INT Chapter 31

After getting off the roller coaster, someone ran to the side and vomited. Mao Xin patted his chest, saying, “My soul flew away…”

 

“Was it fun?” Lu Ze asked with a smile.

 

Meng Qian and Lü Xuan, who had screamed loudly earlier, now laughed happily and said in unison, “It was fun!”

 

“Qian Qian, your hair is messy,” Sun Zhuoyu whispered.

 

Meng Qian paused, “Where?”

 

“At the back…” Sun Zhuoyu gestured.

 

Meng Qian tilted her head with a smile, “Then help me fix it; I can’t see it.”

 

Sun Zhuoyu blushed. Lu Ze shook his head and turned the camera to Liang Xiao’s face, teasingly asking, “Xiao-ge, how do you feel?”

 

Before Liang Xiao could answer, Lu Ze exaggeratedly said, “My hands hurt.”

 

Liang Xiao glanced at him and admitted helplessly, “It was pretty scary.”

 

Although he had accompanied clients on rides several times before and always felt scared, this was the first time Liang Xiao admitted it—because Lu Ze wasn’t a girl or a client.

 

Lu Ze raised his hand with a laugh and flicked Liang Xiao’s cap brim lightly. “Come on, let’s get some ice cream to calm our nerves.”

 

Each of them grabbed an ice cream as they queued for the next ride. Sun Zhuoyu took photos for Meng Qian and Lü Xuan, while Mao Xin enthusiastically helped some unfamiliar girls take pictures.

 

Lu Ze and Liang Xiao leaned against each other while eating their ice creams. Suddenly, Lu Ze sighed. “I didn’t get enough.”

 

“What?” Liang Xiao was puzzled. “The roller coaster?”

 

“Yeah,” Lu Ze nodded. “It was too short; it ended before I could fully enjoy it.”

 

Liang Xiao hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth. “Then I’ll go with you again?”

 

Now it was Lu Ze’s turn to be stunned. He looked at Liang Xiao and then smiled after a moment. “I was just saying casually. If you’re scared, I wouldn’t drag you along again. No need to be so professional.”

 

Liang Xiao clicked his tongue. “The client is king.”

 

Lu Ze slung an arm around Liang Xiao’s shoulder and patted him. “The ‘king’ doesn’t want another round—afraid my hand will get crushed by you.”

 

“Am I that strong?” Liang Xiao chuckled.

 

Lu Ze finished his last bite of ice cream and licked his lips. “Was I squeezing your arm just as hard in the cinema?”

 

Liang Xiao recalled for a moment and pointed to a spot on his arm. “There was a handprint.”

 

Lu Ze couldn’t stop laughing. Liang Xiao stretched out his hand toward him; instinctively, Lu Ze slapped his palm with a crisp sound. “What are you doing?”

 

Liang Xiao said nothing but just looked at him.

 

Confused, Lu Ze rubbed Liang Xiao’s palm. “Did that hurt?”

 

Liang Xiao felt warmth spreading from his palm up his arm to his chest. He grabbed the ice cream wrapper from Lu Ze’s hand and said, “Throwing this away.”

 

“Sorry, my hand moved too fast,” Lu Ze said with a laugh as Liang Xiao returned after tossing the trash. “Want me to let you hit me back?”

 

Liang Xiao lightly patted the back of Lu Ze’s hand.

 

·

 

By noon, they had only managed to try four attractions. After the last one, everyone felt a bit dizzy, so they decided to find a restaurant for lunch.

 

Lu Ze casually snapped a photo of their meal and, after sitting down, glanced at Liang Xiao. “What’s wrong, Xiao-ge? Not to your taste?”

 

Liang Xiao was surprised by Lu Ze’s attentiveness and replied softly, “No, just feeling a bit dizzy.”

 

Lu Ze smiled. “Still not recovered?”

 

He handed Liang Xiao a cold cola. “Try drinking this.”

 

“Mm.”

 

Liang Xiao truly couldn’t handle those wild spinning rides. The first time he accompanied clients on them, he had to hide in the restroom to vomit. Now he had improved slightly—no vomiting, but still dizzy. Though he didn’t show it outwardly, his face was pale, and he barely ate.

 

Lu Ze leaned closer and asked quietly, “Why are you eating so little? Still feeling dizzy?”

 

Not wanting to ruin the mood, Liang Xiao said, “I’m much better now, just not very hungry.”

 

Lu Ze sighed helplessly. “You call this ‘much better’? Your face says otherwise.”

 

When the others finished eating and planned to take photos with the mascots outside, Lu Ze said, “We’ll sit this one out. Xiao-ge still feels dizzy and needs to rest.”

 

“It’s nothing,” Liang Xiao said. “Let’s go.”

 

Lu Ze pressed down on his leg. “Do you want to take photos?”

 

Liang Xiao hesitated. Lu Ze added, “I don’t want to take photos, and neither do you. Let’s just rest here.”

 

Liang Xiao leaned back in his chair again. Lu Ze patted his leg and said, “Xiao-ge, you don’t need to treat me like a client—I’m just your friend.”

 

Liang Xiao raised an eyebrow. “A friend who pays 150 an hour?”

 

Lu Ze clicked his tongue. “Don’t bring up money—it has nothing to do with that.”

 

Liang Xiao sighed softly. “If you want me to treat you as a friend, then stop paying me. If money is involved, you’re a client.”

 

Lu Ze looked at him quietly for a few seconds before asking seriously, “Can’t I be both a client and a friend?”

 

Liang Xiao met his gaze and finally smiled after a moment of silence. He relented, “Fine.”

 

Lu Ze snapped his fingers. “That’s more like it! Now just rest here while I edit some videos.”

 

Liang Xiao took out a power bank from his bag and handed it to him. Lu Ze said, “You’re like a treasure chest—I was just about to ask for one.”

 

Liang Xiao’s phone on the table started ringing with a voice call notification. Out of habit, Lu Ze glanced over and froze when he saw the contact name: *Xiao Meng (Blonde hair 170cm Impatient personality)*—a remarkably detailed note.

 

Liang Xiao answered the call. “Hello?”

 

“Hi! Why haven’t you replied to my messages?”

 

Liang Xiao’s tone lost its earlier casualness with Lu Ze and turned cold. “I’ve been busy. Is there something urgent?”

 

“I just wanted to ask if you’re free tonight—I have an emergency.”

 

“Sorry, I don’t have time tonight,” Liang Xiao said.

 

Xiao Meng sounded disappointed. “Not even a little? An hour would do, even later in the evening.”

 

Liang Xiao glanced at Lu Ze, who was already watching him. Liang Xiao repeated, “I’m really sorry, I don’t have time tonight.”

 

“What if I raise the price? How about 200 an hour? Or even 300?”

 

Lu Ze clicked his tongue. How could someone try to poach right in front of him? He gestured for Liang Xiao to hand him the phone. Liang Xiao hesitated, but Lu Ze mouthed, “Trust me.”

 

“Xiao Meng, right? Hi there. He’s with a client right now. Isn’t it inappropriate to raise the price in front of a client?”

 

Xiao Meng was shocked. “Client? You?”

 

“Yes,” Lu Ze replied with a smile. “Is there a problem?”

 

“Xiao Liang has male clients too?”

 

Xiao Liang? What’s with that name? Lu Ze glanced at Liang Xiao in confusion. “What’s the difference between male and female clients? The payment’s the same, isn’t it?”

 

Xiao Meng seemed too stunned to continue and hung up after a few words. Lu Ze tilted his head and asked, “What’s with ‘Xiao Liang’? Why does she call you that?”

 

Liang Xiao stayed silent for a moment. Lu Ze thought it over and exclaimed, “Liang Xiao… Xiao Liang… Wait, don’t tell me your name is actually Xiao Liang!”

 

Still silent, Liang Xiao didn’t respond. Lu Ze frowned deeper and said, “Liang Xiao—no, Xiao Liang—why would you lie to me?”

 

Finally, Liang Xiao spoke. “I didn’t lie to you. My name is Liang Xiao.”

 

He pulled out his ID card and handed it to Lu Ze. Lu Ze checked the name—it was indeed Liang Xiao—and then looked at the photo. It was definitely him, though his hair was shorter and his expression looked stern.

 

Lu Ze chuckled. “So you lied to her?”

 

“Most clients don’t know my real name. The names they give me aren’t real either.”

 

Lu Ze pointed at himself. “Then why do I know it? Aren’t I a client too?”

 

Liang Xiao looked into Lu Ze’s eyes. He himself wasn’t sure why he had told Lu Ze his real name back then.

 

As the atmosphere grew slightly awkward, Liang Xiao finally said, “Because you’re a guy—I didn’t think much about it at the time.”

 

Lu Ze nodded and handed back the ID card but paused when he noticed the birthdate. “Wait… What?! You’re only a few months older than me?”

 

Liang Xiao’s birthday was in September, while Lu Ze’s was in February of the following year.

 

Staring at the ID card in shock, Lu Ze exclaimed, “I always thought you were two years older than me! Turns out it’s just a few months?”

 

“I… started school early,” Liang Xiao explained. “Does it matter?”

 

Lu Ze shook his head and sighed dramatically. “Not really—it’s just that I’ve been calling you ‘Xiao-ge’ like you’re actually my older brother.”

 

Liang Xiao smiled faintly. “You still can.”

 

Lu Ze clicked his tongue and raised an eyebrow at him. “A brother who’s only five months older? I guess that works.”

 

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