If it had been a coincidence at first, after so many twists of fate, he had to admit that he and Ouyang Jinghui were developing a certain kind of connection. Just as their initial vague, subjective intention to cooperate didn’t involve one dictating to the other, each would do his part and strive for the best possible communication and coordination.
Ouyang Jinghui wasn’t as hard to approach as Jiang Yi had first imagined, but he was definitely a man with a strong sense of self and boundaries that no one could cross. Jiang Yi understood deeply that neither of them wanted to get too close, so they maintained the courtesy and distance of business partners, offering the occasional show of concern for emotional and social support, never mentioning past grievances or misunderstandings—never asking again, “Who are you?” They were both shrewd, self-disciplined men.
With Jiang Yi’s qualities, he wouldn’t lack for lovers anywhere in the world, but he stuck to one principle: never provoke someone he shouldn’t, never invite trouble, and treat sex as a release rather than a spiritual force. Jiang Yi knew exactly who he was and what he wanted. His bisexuality was both a risk and a source of vitality; he needed people who could inspire him, regardless of gender. But now, he sensed that he had lost his composure around Ouyang Jinghui several times, all for the most primal reasons. This made him uneasy.
If Ouyang had a fatal attraction in public, it was the same for Jiang Yi. But Jiang Yi wasn’t ordinary—he had desires, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t control them.
The next morning, something even more awkward happened. Jiang Yi was in the shower when Ouyang Jinghui pushed open the door to get his toothbrush—and they ran into each other again.
This time, it was Ouyang who chuckled. “Not the first time.” It seemed their encounter at “Arches” was memorable for both, though neither had mentioned it before. Now, Ouyang hinted at it so casually. “I’ll use the bathroom downstairs. Sorry.”
Watching Ouyang retreat, Jiang Yi sighed and smiled. Both of them tried to hide their true selves, but in daily life, their coordination was lacking. No matter how dignified they tried to appear, it was useless. Seeing each other naked once had been unintentional, so there was no way to trace the cause and effect. But a second or third time would be deliberate.
Steam filled the air, and for a flash, a sensual image appeared—that strong, masculine body once again sprang to mind, the intoxicating temptation spreading through the mist, making it impossible to hide the danger he felt. His breathing grew heavy, wrapped in the most intense desire, stirring in the most direct way. His hand moved toward its target… This was the first time in months that Jiang Yi had masturbated—aroused without warning, and finished just as abruptly. The water washed away the warmth on his fingers, and with it, the momentary confusion.
When Jiang Yi went downstairs properly dressed, the house was empty again. The scent of lemon aftershave had already faded from the air. Suppressing the accidental excitement, he finally sat down calmly, opened his laptop, and sipped a glass of iced milk. A wry smile appeared at the corner of his mouth—only Jiang Yi knew the true taste.
That afternoon, Jiang Yi received a call: “Who is it?”
“It’s Ouyang. Do you have plans tonight?”
“Sadly, no.”
A low, pleasant laugh came from the other end. “Mind joining me for dinner? I want you to meet some investors and hear their feedback.”
“Sounds good. I’ll play along. At least I won’t have to eat another egg sandwich today.”
“No wonder the fridge only has eggs! This is China—you should enjoy the food.” He gave the time and place. “See you soon.”
“Alright, no problem.” Hanging up, Jiang Yi stared into space for five seconds, then returned to normal.
That evening, Ouyang Jinghui once again appeared in public as the dignified, magnanimous leader. His suit fit him perfectly, and his every gesture was a model for business leaders. Jiang Yi, on the other hand, exuded a steadfast elegance, with a cold, probing calm that made people admire him but not dare to get too close. Those who didn’t know him wouldn’t easily approach.
If there hadn’t been a couple of government officials at the table, their conversation about hidden data, internal forecasts, and evaluations would have been more precise and meaningful. But this was just a “celebrity meet-and-greet”—they only needed to keep up appearances, not offer constructive opinions, or even a single sincere word of caution.
Jiang Yi, though direct, was also good at reading people. He knew Ouyang was using him tonight to reassure everyone, to show those officials who only reported good news that everything was fine, that the future of Yunxi was bright, and that the best architects and studios were fully cooperating.
This was Ouyang’s personal stage, and everyone around him was just a beautiful prop. Jiang Yi wisely kept his mouth busy with food. In truth, he hadn’t fully adapted to southern cuisine. He never intended to change for anyone—it was always others who adjusted to him, because he was outstanding and often had sharp insights. Most people respected his choices. But tonight, he didn’t have to mention a single detail about the project. He just watched Ouyang’s perfect performance. He had nothing to lose, but he still felt a bit uneasy.
After dinner, it was obvious there would be more activities. Jiang Yi didn’t want to join Ouyang in whatever favors he was giving out. For now, he’d rather go home and enjoy a simple, homemade snack to soothe his oil-laden stomach.
Back at Xiaozhu Courtyard, Jiang Yi stepped into the bathroom, splashed water on his face, shook his wet hair, and told himself: Maybe he shouldn’t have had any illusions from the start.
Now he finally understood why Ouyang Jinghui always found somewhere else to spend the night rather than staying in one place. He was just following the rules of the game, accumulating successes to reach higher goals. At heart, both Jiang Yi and Ouyang valued prospects, but Jiang Yi never intended to sacrifice his personal space for work, or trade away all his freedom.
But something unexpected still happened—an hour later, Ouyang Jinghui also returned to Xiaozhu Courtyard. At the time, Jiang Yi was sitting in the living room studying drawings. He looked up as Ouyang opened the door, but didn’t react.
Ouyang hung his suit jacket on the coat rack and pulled off his tie, which he’d already loosened in the car. Ouyang was sometimes strange—sometimes careless about details, sometimes extremely particular. It was impossible to fully grasp his real intentions or habits. He turned to Jiang Yi: “It wasn’t easy getting rid of those people.”
It was clear he’d succeeded again, as he always did. But this time, he’d come back. What did that mean? Jiang Yi didn’t dare think about it.
Ouyang was a true professional… businessman. He never let himself get involved, never made mistakes, always saw everyone as a tool. When he needed you, you had to step forward. Very impressive.
To keep the atmosphere normal, Jiang Yi responded perfunctorily: “Piece of cake for you, isn’t it?”
“You have a lot of faith in me.” Ouyang gave a half-smile. “Tonight’s dinner wasn’t my idea.”
What was this? An apology? His tone almost made Jiang Yi think he was sincere.
“I’m grateful enough. I got at least ten business cards, all from important people.” Jiang Yi spoke as he turned his attention back to his screen, as if to prove he’d lost nothing.
Ouyang Jinghui was smart enough to pick up on the hint. He decided to back off, at least not to annoy this handsome designer, and prepared to go upstairs to end the awkward conversation. He wasn’t used to explaining himself or seeking forgiveness.
But as he passed Jiang Yi, he suddenly stopped. Unconsciously, he moved closer and stood behind Jiang Yi, hands resting on the back of the chair. Ouyang’s presence blended with Jiang Yi’s. “Is that the Yun City property plan?”
“Yes. As Longtai’s main competitor, their river-view homes are very popular, but the early row houses aren’t doing so well.” Jiang Yi kept his tone neutral, trying to appear calm.
“What did you learn from this?” Ouyang’s sharp instincts kicked in. “Did the architects they hired make poor plans? Or do you think we can cleverly avoid this kind of polarized situation?”
Jiang Yi was used to clients speaking this way, so he wasn’t fazed by Ouyang’s directness. “Exactly. That’s what we need to remind each other about.”
“I think we should finalize the villa area early and not expand it further. Business apartments, high-rises, and mid-rises will sell better and save on land costs, increasing the plot ratio significantly.”
“You didn’t explain this issue in detail at the meeting.”
“I thought discussing it with you first would make things go more smoothly.” Jiang Yi turned and fixed him with his clear eyes, effortlessly masking everything else.
“So, do you have ideas now? Or do you need to prepare a new report for me?”
“During the day, I already reached a consensus with Ali and Mira. We’ll organize a more persuasive set of materials and submit them to the Longtai board next week.”
“It seems Yifan’s high service fees are directly proportional to your efficiency.”
“If you’re not satisfied, we’ll redo the plan until you are.”
“I admire your professionalism.” Ouyang straightened his back, his warm breath retreating from above Jiang Yi’s head. “Can you spare me some time again tomorrow night?”
“Will I be needed as a translator this time, or as a client executive?”
“Neither. Just me. I want to hear your reasoning for this proposal in detail.”
“Didn’t you say the report would be ready next week?”
Ouyang turned and headed upstairs. “But I can’t wait. At least convince me before I have to convince those so-called experts on the board.”
“I’ll do my best.” The corner of Jiang Yi’s mouth twitched, and a strange ripple crossed his face.
In the end, Mr. Ouyang kept his promise—a complete, professional conversation between two men, utterly pure, thanks to their pure dedication to their work. In some ways, they really were gifted, always inspiring each other.
When Jiang Yi returned to the table after a trip to the restaurant restroom, he noticed Ouyang’s gaze following him.
He felt a sudden surge of nervousness but pretended not to care as he looked up. “Is there something on my face?”
“No, I just saw something unusual.”
“Intelligence? Logic? I don’t mind compliments.” Jiang Yi smiled and cut into his steak. “Did you hear me tell the waiter I wanted it medium rare? This one’s almost well done.”
Ouyang agreed—Chinese steakhouses never seemed to get the difference between rare and medium right. He felt obliged to defend his countrymen: “Chinese people generally don’t care for bloody steaks.”
“Such a kind-hearted nation. I must adapt, right?”
“You already seem… perfect. Almost flawless.”
Jiang Yi thought: Because I am Chinese. He found it amusing to tease Ouyang. “Are you saying I’m good at pretending to be Chinese, or at pretending to be a high-profile designer?”
Ouyang also began cutting his steak and flashed that knowing, elegant smile again. He didn’t answer Jiang Yi’s question directly but steered the conversation back: “Thorough market research and a comprehensive plan—that’s an attractive combination. I like Yifan’s authority and efficiency.”
“Yifan’s team will thank you for that. With a clear direction, we can help finalize the brochure and promotional materials within a month.”
“Next Monday, after you submit the materials, I’ll be happy to help explain.” Ouyang Jinghui raised his glass. “To our partnership.”
Chapter 04
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