Jiang Cenglan was sure his boyfriend was cheating on him.
The reason was the overwhelming amount of evidence he had gathered for a long time, and just dragged until today to properly face. He had been dating his boyfriend, Zhang Ruien, for two years, one of which they spent together in China and the other in the United States. After countless nights of crying himself to sleep in loneliness, Jiang Cenglan was grateful for his good luck. Barely in his early twenties, he managed to meet such an excellent lover, good enough to entrust the rest of his life to.
But cracks started to form three months ago.
On that day, Jiang Cenglan received the answer he had hoped for from a design competition, along with a first-place award and medal. It was not a big deal, just an internal evaluation of the School of Design, and even if it looked good on his resume, it was still not enough to open the doors of those luxury brands after graduation.
However, it guaranteed a scholarship for his entire next academic year!
Jiang Cenglan was very happy and couldn’t wait to share his joy with his excellent lover and senior. And so, he bribed his flatmate with an expensive weekend trip, the kind that included renting a top-floor suite with breakfast included. His flatmate knew how important winning that prize was for Jiang Cenglan, so he smilingly promised to never come home for the next couple of nights, wishing him a very happy “celebration” with his boyfriend. Before leaving, he even pinched his waist ambiguously, asking: “Baby, do you need brother to teach you some skills?”
“…” Jiang Cenglan blushed to death, screaming: “See you on Monday!”
His flatmate left with a whistle. Jiang Cenglan sent a text message to Zhang Ruien inviting him over to his apartment that night and then began to clean himself up.
He had been waiting for that day for a really, really long time!
Jiang Cenglan’s parents were both teachers, receiving an extremely strict upbringing since he was a child. Therefore, it was only after going to college that he realized he liked men. And quickly after that, he also realized that he was probably a bottom. Probably…
…Maybe around 80%, nee~.
It wasn’t that he was confused, but there were no secrets inside the walls of an art academy… Not to mention he had been studying in that specific academy’s affiliated schools since basically primary school! Everyone who knew his family background and the fact that his parents were also teachers joked that he received the admission letter to the C Academy of Fine Arts basically on the day he was born!
So how could he dare explore his sexuality and openly come out when everyone’s eyes were stuck to his ass?!
Fortunately, he had presented as “straight” for the past 20 years, so as long as he didn’t hold a megaphone screaming that he was looking for another man to top him, no one would suspect that he was bent.
And so, one fateful day during his junior year, Jiang Cenglan met Zhang Ruien during a lecture. The man was already a pretty well-known fashion designer, under 30 years old, and working for the famous domestic brand EROS. He also studied at the C Academy of Fine Arts during his bachelor’s degree, making him Jiang Cenglan’s alumnus and direct senior.
Although Jiang Cenglan’s parents were not teachers at the C Academy, they were friends with the staff, some other well-intended teachers who had watched Jiang Cenglan grow up since he was a child. Therefore, when they invited Zhang Ruien to dinner after his lecture, they also took Jiang Cenglan with them. The young and impressionable boy secretly talked with the man, and a relationship with unlimited potential quickly bloomed. After all, Zhang Ruien saw a lot and knew a lot. With his experience of being five years older than him, he opened a colorful door in Jiang Cenglan’s world, guiding him both personally and professionally, overseeing his portfolio, and even leading him into the world of homosexuality – a world that Jiang Cenglan yearned for but never dared to step into.
However, that world was full of beautiful, painted demons. After visiting a couple of gay bars, Jiang Cenglan quickly realized how good and respectable his boyfriend was in that uneven crowd. Therefore, he made what he thought to be the best decision in his life, refusing to continue his postgraduate studies in China and following Zhang Ruien to the United States, applying for a degree at the New York School of Visual Arts.
And in that process, his boyfriend helped him a lot. Of course, that also included lending him money.
Jiang Cenglan’s family conditions were not bad, but studying art in the United States was still a money-burning thing, and there was no way his allowance could be enough. His mother was also very sad that he insisted on studying abroad, offering to help him with the expenses. However, Jiang Cenglan never planned on spending his parents’s pension fund on chasing love, so he simply lied to them, saying that he had other channels for earning money. His parents knew that while he was an undergraduate he would sell design drafts to domestic fashion brands and had his little savings, so they easily believed him.
Therefore, out of naivity, Jiang Cenglan accepted his boyfriend’s financial aid. The reason he believed that much in Zhang Ruien’s sincerity was that he had seen exactly how promiscuous others could be, so his boyfriend’s gentlemanly behavior was particularly precious.
After all, in more than two years, Zhang Ruien had never touched him.
Jiang Cenglan was very confident in his appearance. Even if he were to attend a drama school, his face alone could still compete for the leading role, and yet… Every time they were alone, no matter how passionate he got, Zhang Ruien was always awfully polite to him, claiming he was too young and “those kinds of things” could wait.
And so, after dating for so many seasons, they never graduated past kissing.
To bring things back to the start, Jiang Cenglan intended to use the occasion of his winning a design competition to further his relationship with Zhang Ruien, especially in the physical sense. He also wanted to tell his boyfriend that his help had not been in vain and that he was now on his way to becoming financially independent…
…Even becoming an excellent fashion designer who could stand on the same stage as him.
…………………..
Jiang Cenglan opened his apartment’s front door, letting the catering team in. While the chef cooked the steak and set up the table, he took a fragrant essential oil bath in the bathroom, eager for his long-awaited first night. Before coming out, he hesitated for a moment but still chose to not “prepare” his body by himself, shy about his first experience and hoping that his older boyfriend would guide him again like a mentor.
It’s a pity that things never ended as one hoped for.
Zhang Ruien arrived on time in the evening. Facing the carefully prepared and awfully romantic room, he gently asked what was the happy occasion. At that time, Jiang Cenglan couldn’t understand the resistance hidden behind his boyfriend’s gentle mask.
“Ryan[mfn]not a typo. Zhang Ruien’s English name is Ryan Zhang, and he will be referred to as such later. Since they live in the USA, everyone has an English name as well[/mfn], you should congratulate me!” Jiang Cenglan leaned his warm body over his boyfriend’s arm, continuing: “Look at these documents!”
Zhang Ruien gently pushed him away, and then naturally picked up the very confidential and personal documents file, opening it. It was only a few thin pages and a medal with a very ordinary texture, but it was enough to make the man’s mature face change suddenly.
“Do you have an official copyright for these design drafts?!” He tried his best to restrain the cruelty and anger in his tone, but how could Jiang Cenglan, who was used to his gentle smile, not feel his true emotions?
“I, I don’t… Just submitted them for a school competition,” the poor boy defended a little weakly, “It shouldn’t matter, right?”
“How could it not matter?!” Zhang Ruien shouted, and all the carefully crafted ambiguous atmosphere in the apartment suddenly disappeared.
Jiang Cenglan’s face turned pale, looking at Zhang Ruien without blinking. His man pursed his lips, and his eyes became a little dodgy, acting as if he was desperately searching for an explanation.
But the next second, the subtle sound of a mobile phone’s vibrations sounded in the quiet room. Zhang Ruien took out his phone from his trouser pocket with a very defensive posture, never allowing Jiang Cenglan to see who the caller was…
…But judging from Zhang Ruien’s tight frown, it was not a pleasant contact.
Ah… I should have checked my horoscope before planning anything for today, Jiang Cenglan bit his lips and thought.
No one said anything. Jiang Cenglan stared at Zhang Ruien who in turn stared at the screen of his mobile phone, all the way until the person on the other side hung up. Then, Zhang Ruien stood up, coldly muttering something about having other plans for today and how they’ll dine some other time. Then, he simply strode away.
Before he opened the door, Jiang Cenglan saw him looking down at his mobile phone, as if he was calling that person back. It seemed that he did not answer it before not because he didn’t want to, but because… That phone call was too important to be witnessed by a third person.
Something flashed in Jiang Cenglan’s heart. That night, he shrugged his shoulders, ate a cold steak at a very slow speed, and then packed the rest of the inedible food into the refrigerator, falling asleep alone.
……………………
After a confusing week, Zhang Ruien contacted him again, apologizing for that day. His explanation was: [LanLan, as I said, I’m working hard to pave the way for your future. Therefore, some sacrifices are unavoidable.]
Jiang Cenglan gracefully accepted the explanation, replaying to him: [OK, I got it]
Worried about his stiff tone, he also sent a sticker with a very coquettish kitten.
Since then, their relationship developed into a sort of polite and harmonious and on-the-surface transaction. Although physical contact still existed in the form of kissing, there was no lust or passion, and both of them were as cold as ice. It seemed that after the bliss of intoxication finally passed, Jiang Cenglan began to notice some details he was too blind to see before.
For example, he had never met Zhang Ruien’s friends.
For example, every time they met, it was always in Jiang Cenglan’s rented apartment, and never in Zhang Ruien’s house.
Once, Jiang Cenglan couldn’t help but ask his boyfriend when could they make their relationship public, however, Zhang Ruien only answered with a stiff face: “That’s not good… Do you dare to come out?”
“It’s not good,” Jiang Cenglan said. “I don’t dare to come out now, but I also don’t plan to hide it for the rest of my life. So I ask you, when do you want to make it public?”
“Now is not the time. Wait a little longer, good boy.”
“Oh. Okay.”
As long as he was sane once and opened his eyes wide enough to pay just a little bit of attention, there were evident flaws everywhere. Jiang Cenglan even googled his boyfriend at some point, and although his social media persona was just as exquisite as the one he showed in real life, other people’s comments about him were not that forgiving. As we all know, although the USA has strict regulations about things posted online, that does not prevent people’s curiosity and desire to eat melons. Jiang Cenglan did not find anything by stalking his man’s social media, but he did find a 25 page long PDF stacked with gossip, pictures and even text screen shoots from an American senior sister he had a good relationship with[mfn]Ah, LOL 😭[/mfn].
Other people’s love, hate, and jealousy run rampant, but Jiang Cenglan was not interested in that. He quickly skimmed through the celestial forbidden text, finding that when Zhang Ruien was also studying for his postgraduate degree at the New York School of Visual Arts, there was a very particular rumor about him going around campus:
“Friends, let’s take a look at Ryan Zhang from the fashion department. He seemed to be raised by a rich woman…”
Jiang Cenglan finished reading those pages filled with pictures and text evidence, feeling that his life was not real. With each passing word, there was a conviction that grew stronger and stronger in his heart.
He… He was the mistress.
There was no explicit content and no definitive proof, but with so many details, no matter how unwilling he was, even the smallest seed of doubt was equivalent to the truth. He was afraid that, from the very beginning, he was the third party in someone else’s loving relationship.
Jiang Cenglan thought about it and planned to find time to talk to Zhang Ruien. However, before he had the courage to take action, there was sudden news that threw his life into an abyss even muddier and darker than the reality of being a mistress…
When Jiang Cenglan’s flatmate came back from the club one morning, he passed by a newsstand and one specific cover caught his attention. After returning to the apartment, he handed Jiang Cenglan the famous fashion magazine, screaming happily: “Baby! Congratulations! The clothes you designed are on the cover of MODE!”
Jiang Cenglan subconsciously looked at the cover of the magazine, and the next second, a sudden attack of coughing washed over him…
… On the right side of the cover, the enlarged characters clearly said that the supermodel Li Que and designer Ryan Zhang cooperated for the first time!
As an asthmatic, Jiang Cenglan’s eyes turned red, viciously panting and, at the same time, comforting his frightened friend: “I’m fine… Just need to rest for a while.” After a pause, he smiled reluctantly and continued: “Fortunately… No need to call an ambulance. It’s too expensive.”
His flatmate was also scared out of his body, saying incoherently: “I… I can’t find your inhaler! Just let me carry you to the hospital!”
Jiang Cenglan’s asthma attack came and went quickly. After a short rest, he looked up again, only to see his flatmate holding that god-forsaken magazine with trembling hands and eyes burning with anger. “I knew there was something weird with that scumbag! He never even acknowledged me when he came over,” he said. “How could he do such a thing?!”
Yes, indeed. How could he do such a thing?! Jiang Cenglan smiled bitterly. Zhang Ruien stole his design drafts, signed his own name all over them, cooperated with a famous supermodel, and also put them on the cover of MODE!
And if his flatmate hadn’t bought that magazine, Jiang Cenglan would still be in the dark!
No wonder he reacted like that before, asking all those things about copyrighting and whatnot… It turned out he was waiting for this day! “I didn’t expect him to do this either,” Jiang Cenglan said softly. He then stretched out his hand, gently took the magazine that had been wrinkled by his flatmate, turned it over to the middle, and read the interview.
As expected, he wasn’t even mentioned as a “design assistant”.
In the eyes of MODE and all industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts who purchase that magazine in the future, the clothes on supermodel Li Que’s back were undoubtedly designed by the well-known designer, Ryan Zhang!
It had absolutely nothing to do with the unknown Jiang Cenglan!
His flatmate woke up from his hangover as early as Jiang Cenglan fell sick. Looking at his silent demeanour, he helped him wipe his face asking: “LanLan, do you have a backup? Is it possible to prove those are your designs?”
However, Jiang Cenglan shook his head and said: “It’s useless even if I do. Whoever publishes it first gets recognized, not to mention that he’s so famous.” He then pointed at the inside page of the magazine where a picture of Zhang Ruien together with supermodel Li Que almost covered the entire page. With his connections in the fashion circle, there was no way an unknown student could bring him down.
“If I knew, I wouldn’t have…” His flatmate wanted to say something, only to stop halfway. The matter was already settled and in fact, it was fortunate that he was here. Otherwise, if Jiang Cenglan went out and saw that magazine by himself… Maybe not even the ER would be swift enough to save his life!
Jiang Cenglan understood his unfinished meaning and comforted him: “I should thank you for letting me know about this so quickly.”
Thank you for helping me make up my mind and break up with that bastard!
Silence spread in the air. Jiang Cenglan thought for a while but still didn’t tell his friend that he was also a mistress on top of having his work stolen. He was really a little speechless, unwilling to expose any more of his scars.
After having lunch together, his friend asked tentatively: “LanLan, what are you… Going to do next?”
“I want to clear things up with him,” Jiang Cenglan answered.
……………….
After thinking rationally about his situation, Jiang Cenglan decided to ask Zhang Ruien for compensation. Based on the available facts, he was indeed the third party in someone else’s relationship, so he couldn’t even ask for a “breakup fee”[mfn]A break-up fee in China is like compensation, which the person ending the relationship pays to the other to alleviate some of the hard feelings. Some people total up the amount spent on the relationship on holidays, meals out, and gifts and give their share back to the other person[/mfn]. However, Zhang Ruien was obviously already in a stable relationship, whether already married or not, whatever it was that they had going on could no longer continue. Thinking about it, he decided to also tell Zhang Ruien’s partner about them and apologize. In the end, even if the lady didn’t need it, he needed it.
He needed to apologize.
And after that was over, Zhang Ruien also needed to apologize to him! All the sugar he had eaten in the past now had the special flavor of “being taken advantage of”. Everything had been a long-planned scam. The stolen designs could no longer be recovered but those that have not been published yet… It seemed it was time to talk money with his scum ex!
Since you want them so bad, just buy them. Buy them and then fuck off!
Of course, Jiang Cenglan was reluctant to sell his heart’s work but he also really, really wanted to survive… And the reality was, studying in the USA was just too damn expensive!
He needed to survive. No. He must survive, long enough to reach the place he had always dreamed of.
After making up his mind, Jiang Cenglan called Zhang Ruien. His scum ex did not answer his call, a fact that was only a little unexpected. However, after thinking about it, it seemed reasonable. Jiang Cenglan dialed three times, and his call was hung up three times.
“Wow, really? Are you afraid I’ll come over at night and force you to commit suicide together?”, he said, filled with sarcasm.
But before Jiang Cenglan could make a new plan, a text message arrived. It was a strange but famous address, followed by: [Come here to find me at three o’clock in the afternoon.]
Jiang Cenglan got up, quickly packed his bag, and went out.
………………….
Long Island was a famously rich area, famous all over the world. Even if Zhang Ruien had been doing well in recent years, he could still never afford to buy a villa in that area. Every single detail pointed to the things Jiang Cenglan had read about in that PDF. His ex was definitely raised by a rich lady. Only then could his career path be so smooth and he could afford to live in such a mansion… At this point in his thought process, Jiang Cenglan did not spare his scumbag ex at all, fully believing that everything he had achieved in life was by relying on his poor yet filthy rich wife!
The timing was urgent, so Jiang Cenglan endured the pain of taking a taxi. However, when it came time to pay the bill, he did so with his heart bleeding. Following the address, he walked to the door of a villa that looked comparable to the one described in The Great Gatsby, all the way to the main entrance where he rang the doorbell. Maybe it was because of his heightened sense of tension, but for a split second, he had the illusion of hearing footsteps coming from afar to near inside. However, those steps did not seem to belong to Zhang Ruien, because the intercom next to the door was suddenly connected.
“…Who is it?”
A lazy and magnetic voice sounded. Through the thick door, Jiang Cenglan’s bones suddenly stiffened.
Was it a maid? No, it shouldn’t be…
…Unless the family also came with a butler. Anyway, it was not Zhang Ruien’s voice.
So… Who could it be?
Seeing that no one answered, the person inside said: “Huh?” Just that simple sound, said in a voice as sticky as wrapped in honey, made Jiang Cenglan come back to his senses. No way…
Zhang Ruien’s partner was not a rich woman, but a man, right?!
And just as rich regardless!
The more he thought about it, the more feasible that possibility became, but in the end, the only truth he was sure of was that it was rude to stay quiet. And so, Jiang Cenglan said bluntly: “Hello, I’m looking for Ryan Zhang.”
As soon as the words fell, the intercom disconnected and the sound of the door opening followed. Jiang Cenglan took a step back. On a random, sunny afternoon, in the palace-like garden of a mansion in Long Island, the sun painted a layer of bright gold on the man’s open chest, so dazzling that it made Jiang Cenglan’s eyes feel sore.
Wearing nothing but a silk nightgown and slightly wet hair after bathing, a fit figure came out of an oil painting, wearing a face as beautiful as a classical sculpture. The supermodel Li Que, accompanied by a charming fragrance and a very impactful appearance, came to Jiang Cenglan like a god descending in front of his most faithful believer.
……………………..
As usual, up to five chapters in advance are available here. Happy reading!
