Proper authorization is needed to enter the tower due to its restricted area. Chen Jiayu and Fang Shengjie, who had just disembarked from the plane, waited patiently by the entrance for Fang Hao to join them.
As soon as he pushed open the door, a cold blast of autumn air greeted him. Glancing up, he spotted Chen Jiayu and Fang Shengjie standing beneath the tower. Chen Jiayu carried his briefcase, while Fang Shengjie was surrounded by numerous pieces of luggage.
Fang Shengjie had traveled directly from the UK to Shenzhen for an internship before returning to Beijing. As a result, he had a significant amount of luggage with him, including a large suitcase, a checked box, a big bag, and a backpack. He intended to get a luggage trolley, but Chen Jiayu insisted on helping him. Together, they dragged all their belongings to the entrance.
Fang Shengjie was thrilled to see him. Upon catching sight of Fang Hao, he dashed forward excitedly, exclaiming, “Brother!”
Fang Shengjie and Fang Hao were both individuals with expressive body language. Having not seen each other for about six months, they naturally embraced each other tightly. Chen Jiayu was holding Fang Shengjie’s luggage, watching as Fang Hao embraced him closely – his hug was firm, revealing the muscular lines on his arms, with their heads pressed against each other. Chen Jiayu watched from a distance, a smile creeping onto his lips.
After releasing each other, Fang Hao remarked, “Why do I feel like you’ve grown taller again?” He himself was 1.8 meters tall, but Fang Shengjie, who was already in college, seemed to have grown a bit taller than him now.
Fang Shengjie laughed, “No, no, it’s probably just the same even without shoes.”
Fang Hao glanced at Chen Jiayu and said, “Thank you for bringing him here. I was just about to go to pick him up from the luggage area.” He was in a really good mood, patting Fang Shengjie’s shoulders and back, saying, “Let me see if you’ve lost any arms or legs.”
Chen Jiayu quipped, “Better check quickly. We’ve got a 24-hour compensation policy.”
Seeing them joking around, Fang Shengjie naturally assumed they were close, so he nudged Fang Hao, “Brother, aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Fang Hao was stunned, “Oh right, I forgot. Shengjie, this is Chen Jiayu, call him Brother Jiayu.”
Fang Shengjie smiled at Chen Jiayu, “Actually, I recognized you, but I couldn’t believe it, hehe.”
Chen Jiayu replied knowingly, “And now you do?”
“I think you look much better in person than on TV.”
Pleased with the compliment, Chen Jiayu draped an arm around Fang Shengjie’s shoulder, ”You’ve got a way with words. Ever thought about working at the tower?”
The three of them chatted for a while. Fang Hao noticed the time was getting late. “You should head home. It’s exhausting to fly back and forth in one day.” He suggested to Chen Jiayu, appearing considerate but actually trying to usher him away.
Chen Jiayu wasn’t oblivious to this, but insisted, “Since you’re here, and it’s Shengjie’s birthday today, let’s have a meal together, alright?”
Fang Hao was about to politely refuse out of habit, but Fang Shengjie eagerly agreed. Sensing Fang Hao’s hesitation, Chen Jiayu seized the moment, “Unless you two have other plans?”
Fang Shengjie quickly added, “No, no, we’re just going to eat, right, Fang Hao?” When he was being mischievous, he avoided using the term “brother” and instead called Fang Hao by his full name.
Deciding to go along with it, Fang Hao agreed, “Sure, Shengjie, what’s your preference for dinner?”
Chen Jiayu suggested a few places to eat. Fang Hao wanted to try a newly opened Taishan restaurant but Fang Shengjie, who had just returned from Shenzhen, didn’t want Cantonese food again. Instead, he craved authentic Sichuan hotpot, so they settled on Sichuan-style Hotpot place.
Curious, Chen Jiayu asked Fang Hao, “Did you drive here? Why don’t you ride with me?”
“Yeah, I drove here today. Let’s just drive separately. Can you send me the address?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Pa’r olcf. Aera obiibk wf”
Mjcu Ljb ogbkcfv, “P wluta ibrf sbe ja atf olgra agjoolm iluta,” qeiilcu eq tlr Xjbvj wjqr jqq bc tlr qtbcf, “Cvvgfrr qifjrf, teggs eq.”
Gfrqlaf fcafglcu atf jvvgfrr lcab tlr XUV, tf obecv tlwrfio agjlilcu yftlcv Jtfc Aljse’r oijrts Ubgrmtf. Snfc ja atlr ijaf tbeg, atf 3gv glcu gbjv gfwjlcfv mbcufrafv. Jtfc Aljse vgbnf juugfrrlnfis, lwqjalfcais tbcxlcu atf tbgc rfnfgji alwfr, jcv fnfc mtjculcu ijcfr klatbea rlucjilcu j ofk alwfr. Fcmbwobgajyis, Mjcu Ljb obiibkfv ja j rjof vlrajcmf, jii atf ktlif fvemjalcu Mjcu Vtfcuplf, ktb rja lc atf qjrrfcufg rfja, “Ofa wf afii sbe, vbc’a ifjgc ogbw qfbqif ilxf tlw ktfc vglnlcu.”
Fang Shengjie had just mentioned his plan to enroll in a driving school during the summer vacation, and Fang Hao wants to emphasize the importance of setting a good example.
Fang Shengjie laughed, “At least he’s a pilot.”
—
As they settled into the hotpot restaurant, Fang Hao couldn’t shake off the memory of the drive, and said to Chen Jiayu, “If I knew you drove like this, I wouldn’t have let my brother fly with you.”
Chen Jiayu raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong with my driving? It’s my car, and you’ve ridden with me before.”
Fang Hao pondered for a moment, recalling their previous encounter, “True, I have, but thankfully, I was too drunk to remember.”
Chen Jiayu continued to defend his driving style, “Maybe it’s because flying suppresses my nature. Always having to adhere to your regulations. Up to this altitude, down to that one, adjusting speed, making maneuvers, adjusting speed again.”
Fang Hao chuckled, “I suppose navigating the southern 3rd ring road also suppresses your nature.”
Observing the banter between the two, Fang Shengjie found it quite amusing. Being more outgoing, he engaged in conversation with Chen Jiayu, discussing topics ranging from their team to his internship in Shenzhen, and even chatting about fun games on the Nintendo Switch — a gift from Fang Hao for Fang Shengjie’s eighteenth birthday.
As the meal was coming to an end, Chen Jiayu stood up, citing the need to use the restroom.
Fang Hao promptly pushed him back down “Don’t you dare go to pay the bill.” Caught off guard by Fang Hao’s directness, Chen Jiayu stuttered, “How did you…?” Fang Hao replied without hesitation, “You’ve already been to the restroom once, and you haven’t had any drinks. Why would you go again?” His straightforward nature left little room for ambiguity.
Chen Jiayu chuckled awkwardly, “Well, isn’t it Shengjie’s birthday? I didn’t have any gift for him.”
Fang Shengjie interjected, “But you broadcasted birthday wishes for me. That’s a special gift.”
Chen Jiayu couldn’t help but marvel at Fang Shengjie’s sweetness at such a young age. If only Fang Hao had half his sweetness… he quickly dismissed that thought.
In the end, Fang Hao took care of the bill, and Chen Jiayu didn’t argue with him. After all, it was a family matter. As Fang Hao got up to head to the front desk, his phone lit up with several notifications.
Gu Chun had sent three messages:
【Fang Hao, are you working this weekend?】
【Want to hang out in the city?】
【My friends and I are going to Destiny. I’d like to bring you along.】
Chen Jiayu didn’t intend to look but seated so closely to Fang Hao, with his phone conspicuously on the table, curiosity got the best of him. By the time he considered looking elsewhere, it was too late.
He knew about Destiny, renowned as the city’s top gay bar. He had visited it once during his college days, and now he was almost certain that Fang Hao was interested in men. He had sensed it before, especially when he observed how Fang Hao interacted with beautiful and accomplished women like Lu Yan and Chu Yirou. There was always an odd sense of intimacy and familiarity, like close friends or even siblings. For instance, the casual way he handed Lu Yan a cigarette or the close proximity he shared with Chu Yirou during conversations, their faces would get close when talking, seemingly unfazed by potential onlookers.
With a straight guy, even in a purely platonic friendship between a man and a woman, there would still be some distance. When Zheng Xiaoxu suddenly asked about Fang Hao’s relationship with Chu Yirou, Chen Jiayu instinctively felt there was none, as if Fang Hao simply wasn’t interested in women. Now, these messages seemed to indirectly affirm that suspicion.
But that didn’t hold much weight. He couldn’t help but speculate about Fang Hao’s emotional state. The first two messages were nothing special; friends often send such invitations, but the last one was intriguing. Going out with friends and wanting to bring you along. If Fang Hao wasn’t considered a friend but was still invited, did that imply they were dating? And if they were dating but hadn’t met this person’s friends, did that suggest a new relationship or a potential fling?
Chen Jiayu couldn’t quell these thoughts swirling in his mind. He knew he tended to overthink things. Rather than blindly guessing, it would be better to ask Fang Shengjie or Fang Hao directly. However, snooping was a guilty act. He hesitated for a moment and remained silent. Perhaps it was better for him not to know.
When Fang Hao returned, he also saw the new message. Chen Jiayu observed his expression, noting a subtle smirk playing on his lips. Fang Hao didn’t reply immediately.
“Let’s go,” Fang Hao said casually, seemingly unconcerned about whether Chen Jiayu might have accidentally seen the messages sent to him. He naturally gestured for them to get up and leave.
Just then, Chen Jiayu’s phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID showing the company’s name, he informed Fang Hao, “It’s the company. I’ll take this call.”
Five minutes later, he returned. Fang Hao politely inquired, “Is everything alright? It’s unusual for the company to call at this hour, and it’s usually not for something good.”
Chen Jiayu waved off the concern. “Nothing serious, just a scheduling adjustment for next week.”
“Are pilots’ schedules always this irregular?” Fang Shengjie asked with a concerned look.
“Yeah, they’re extremely irregular and sometimes erratic. A well-organized flight plan outlined in emails on Monday can get completely scrambled with just one phone call,” Chen Jiayu replied.
Fang Hao stifled a yawn, feeling tired from the lack of rest, before nodding in agreement.
As Fang Shengjie walked ahead, Chen Jiayu stole a glance at Fang Hao. Seeing no indication of inquiry from him, Chen Jiayu decided to share, “I’m scheduled to fly to Hong Kong next week.”
Fatigue was setting in, causing a delay in Fang Hao’s reaction as he began to grasp the meaning. He paused, halting his steps, then quietly asked, “Is this…your first time?” It had been almost three years, during which Chen Jiayu had flown both international and domestic routes. It seemed logical that he would have been assigned to fly to Hong Kong at some point during such a long period.
But he hadn’t.
“It’s the first time in three years,” Chen Jiayu said, “perhaps that’s just how it goes, what’s meant to happen eventually will.”
When Fang Hao was tired, he spoke forthrightly with directness; he didn’t like beating around the bush. “You could refuse, but…” He glanced deeply at Chen Jiayu. “But you don’t want to. You want to face it head-on, don’t you?”
“Right,” Chen Jiayu agreed. If one couldn’t face it, that would indeed pose a problem. Fang Hao had guessed right about that. However, there was one thing he got wrong—Chen Jiayu didn’t actually find it that easy to refuse flight assignments. He couldn’t claim the timing wasn’t right, as they could easily reschedule. Nor could he feign illness selectively for flights to Hong Kong. There were countless excuses, but the one thing he couldn’t express was the truth.
Fang Hao didn’t know what else to say. He knew this was Chen Jiayu’s journey, and ultimately, he would have to walk it alone. In the end, he offered a simple reassurance, “You’ll be fine.”
Chen Jiayu smiled faintly, “I hope so.”
With that, the two parted at the restaurant’s entrance.
———
On the drive back, Fang Hao was already feeling sleepy, so he grabbed Fang Shengjie to talk to him. Taking advantage of the moment, Fang Shengjie asked him, “Brother, so you two…?”
Fang Hao didn’t quite catch his drift, “You mean me and Chen Jiayu?”
“Do you think you two are compatible?” Fang Shengjie continued, “I think you guys get along pretty well.”
Fang Hao was utterly bewildered, “Compatible? What do you mean? There’s nothing compatible.”
Fang Shengjie seemed to realize he had misunderstood the situation, “Aren’t you two dating?”
Fang Hao slammed on the brakes, feeling a bit flustered, “No… we’re not, not at all.”
After careful consideration, he finally understood the whole situation. He recalled a few days ago during a video chat with his family when he mentioned going on two recent dates and said he would introduce the person to his family if things went well. In reality, he was referring to Gu Chun, and he had no intention of introducing him to his family. But Fang Shengjie, seeing the two of them being so familiar, along with Chen Jiayu helping him with his luggage, escorting him to the tower lobby, and suggesting they have a meal together, all these actions led Fang Shengjie to believe that Chen Jiayu was the mysterious person he was dating, and Fang Hao must have felt the timing was right to arrange for them to meet. Fang Shengjie wasn’t one to pressure anyone, but based on this assumption, he vigorously encouraged the three of them to go for hotpot together.
Feeling awkward, Fang Shengjie said, “I just mentioned having a meal together because I thought you two…”
Even more embarrassed than Fang Shengjie, Fang Hao could only comfort his brother, saying, “It’s okay, I’m the one treating, so it’s like he’s just joining us for a meal.”
Fang Shengjie responded with a quiet “Oh,” but remained unconvinced, “Are you sure there’s nothing between you two? He seemed quite willing.”
Fang Hao turned to him, “Chen Jiayu… he’s straight, isn’t he?”
He wasn’t entirely sure. He never directly asked about such matters, but Chen Jiayu’s past relationship with Yan Yu, a former colleague from China Airlines, was well-known in their circle. After Yan Yu left China Airlines to pursue a career in modeling, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers on Weibo, they became somewhat of a celebrity couple, seen as a perfect match by many, despite their eventual breakup. Fang Hao didn’t bother inquiring, but rumors spread, and soon everyone knew.
Although Fang Shengjie’s words were unintentional, they planted a seed of doubt in Fang Hao’s mind. He took a moment to carefully consider the recent interactions between himself and Chen Jiayu. He did feel that Chen Jiayu had shown considerable interest in him. However, their acquaintance and growing closeness occurred shortly after Lu Yan went to Shanghai a month ago. Fang Hao speculated that Chen Jiayu, having been accustomed to being doted on in various ways, was now seeking new support after Lu Yan’s departure, thus making efforts to strengthen their relationship and show small acts of kindness. Moreover, Fang Hao relied heavily on body language to gauge affection and sexual signals, such as hugs, touches, standing close, leaning on shoulders, or incidental contact. Each action served as a signal. Alternatively, straightforward propositions, like inviting him for a drink as Lang Feng had done, would also be clear indicators. But throughout their interactions, Chen Jiayu never asked him for a drink—instead, they always met at the airport café, which was convenient and time-saving—nor had he made any gestures beyond those of a friend. After pondering for about a minute, with a montage of their conversations and actions over the past two months flashing through his mind, Fang Hao concluded that it was likely eighty percent nothing. As for the remaining twenty percent possibility, he didn’t dwell on it, nor did he dare to.
Fang Shengjie said, “Ah, that’s a pity. He’s quite handsome, I think he’s also your type, isn’t he?”
Fang Hao smiled and replied, “Do I even have a type? Why don’t you tell me?”
Fang Shengjie realized his mistake, “Well, I mean, anyone who isn’t a scumbag is fine”
Fang Hao couldn’t find it funny anymore.
Feeling he had misspoken, Fang Shengjie hurried to clarify, “I didn’t mean… that thing,” hesitating to mention cheating directly, “It’s just, you don’t like to follow conventional norms, you prefer them more free-spirited.”
Fang Hao listened to his succinct analysis and applied this perspective to Chen Jiayu. After a while, he shook his head, “Chen Jiayu isn’t carefree, it’s all superficial.”
After hearing this, Fang Shengjie didn’t pursue the conversation further.
Translator notes: Lazy sunday. I should be doing my assignments. XD
So Fang Hao has flirty body language? Good to know.
I did a quick image search, and this is what a 3rd ring road looked like: 
A 3rd ring road looks complicated but shouldn’t be to hard to traverse with a navigation system.
This chapter went a little deeper into their thoughts. Looking forward to future development. 👬
Thanks for the update.👌🏻😝😀👏🍦🍪🥛
I can just imagine Chen Jiayu speeding through it. 😂 Chinese traffic is no joke.
Relationship road block already for them, when will my favorite men get together?
Thank you for the chapter!
At least they are started to question about each other’s attraction. 😫
The brothers are super cute together ♡(> ਊ <)♡ FSJ is a good judge of people~
Thank You for the new chapter (๑˙❥˙๑)
FJS the wingman 😆
♥️
I’m having trouble connecting with FG . He acts a bit condescendingly towards CJ and he’s a bit of a stuck up 🤣 I looove his brother though 😍
Thank you so much for the chapter.
I have some trouble translating his tone. XD sometime the “impatient or rude ” way of speaking in Chinese is not the same in English language. 😩
Thank for reading!
Totally agree with you. Sometimes I wonder how this relationship is going to develop with how disinterested he perceived himself to be.
I feel like Fang Hao is more guarded because of bad past experiences. The flirty body language is a good hint, I couldn’t have guessed it based on what we’ve seen from his personality so far. He may be quite different when in love