Chapter 1: The Return of Zhang Jun

The sound of Li Wei’s keyboard clacking echoed through the small apartment, blending seamlessly with the steady hum of his desktop fan. His neatly organized desk bore testimony to his structured life: pens in their holder, sticky notes stacked by size, and a coffee mug that proclaimed, “Workaholic for Life.” Outside, the city buzzed with life, but within these four walls, Li Wei found solace in the monotony of his routine.

“Just one more report,” he muttered, adjusting his glasses. The glow of his monitor bathed his face in soft blue light. He liked it this way—predictable, quiet, and safe.

That illusion of peace shattered when his phone buzzed violently against the wooden table. With a frown, Li Wei picked it up and froze at the name on the screen.

Zhang Jun.

It had been five years since he’d last seen that name on his phone. Five years since the flamboyant whirlwind of a man had disappeared from his life, leaving only a vague promise to “stay in touch.” Li Wei had long since buried the memories, convinced that their paths would never cross again.

Curiosity overrode caution. Swiping to answer, he pressed the phone to his ear.

“Hello?”

“Li Wei!” The familiar voice, rich and lively, hit him like a bolt of electricity. “Still alive, I see! I was worried you’d become some boring hermit by now.”

Li Wei blinked, struggling to keep up with Zhang Jun’s usual rapid-fire tone. “Uh, hi… What’s going on? Why are you calling out of the blue?”

“Wow, no ‘I missed you, Zhang Jun’? Not even a little excitement?” The teasing lilt in Zhang Jun’s voice was maddeningly familiar. “Well, lucky for you, I’m back in town. Let’s catch up. Tonight.”

“Tonight?” Li Wei echoed, bewildered. He glanced at the pile of unfinished work on his desk. “I’m kind of busy—”

“Busy being boring. Got it. I’ll text you the address. Don’t flake on me, Li Wei. It’s been five years, for crying out loud!”

Before he could argue, the line went dead. Li Wei stared at his phone, his stomach a knot of anxiety and something else he couldn’t quite name.

The bar Zhang Jun had chosen was everything Li Wei hated: loud, crowded, and overwhelming. The pulsating music thudded in his chest as he navigated through throngs of people, his nervousness growing with each step.

And then he saw him.

Zhang Jun stood near the bar, leaning casually against the counter, a glass of something vibrant in hand. His striking presence hadn’t changed; if anything, he was even more magnetic than Li Wei remembered. Dressed in a sleek black blazer and a white shirt left teasingly unbuttoned at the collar, Zhang Jun exuded effortless confidence.

“Li Wei!” Zhang Jun’s eyes lit up as he spotted him. “You actually came!”

Li Wei gave a small, awkward wave. “You didn’t really give me a choice.”

Zhang Jun grinned, closing the distance between them in a few quick strides. Before Li Wei could react, he was pulled into a firm, warm hug.

“You’re skinnier than I remember,” Zhang Jun said, pulling back to give him an exaggerated once-over. “What have they been feeding you at that soul-sucking job of yours?”

Li Wei flushed, suddenly self-conscious. “I’m fine, thanks. And you look… well.”

“Well? Try fabulous,” Zhang Jun corrected with a wink. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”

Li Wei followed reluctantly, feeling out of place as Zhang Jun effortlessly charmed the bartender into making something “special” for his “boring friend.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Li Wei muttered as the colorful concoction was placed in front of him.

“Of course I did. You deserve a little fun, Wei.” Zhang Jun raised his own glass in a mock toast. “To old friends and new beginnings.”

Li Wei clinked his glass against Zhang Jun’s, though he couldn’t shake the unease bubbling in his chest. “So, why now?”

“Why now what?”

“Why reach out after all this time?”

Zhang Jun’s playful expression faltered for a fraction of a second, so brief that Li Wei might have imagined it. “Does there need to be a reason? I missed you, Wei. Isn’t that enough?”

Li Wei studied him, searching for sincerity in those dark, enigmatic eyes. Zhang Jun had always been hard to read, a master of deflecting with charm and wit.

“Okay,” Li Wei said finally, deciding not to press.

“Good.” Zhang Jun’s grin returned, brighter than ever. “Now tell me everything I’ve missed. Don’t spare the juicy details.”

Hours passed in a blur of conversation and laughter. Zhang Jun’s energy was infectious, drawing Li Wei out of his shell in a way no one else ever could. They reminisced about their college days, shared embarrassing stories, and caught up on lost time.

But as the night wore on and the alcohol loosened tongues, the conversation took a more personal turn.

“You’ve really never dated anyone since college?” Zhang Jun asked, his tone hovering between disbelief and curiosity.

Li Wei shrugged, swirling the last of his drink in his glass. “I’ve been busy. And dating isn’t exactly my forte.”

“Please. You’re cute, responsible, and have that whole ‘quiet intellectual’ vibe going for you. Guys should be lining up.”

Li Wei’s face heated. “Stop exaggerating.”

“I’m not.” Zhang Jun leaned closer, his voice dropping to a teasing murmur. “You just don’t realize your own appeal, Wei.”

Li Wei’s heart skipped a beat, the intensity of Zhang Jun’s gaze leaving him momentarily speechless. He quickly looked away, focusing on the condensation pooling around his glass.

“What about you?” he asked, desperate to change the subject. “Are you… seeing anyone?”

Zhang Jun smirked, leaning back in his chair. “No one serious. Relationships are messy. I prefer to keep things… simple.”

Simple. The word hung in the air, its meaning ambiguous but heavy.

“Well,” Zhang Jun said suddenly, breaking the tension with a mischievous grin. “That’s enough serious talk for one night. Let’s dance!”

“What? No, I—”

But before Li Wei could protest, Zhang Jun grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the dance floor.

Li Wei didn’t remember how they ended up back at his apartment. The night was a hazy blur of music, laughter, and the intoxicating presence of Zhang Jun.

What he did remember was the moment Zhang Jun leaned in, his breath warm against Li Wei’s ear.

“You’re too uptight, Wei,” Zhang Jun murmured, his voice low and teasing. “Let me help you loosen up.”

The kiss that followed was electric, stealing Li Wei’s breath and igniting something deep within him. It was messy and sudden, a collision of lips and emotions that left him reeling.

When they finally pulled apart, Zhang Jun’s smirk was back, but there was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

“See?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not so boring after all.”

Li Wei’s heart raced as he struggled to process what had just happened. “Zhang Jun, I don’t—”

“Shh.” Zhang Jun pressed a finger to his lips. “Don’t overthink it, Wei. Just… let it be.”

And for the first time in years, Li Wei let himself let go.

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