TL: Hua
Yu Qingtang took an orange from the fridge, put on his earphones, and leaned back on the sofa, waiting for Liu Siyan’s “interrogation.”
“It lasted much longer than I expected. Did the old TCM doctor keep you there for a pulse diagnosis?”
“No.” Yu Qingtang peeled the orange. “Don’t call him ‘old TCM doctor’; he’s quite young.”
Liu Siyan: “How young? Forty?”
“No, he should only be in his early thirties.”
“You don’t even know how old he is, do you?”
“He didn’t mention it, and I forgot to ask.”
Age wasn’t a concern for Yu Qingtang.
Liu Siyan: “What did you two talk about for over half an hour?”
“It seems like we didn’t talk about much.”
Aside from introducing themselves, they didn’t get to any substantial points. It was less like a blind date and more like newly acquainted friends chatting casually.
“…Alright, then.” Liu Siyan said, “So it just ended like that? No dinner?”
“I asked him if he wanted to eat together, but he refused, saying he’d eat when he got back.”
“Tsk, that’s a bit of a snub.”
“Aside from that, he was quite thoughtful in other ways.”
Yu Qingtang recounted how the other person had chosen the seat and paid the deposit in advance, run over part of the way, and then seen him home and given him his phone number.
Liu Siyan: “Maybe he thought you had already eaten and didn’t want to waste your time; that’s why he said he wouldn’t eat?”
“Who knows?” Yu Qingtang didn’t like to speculate on other people’s thoughts without knowing them well.
Liu Siyan: “What type is he exactly?”
“Mature, stable, gentlemanly, and considerate. He looks like someone who takes good care of people. He’s the traditional TCM type, very health-conscious, and carries a thermos filled with Chinese medicine.”
“Thermos?” Liu Siyan chuckled. “Someone like you, who skips breakfast, has an irregular sleep schedule, and lives on junk food, are you sure he can accept that?”
Compared to his own lifestyle, the other person was indeed too healthy, but being health-conscious wasn’t a bad thing. Yu Qingtang answered truthfully, “He’s very suitable for living together and meets my standards.”
Liu Siyan let out an “Oh.” “Are you sure this is what you want? Wouldn’t you prefer the type who’d pin you to the bed, rip off your clothes, and leave your legs so weak you can’t get up?”
Yu Qingtang: “…”
That was the downside of having a friend you could talk to about anything: absolutely no subtlety.
“Sister, can you give me some face?”
Liu Siyan giggled. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. He’s so health-conscious; he’s definitely disciplined in all aspects, if you know what I mean.”
Yu Qingtang was exasperated. “We’ve only met once, and you’re already thinking as far as the Pacific Ocean.”
“Alright, alright. Tell me then, how did this famous TCM doctor catch your eye?”
Liu Siyan didn’t believe that Yu Qingtang would actively ask for WeChat just because someone was mature, stable, gentlemanly, and considerate.
Yu Qingtang popped two orange segments into his mouth. “Thanks to your prayers.”
Liu Siyan: “He can’t really be a subwoofer, right?”
“More than that.”
“What else?”
“Deep voice, black suit, gold-rimmed glasses—all of them,” Yu Qingtang’s mood was like boiling water. “And… super handsome.”
Yu Qingtang had always had high standards, so anyone he called handsome was definitely exceptional.
He could hear Liu Siyan’s scream over the phone. “Help! Am I dreaming, or are you not awake yet?”
“Neither.” Yu Qingtang was also quite excited. “If I hadn’t seen him with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it either.”
“Then hurry up and snatch him! Date, date, keep dating!”
Yu Qingtang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Can you calm down a bit? It’s only the first meeting; I don’t know what he’s thinking yet.”
Relationships required mutual feelings. If the other person wasn’t interested, he naturally wouldn’t force it. Besides, the first meeting only offered a partial understanding. Although he was in a hurry, he didn’t plan to be perfunctory about a lifelong matter.
Clothes, looks, and even voice were all secondary. The most important thing was whether they were compatible.
Liu Siyan calmed down a bit. “Right, right, let’s keep calm first and see what the comrade TCM doctor thinks.”
“Mm, I might need to consult your opinion later.”
“Don’t worry, I might not be good at other things, but I have the most experience with this.”
Liu Siyan was two months older than Yu Qingtang. Although also single, she had dozens of blind dating experiences and was definitely a veteran in this area.
After hanging up, Yu Qingtang swiped to his phone’s contact list. Xu Baizhang’s number was on the screen.
He hesitated for a moment, then put his phone down.
Soon after, a WeChat notification sound came through.
It was a friend request.
[I am Xu Baizhang]
Yu Qingtang tapped to accept.
The other’s message came through.
It is a very official [Hello][mfn]He use 您(nin) the polite form of pronoun ‘you’.[/mfn] and is accompanied by the system’s default yellow smiley face emoji. It is an emoticon package that adults love to use in work and social situations, while young people use it as a sarcastic expression.
Yu Qingtang was inexplicably amused.
[Doctor Xu, have you arrived home?]
Xu Baizhang: [On my way. Just registered on WeChat.]
[You’ve worked hard.]
Xu Baizhang: [Not hard.]
The “typing…” indicator kept showing on the other side. Yu Qingtang didn’t reply, watching the screen.
About five minutes later, a long block of text popped up.
Xu Baizhang: [My apologies, Mr. Yu, I didn’t have time to formally introduce myself to you just now. My name is Xu Baizhang. I am thirty-one years old. I studied in Germany for three years, obtained a Ph.D., and currently work in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department at the provincial hospital. My income is sufficient to cover daily family expenses, including medical care and travel. I have savings, no loans, and no expensive hobbies. I own a three-bedroom apartment in this city and a homestead in my hometown. I do not smoke. I rarely drink alcohol except for special social gatherings. I have no bad habits. I am in good health and occasionally practice Tai Chi and enjoy long-distance running…]
Yu Qingtang looked at this sincere, lengthy self-introduction and started typing similar content.
[My name is Yu Qingtang, and I am twenty-nine years old. I graduated from Communication University with a master’s degree. I own a two-bedroom apartment…]
Before he finished editing his content, the message from the other side came through.
Xu Baizhang: [Do you see anything incomplete? I can add more.]
Yu Qingtang deleted his previous content.
[It’s quite complete. Nothing else.]
The “typing…” indicator continued on the other side.
Another seven or eight minutes passed before a few sparse words appeared.
Xu Baizhang: [Are you free tomorrow? I’d like to go on a date with you.]
They had just said goodbye downstairs twenty minutes ago.
He was quite eager.
[I have a meeting tomorrow morning, but other times are fine.]
Xu Baizhang: [How about 3 PM? We can go for a walk first, then have dinner together in the evening.]
[Sounds good.]
Xu Baizhang: [Mm, I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon.]
After saying goodbye there, Yu Qingtang immediately messaged Liu Siyan.
[He asked me out tomorrow afternoon.]
Liu Siyan: [Tsk, nice! As expected, no one can escape our big shot anchor’s charm. /smirk]
[The location isn’t set yet. Where’s suitable?]
Liu Siyan: [Secret recipe, check it out yourself. Date Location Guide.docx]
Yu Qingtang quickly scanned it. The content was quite comprehensive, thoughtfully recommending date locations progressively based on the number of dates and level of familiarity. The first few dates seemed reliable—mostly art exhibitions, concerts, movie theaters, science museums, etc. But after the seventh date, the words [Love Hotel] shockingly appeared.
“Are you serious about this? Go to a hotel after only a few dates?”
Liu Siyan: [It’s all from Baidu[mfn]Chinese search engine like Google[/mfn]. You know, I usually fizzle out after three dates at most; I haven’t experienced the seventh-date treatment. Just look at the earlier ones for now.]
Liu Siyan’s blind dating history was quite dramatic; every time she met someone, either they mutually disliked each other or they became buddies.
After chatting with Liu Siyan, Yu Qingtang habitually opened his Moments[/mfn]It’s like an IG story but on WeChat. [/mfn]. At the very top was a post from Xu Baizhang with a picture.
The picture was of a night sky, which Yu Qingtang recognized as his residential complex. He could even see the roof of his building at the edge of the frame.
It was accompanied by a few words:
[I’m very happy today.]
It was posted five minutes ago.
Yu Qingtang tapped into the other’s Moments; there was only this one post, and the WeChat ID was a random string of characters generated by the system.
It really was just registered.
Yu Qingtang went back to that Moment and liked it.
He lay in bed, earphones on, listening to a bedtime story as usual. The mechanical male voice that used to be soothing now sounded particularly bland. No matter how he adjusted it, it felt like something was missing.
Yu Qingtang took off his earphones. His mind was filled with Xu Baizhang’s voice—deep, rich, full—something a mechanical male voice could never compare to.
He rolled over and wrapped himself in his blanket. Indeed, once you’ve tasted fine grain, you can never look at coarse husks again.
—
The bedroom was pitch black. Xu Baizhang tapped his message notification. Under the only post, there was a like from Yu Qingtang.
He put on his earphones and opened the encrypted audio file in a folder.
A gentle, panting voice came through, “Brother, you’re all sweaty, mm… harder, I want to be filled.”
His veins bulged with every breath he took. He held the soft plaid handkerchief against the tip of his nose and inhaled deeply.
The whole world was filled with Yu Qingtang’s scent.
He wanted to pin him to the bed, wanted to rub his sweat onto him…
Wanted to fill him forcefully.
—
At 7:50, Zhong Yan finished his shift and saw a few resident interns acting suspiciously in the corner of the emergency department.
He walked quietly, standing behind them.
The few residents were completely unaware of his presence.
“Holy cow, Director Xu’s outfit is amazing!”
“The ascetic monk is breaking his vows!”
“Those glasses are so hot and handsome!”
“No wonder all those little nurses went crazy.”
“I heard they started fussing right after getting off work yesterday, lining up overnight to get a pulse diagnosis from Director Xu.”
“Don’t even get me started. Youyou said she’d have dinner with me, but then she changed her mind at the last minute, saying she needed to see Director Xu and had no time.”
“Director Xu leaves no grass alive wherever he goes!”
“Can’t he leave us a chance?”
“Haven’t you chatted enough?” A cold voice came from behind them.
The residents’ faces turned pale with fright. One by one, they straightened up like soldiers standing at attention. “Dir… Director Zhong.”
Zhong Yan’s face was cold. “Very idle?”
All three shook their heads. “No… no.”
“Not idle, but gossiping here?” Zhong Yan’s gaze fell behind them. “Looking at your phones during work hours? Who gave you the right?”
The three lowered their heads, chins practically digging into their necks. “Director Zhong, we were wrong.”
“None of you are leaving tonight. If you’re so idle, work overtime!”
The three were inexpressibly bitter, wishing they could curse themselves.
The residents left dejectedly, but Xu Baizhang’s various peculiarities still occupied Zhong Yan’s mind.
Deliberately wearing a suit after work? Wearing glasses despite having vision good enough for a pilot? A person who never socialized suddenly registered on WeChat? And posting strange Moments?
The person who never stayed up late called him in the middle of the night to ask about buying a car, specifically emphasizing a spacious, airy, and comfortable model. He had walked to and from work for so many years and had no social or travel needs, so why buy a car?
He was even so eager that he went to the 4S shop[mfn]4S store is short for Automobile Sales Service Shop 4S, which is a car franchise model with “four-in-one” as its core, including vehicle sales (Sale), spare parts (Sparepart), after-sales service (Service), information feedback (Survey), etc. [/mfn] first thing in the morning, bought a car without batting an eye, and even got it licensed. He also specifically asked him about restaurants with good environments and reputations nearby, but didn’t he dislike eating out?
What were he and Old Liang up to lately? An ancient tree blooming vividly? Mammals in their mating season?
An old fossil rejuvenating?
An ascetic monk returning to secular life?
—
At 2:50 PM, Yu Qingtang received a WeChat message before leaving his home.
Xu Baizhang: [I’ve arrived. I’m downstairs at your building.]
[Be right there, just about to head down.]
Xu Baizhang: [No rush.]
Yu Qingtang walked out of his building and met Xu Baizhang.
The other was wearing a dark grey suit, which was more casual than yesterday’s outfit. His hands were in his trousers, his dark hair neatly combed, and the gold-rimmed glasses still rested on his nose.
He smiled at him subtly through his glasses.
Xu Baizhang opened the passenger door. Yu Qingtang thanked him and got in.
The scent of leather filled the car; the plastic coverings on the door handles weren’t fully removed yet.
“The car’s so new,” Yu Qingtang said.
Xu Baizhang settled into the driver’s seat. “Just bought it.”
Yu Qingtang buckled his seatbelt. “That explains it.”
Xu Baizhang adjusted his seat. “How does it feel?”
“Wonderful, spacious, and comfortable.”
Yu Qingtang felt too awkward to say the rest of his thoughts.
How could a car this expensive not be good?
“I don’t use a car often,” Xu Baizhang said. “If Mr. Yu likes it, you’re welcome to drive it.”
Yu Qingtang was startled and said, “No need, no need; the TV station garage is very narrow, and it’s convenient for me to park my car.”
Xu Baizhang didn’t insist. He started the car. “Where shall we go?”
“The Science and Technology Museum.” Yu Qingtang tapped his phone. “I bought tickets.”
Since it was a weekday, there shouldn’t be many people.
When they arrived at the museum entrance, they realized the best-laid plans often go awry.
It was Yangcheng Primary School’s practical learning day. The entrance was lined with children wearing red scarves and blue and white school uniforms.
Xu Baizhang noticed his expression. “We can go somewhere else if you’d like.”
“What do you think, Doctor Xu?” Yu Qingtang asked.
“Whatever you prefer,” Xu Baizhang replied.
Yu Qingtang opened the car door. “Let’s go. I’ve never been here before anyway.”
The museum was packed with elementary school students that day, but there were very few individual visitors. They waited for the children to enter in an orderly fashion before scanning their tickets and going in. They avoided the crowded exhibition halls, walking in the opposite direction.
Yu Qingtang was standing at the entrance of the Basic Science Exhibition Hall, looking down at the navigation guide, when he felt a tug on his shirt.
It was a round-faced little boy, hugging a large water bottle, standing alone beside him.
The boy wasn’t shy. He smiled with his eyes and asked, “Uncle, are you the news anchor on TV?”
Yu Qingtang smiled. “That’s me.”
“Wow! Uncle, you look exactly like you do on TV!”
“It’s all me, of course I look the same,” Yu Qingtang pointed to the group entering the adjacent exhibition hall. “Your classmates are getting far ahead; hurry and catch up.”
The little boy nodded obediently. “Goodbye, Uncle.”
After sending the child away, Yu Qingtang heard movement behind him before he even took a step. The sound of footsteps in groups sounded like the sound of a school building after class.
“Look! I wasn’t lying, Anchor Uncle is right there!”
“Wow! It really is him!”
“He really looks the same as on TV!”
“Yu Qingtang, it’s Yu Qingtang!”
More and more children came running at the sound. Yu Qingtang was squeezed in the middle, surrounded by little bees and butterflies.
The teacher in charge came over and explained, “Please excuse them; the kids like you a lot. I’m sorry to bother you.”
This semester, the school had organized an “Everyone Watch the News” activity, requiring children to watch the evening news every day at home and then orally summarize it the next day. Yu Qingtang was their favorite anchor, and they all looked up to him.
Yu Qingtang expressed understanding. “It’s alright. It’s an honor to be liked by them.”
Seeing the children’s expectant blinking eyes, the teacher took out her phone. “If it’s convenient for you, could you take a photo with the children?”
Yu Qingtang readily agreed.
The spacious front hall of the Science and Technology Museum turned into a photo booth. The children chattered excitedly, lively but not annoying.
After the photos, Yu Qingtang bid farewell to the children, reminding them to be safe, listen to their teachers, and study hard.
Children are pure and simple. In their world, anyone who appears on TV is a big star, not to mention this big star is so kind. They kept waving their hands, their eyes wide with reluctance to leave.
A child in red leather shoes tilted his head back, looked at Yu Qingtang, and then looked at the man who had been with him the entire time and had never spoken, “Uncle, is this uncle your boyfriend?”
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