, “This, this is not good… Misprint coins have collectible value. I can’t just take it…”
Yi Shi said nothing but simply handed the coin to her. She quickly took the coins, put them into the machine, and set everything up for him.
She checked the price of misprinted one-yuan coins online. The value of such rare coins varied, but a coin with completely reversed printing like Yi Shi’s was extremely rare and could be worth at least half a month’s salary. Could she really accept this gift from the handsome guy? The ponytail girl was flustered, amazed that a single coin could make her so uneasy.
Yi Shi found that adding drying would cost more, so he asked again, “Can I borrow three more coins?”
“Okay, sure.” The ponytail girl quickly provided three more coins, set everything up, and Yi Shi thanked her before heading back upstairs.
The ponytail girl held the misprinted coin, staring at Yi Shi’s retreating figure in a daze.
She still couldn’t believe that by just being curious and talking to the handsome guy, she had not only had a conversation but also gained some extra money. Was this considered a night shift benefit? It seemed like a win-win.
Just observing up close, the handsome guy’s eyelashes were so long, his skin enviably flawless, and there wasn’t a single flaw to be found. It really was true that people and goods were compared to death—one could only be discarded when compared.
But what a pity… Not only was he already taken, but he was also openly wearing his boyfriend’s T-shirt. They must be very close.
