CEG Chapter 3

Jiang Muping’s voice finally broke the long silence, “How do you know Li Sizhi?”

 

“She was my former teacher.”

 

Jiang Muping’s eyes flashed with surprise, “Teacher?”

 

Li Sizhi was only three years older than him, so how could he have been Cheng Yan’s teacher?

 

Cheng Yan explained, “She was my art teacher, who had just graduated from college and started her own art tutoring class.”

 

Jiang Muping had some impression of when she(LS) started working part-time during college. She never used to ask mother and father Jiang for a penny. After graduating from college, she did mention that she wanted to start her own business, but went abroad for further studies after two years.

 

“I studied art with her for more than a year,” said Cheng Yan.

 

At the beginning, Cheng Yan couldn’t afford the tuition, so he worked as a model for Li Sizhi for free, to pay the tuition. He worked as a model for half a year.

 

At that time, Li Sizhi was still very young, and her thoughts were full of wild imagination. Of course Cheng Yan always tried to resist her “wildness”. Li Sizhi once recommended Cheng Yan to be a nude model, and said his salary would increase tenfold, but Cheng Yan had ruthlessly rejected the offer.

 

In short, Lin Sizhi is Cheng Yan’s friend, teacher and benefactor.

 

“You,” Jiang Muping thought of Cheng Yan’s job, “were you already a tattoo artist by that time?”

 

Based on this calculation, Cheng Yan should have been only 20 years old at that time, the same age as Jiang Muping.

 

Cheng Yan shook his head, forked a small piece of steak and put it into his mouth, lowered his head and said, “I was still an apprentice at that time. I didn’t know how to draw, so I went to learn it.” He raised his head and said, “Tattooing requires artistic skills.”

 

Jiang Muping hummed and looked absentmindedly at the goblet of red wine.

 

When he was a freshman in college, Cheng Yan became an apprentice to a tattoo artist. In his senior year of high school, Cheng Yan disappeared.

 

Where did Chengyan go? What happened to him later?

 

Given his current relationship with Cheng Yan, he doesn’t seem to be in a position to dig into the matter.

 

“You’re not married yet?”

 

Cheng Yan found himself asking another nonsensical question.

 

Would a married person still sit here and go on a blind date with him?

 

He felt that he might be a little nervous, so he picked up the glass and drank the remaining red wine.

 

Fortunately, Jiang Muping was willing to patiently answer his stupid question, “Well, not married.”

 

Cheng Yan’s question brought the dinner back to its original topic – they all remembered that this was not a class reunion, but a blind date.

 

Since the national policy relaxed the past few years, same-sex marriage had finally become a reality. However, even after it has been legalized, same-sex marriage is still a relatively controversial and experimental thing, and still people care about other people’s opinions.

 

Cheng Yan’s awakening about his sexuality came at the right time, just around the year when same sex marriage was being legalized. Before that, he had always been confused about the idea of dating. It was not until same-sex marriage was allowed and suitors came to him one after another that he realized that his face, which had been said to be as beautiful as a woman since he was a child, was actually very popular among gays.

 

Cheng Yan didn’t know when Jiang Muping discovered that he liked men-

 

Cheng Yan raised his eyes and glanced at Jiang Muping. He was a little curious about what kind of man someone like Jiang Muping would like.

 

Cheng Yan’s gaze was somewhat straightforward, causing Jiang Muping to catch him red-handed, and their eyes met.

 

“This is my first blind date, and I don’t quite understand the process. Do I need to introduce myself first?”

 

Jiang Muping’s attitude was very serious, but Cheng Yan felt that he clearly had no interest in him at all.

 

Cheng Yan struggled for a while about how to address Jiang Muping, and chose the one he thought was most appropriate, “Teacher Jiang—” He paused, perhaps not wanting Jiang Muping to feel rude when he heard such an address, so he explained, “Teacher Li said that you teach at school.”

 

Jiang Muping hummed.

 

“Are you really here for a blind date today?”

 

Jiang Muping was puzzled, “Why do you ask that?”

 

“There are many people who are being forced to marry nowadays.”

 

Jiang Muping laughed and asked, “What about you?”

 

“I am here for a blind date.” Cheng Yan said truthfully, “I… haven’t been in a relationship for a long time.”

 

He only told half the truth. In fact, he has never been in love.

 

The waiter brought the dessert, temporarily interrupting their conversation.

 

After the waiter left, Jiang Muping continued what Cheng Yan had just said, “I came here for the blind date too, but I didn’t expect to meet you.”

 

“I’m thirty-five, probably the same age as you. I’m a teacher, and my hobby is reading.”

 

Cheng Yan was stunned.

 

“Is this an okay introduction?”

 

Cheng Yan couldn’t tell for a moment whether Jiang Muping was serious or joking with him.

 

“It’s a bit rigid.” Cheng Yan said.

 

Jiang Muping picked up the cup and took a sip of water, “I think so too.”

 

“I’m thirty-five, a tattoo artist, and I don’t have any hobbies.”

 

Jiang Muping put down the cup and asked curiously, “Don’t you like tattoos?”

 

“Tattooing is not my hobby, I make money from it.”

 

Cheng Yan’s frankness made Jiang Muping feel a bit of an inexplicable chill. He saw Cheng Yan scoop a spoonful of dessert with a metal spoon. After eating the dessert, Cheng Yan’s eyes curved a little, and the coldness disappeared.

 

The blind date ended very early, and it seemed that there would be no follow-up. It was just that the timing and the person were not compatible. They were former high school classmates, but they met again because of a blind date. Whether they talked about the past or the present, they seemed to have nothing to talk about.

 

Moreover, back then, they were very far away from each other’s world and could not be called familiar with each other, let alone have common topics.

 

It was already dark. Jiang Muping and Cheng Yan were standing at the door of the restaurant. Cheng Yan exuded a faint aroma of wine.

 

“Did you drive here?” Jiang Muping asked.

 

“No, I took a taxi.” Cheng Yan took out his cell phone and prepared to call a taxi.

 

“I’ll take you back.”

 

“No, I’ll take a taxi.”

 

Cheng Yan lowered his head, the light from the mobile phone screen shone on his face, and he blinked a few times slowly.

 

Jiang Muping looked at his slightly red cheeks, raised his hand to cover his phone screen, and said, “I’ll take you there.”

 

Cheng Yan raised his head and glanced at him. His eyes were clear and he didn’t look drunk. Jiang Muping guessed that he might have drunk a lot of alcohol, as there were two obvious blushes on his cheeks.

 

Cheng Yan spoke after a long while: “Thank you for your help.”

 

After getting in the car, Jiang Muping fastened his seat belt and asked Cheng Yan, “What’s your address?”

 

“I won’t go home, I will go back to the studio.”

 

Jiang Muping turned his head and glanced at him. Cheng Yan half-closed his eyes lazily, “No. 34 Xijia Road, thank you for your help.”

 

Cheng Yan dozed off in the car for a while, and when he opened his eyes, he had arrived at the familiar street. Jiang Muping’s car slowly stopped in front of the studio. It was not too late, and the studio was still brightly lit.

 

“Thank you.” Cheng Yan unbuckled his seat belt.

 

Jiang Muping glanced out the window, “Is this where you work?”

 

“Yeah.” Cheng Yan got out of the car, walked to the window, and prepared to say goodbye to Jiang Muping.

 

Jiang Muping sat in the car and looked up at him: “Are you going to work late?”

 

“Not working, I’m drunk.”

 

Cheng Yan’s voice was really low and hoarse, even more so after drinking. He lowered his head slightly and looked at Jiang Muping with his eyes downcast. The curly hair hanging by his ears slid down to his forehead.

 

Jiang Muping asked him, “Then why did you come back here?”

 

“I’m staying in the studio these days.” Cheng Yan’s left index finger gently rested on the car door handle, “Be careful on the road.”

 

“Teacher?”

 

Zhu Yu’s voice came from behind, and Cheng Yan turned his head.

 

“Didn’t you go on a blind date? Why…” Zhu Yu said as he walked over, suddenly stopped, tilted his upper body to the side, and saw the person in the car.

 

Jiang Muping nodded to Zhu Yu. Zhu Yu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and waved, “Hello.”

 

Zhu Yu walked to Cheng Yan’s side and smelled a faint smell of alcohol. “Teacher, have you been drinking?”

 

“I drank a bit.”

 

Zhu Yu looked at Jiang Muping, then at Cheng Yan, and wondered how he came back so soon after having already had his drink?

 

Cheng Yan turned around and said to Jiang Muping, “Then I’ll go in first.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Cheng Yan wanted to say goodbye, but felt that they would never see each other again, so he said nothing.

 

He turned and walked into the studio. When he entered, he threw the note in his pocket into the trash can at the door. On it was Jiang Muping’s name and his cell phone number.

 

There are six people in the studio, three apprentices, two assistants, and the boss Cheng Yan. Zhu Yu came to the studio the latest, but he has the closest relationship with Cheng Yan, mainly because he has a lively and likable personality.

 

He also knew that Cheng Yan was going on a blind date today.

 

“Teacher, was that person on a blind date with you just now?”

 

Cheng Yan entered the lounge, took off his coat and sat on the sofa, closing his eyes and said, “Xiao Yu, pour me a glass of water.”

 

“Okay.” Zhu Yu hurriedly poured a glass of water for Cheng Yan, pulled a small stool and sat down next to the sofa, “He looks quite handsome.”

 

Cheng Yan lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.

 

“I mean the guy who sent you back. I feel like he’s the most handsome of all the guys who’ve pursued you. He looks quite elegant. What does he do?”

 

“He didn’t chase me.”

 

Zhu Yu chuckled twice: “It’s just a slip of the tongue, what does he do?”

 

Cheng Yan stood up and took a sip of water, “A teacher.”

 

“Oh my god, what a refined person.”

 

Zhu Yu had quit his studies after graduating from high school. His family was poor, his parents died early, and he had a sick grandmother at home. The family became poor due to illness, which made him unable to go to school. His longing for university made him have an instinctive respect for intellectuals.

 

There is no shortage of apprentices with diplomas in Cheng Yan’s studio. One of them even graduated from a well-known art school and has much stronger artistic skills than Zhu Yu. However, Zhu Yu is the one who pleases Cheng Yan the most.

 

“Teacher, why are you back so early? Why don’t you go watch a movie or something?”

 

“We didn’t even exchange each other’s phone number, what movie would we even watch?”

 

“What do you mean, you…it didn’t go well??”

 

“It won’t work.”

 

“Why?”

 

Cheng Yan said what was in his heart, “I am not worthy of him.”

 

Zhu Yu was stunned, and his expression suddenly changed, “What are you talking about?”

 

Cheng Yan thought his expression was funny.

 

“You have money and you have beauty, so how can you not be good enough for him?”

 

“I am not worthy of him in many aspects, including status, family background, knowledge, and soul.”

 

Zhu Yu seemed unable to accept Cheng Yan’s self-deprecation and frowned, “You have only met him once, it is too early to draw conclusions.”

 

Cheng Yan lowered his head and stroked the thin calluses between his fingers, saying, “I have known him since a long time ago, and have met him many times.”

 

Cheng Yan remembered Jiang Muping, remembered his name, remembered his appearance, and remembered that he was a good person.

 

 

 

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Sorry for late update!! I’ll post upto ten chapters first after that the updates will become regular!

What do you think Cheng Yan meant by the last to paragraphs?

It seems they have quite a long history between them.

Drop your thoughts in the comments about this novel!!! I very much appreciate interaction with you all!!