The Ultimate Glow-Up Guide for Straight Men - Chapter 11

Looking back on how he and Fu Yanshi first got together, Shen Zhinan still found it rather absurd.

How could it be so coincidental that they were both physically attracted to each other?

Tsk tsk, truly a match made in heaven a pair of lust-driven dogs.

As the old saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.

After Shen Zhinan and Fu Yanshi started their scandalous affair, the two would often steal moments of intimacy amidst their busy schedules.

Both were new to this kind of indulgence and clearly couldn’t get enough.

When they got carried away, they forgot everything sexual orientation didn’t matter, social class vanished. In short, the world achieved great harmony as they enthusiastically applauded for love.

Not many scenes of the two together were fit for public viewing.

The locations were random sometimes Fu Yanshi’s spacious apartment, sometimes Shen Zhinan’s cramped dorm, and occasionally they’d settle for whatever was nearby.

After less than half a month of such debauchery, Shen Zhinan couldn’t take it anymore.

“No more, no more,” Shen Zhinan pushed hard against Fu Yanshi’s chest. “I really can’t do it anymore.”

They had just showered and lain down on the bed, but sparks flew again in no time.

Fu Yanshi clearly hadn’t had enough earlier, but he didn’t want to force Shen Zhinan either. Leaning against the headboard, he lit a cigarette.

Closing his eyes, he savored the moment of post-coital clarity.

“Give me one too,” Shen Zhinan had been wanting to say this for a while. “Why do you always get to smoke after?”

Fu Yanshi took a cigarette from the pack, placed it between Shen Zhinan’s lips, then pressed the tip of his own cigarette against Shen Zhinan’s, sharing a “smoke kiss.”

Shen Zhinan hadn’t smoked in a long time. Seeing Fu Yanshi smoke today, he couldn’t resist.

There was a time when he was heavily addicted to smoking, but poverty eventually forced him to quit.

Taking a couple of puffs now brought a long-lost sense of relief.

The two smoked in silence for a while. Fu Yanshi glanced sideways at Shen Zhinan and asked, “Speaking of which, have you ever been in a relationship?”

“Cough, cough, cough!” Shen Zhinan coughed several times, tears welling up from the smoke. “Why ask that all of a sudden?”

“Just curious,” Fu Yanshi exhaled a plume of smoke, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the cigarette.

“Of course I have,” Shen Zhinan lied without batting an eye, feeling that admitting he’d been single for twenty years since birth was somewhat embarrassing.

“Oh,” Fu Yanshi’s expression remained neutral.

“What about you?” Shen Zhinan asked casually.

But given Fu Yanshi’s looks, his status, and his age, it would be strange if he hadn’t been in a relationship.

If he really hadn’t, it would only prove he was frigid.

“I have,” Fu Yanshi shared the same thought being a lifelong singleton was somewhat shameful.

And in his case, the shame would be even greater.

The answer matched Shen Zhinan’s assumption, so he didn’t press further. Once the cigarette burned out, he checked the time. “It’s getting late. I should go.”

With that, he started picking up his clothes from the floor to get dressed.

Tomorrow was Saturday, and he had plans to spend a couple of days at Lin Xunchuan’s place.

Fu Yanshi watched the sight of the handsome man getting dressed and couldn’t help asking, “Why do you keep wearing the same few outfits?”

Shen Zhinan usually preferred plaid shirts. Today, it was a black-and-white plaid shirt.

He also had yellow-and-blue plaid, green plaid, red and white plaid.

This black and white plaid shirt made the most frequent appearances on Shen Zhinan.

He had worn it to meet Fu Yanshi several times already.

“You don’t get it,” Shen Zhinan fastened his buttons and raised an eyebrow, “this is called the classic skin.”

Shen Zhinan turned his back to Fu Yanshi, slipped his left hand into his pocket, and waved his right hand with what he thought was a cool and effortless flair. “I’m off.”

“Wait a moment,” Fu Yanshi suddenly spoke up.

Shen Zhinan turned back: ?

Fu Yanshi paused for two seconds, straightened up slightly, and glanced downward at Shen Zhinan’s crotch. “Hey, handsome, your zipper’s undone.”

Shen Zhinan’s face flushed instantly. He hurriedly zipped up, dropping the act, and dashed off like the wind, shouting, “I’m outta here!”

Fu Yanshi leaned back against the headboard and suddenly chuckled.

What a dumbass.

Lin Xunchuan’s home was in a village near a small town on the outskirts of Shangjing. They had to take a long-distance bus to the town first, then switch to a three-wheeled vehicle.

The journey was long and bumpy. Shen Zhinan hadn’t expected Gu Yunshen to come along too.

He thought to himself, had the young master grown tired of the city and decided to experience some rural charm?

Still, Shen Zhinan was quite pleased the more people, the livelier it would be.

Lin Xunchuan sat in front of him, while Gu Yunshen sat beside him.

The three of them chatted for a while, but Shen Zhinan started feeling carsick and dozed off against the seat.

As he slept, his head kept lolling onto Gu Yunshen’s shoulder. Gu Yunshen would push him off, and Shen Zhinan would slump back again. Gu Yunshen pushed once more, and Shen Zhinan slumped right back.

Gu Yunshen:

By the time Shen Zhinan woke up again, they had already reached the town. He realized he had been leaning on Gu Yunshen’s shoulder, his drool nearly staining the other’s clothes.

He quickly sucked it back in.

Lin Xunchuan made a phone call, and soon a three-wheeled vehicle arrived to pick them up.

The driver was Uncle Chen, Lin Xunchuan’s neighbor.

After a brief greeting, the three of them got into the three-wheeler. Shen Zhinan found it much more comfortable than the bus.

The air along the way was fresh and clean, and he gradually recovered from the grogginess and nausea that had followed his carsickness.

“So beautiful,” Shen Zhinan exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as they passed a field of rapeseed flowers.

The setting sun cast a warm, golden glow over the rapeseed field, making it look like an oil painting.

In his original world, when he was little, there had been a rapeseed field near where he lived.

It was a memory from so long ago that Shen Zhinan had forgotten many things, but that bright yellow had always stayed vivid in his mind.

Most of his childhood memories were painful. Perhaps because he was too young back then, some of the pain had flowed past him without leaving deep scars, like how running too fast kept the hurt from catching up.

Now, when Shen Zhinan recalled that evening returning home, pushing the door open, and witnessing his mother, unable to endure the domestic violence any longer, killing his father with a firewood axe it no longer felt as agonizing.

For a period in his childhood, that scene had haunted his nightmares.

Blood splattered all over the room, his father lying dead with eyes wide open, his mother with bloodshot eyes and a twisted expression, and himself, paralyzed with fear on the floor.

Over time, those memories had faded and become less unbearable to confront.

Not long after his mother was imprisoned, she passed away due to poor health. Shen Zhinan was then taken in by an elderly, lonely man in the village for two years.

After the old man died, Shen Zhinan ended up in an orphanage.

Most of his memories were gray and bleak, but that bright yellow had taken root in his heart. Seeing it again years later made him reflect on many things without breaking down in tears as he once had.

Tears were useless he knew that.

“What’s wrong, Zhinan?” Lin Xunchuan’s concerned voice sounded beside him. “You look a bit off are you still feeling dizzy from the car ride?”

Shen Zhinan grinned at Lin Xunchuan. “I was just thinking about all the delicious food waiting for me later!”

Seeing Shen Zhinan’s cheerful expression, Lin Xunchuan smiled too. “My grandfather used to be a chef his cooking is amazing.”

“Then I’m going to eat five bowls of rice today!” Shen Zhinan spread his fingers wide to emphasize his point.

“Haha,” Lin Xunchuan chuckled. “Your stomach would swell up like a balloon.”

By the time they reached Lin Family Village, it was nearly dusk. Along the way, many villagers greeted them warmly.

Lin Xunchuan’s house stood at the southwestern corner of the village.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, a large yellow dog dashed out and leaped into Lin Xunchuan’s arms. He patted its head affectionately. “Hey, Dahuang.”

Dahuang barked enthusiastically twice at Shen Zhinan and Gu Yunshen.

Gu Yunshen seemed somewhat afraid of dogs and took a few steps forward, muttering quietly, “I was bitten by a dog when I was little.”

Shen Zhinan, who loved dogs, reached out to stroke Dahuang’s head. The dog clearly had a gentle temperament. Holding Dahuang, Shen Zhinan nudged closer to Gu Yunshen. “Come on, pet him. Dahuang doesn’t look like he bites.”

Gu Yunshen pressed his lips together and hurried away. “I’m not touching him.”

Shen Zhinan, still holding Dahuang, chased after him. Gu Yunshen, no longer concerned about maintaining his composure, broke into a light jog and hurried inside.

Once indoors, another living creature threw itself into Lin Xunchuan’s arms. “Brother!”

It was a little boy.

“This is my younger brother, Lin Rui,” Lin Xunchuan introduced. “This is Brother Zhinan, and that’s Brother Yunshen both are my friends.”

Lin Rui nodded obediently and looked politely at Shen Zhinan. “Hello, Brother Zhinan.” Then he turned to Gu Yunshen. “Hello, Brother Yunshen.”

Gu Yunshen, standing a bit farther from Shen Zhinan, nodded in return. “Hello.”

Lin Rui was small, with a round, cherubic face that made him look utterly adorable.

Shen Zhinan asked, “How old are you, little brother?”

“Five years old,” Lin Rui replied politely.

Shen Zhinan pulled a handful of candy from his pocket he’d brought it along to stave off motion sickness.

“Here you go,” Shen Zhinan said, opening his palm. The colorful candies were irresistible to a child.

Lin Rui looked eager to take them but glanced at Lin Xunchuan first. Lin Xunchuan patted his head. “You can have them if you like.”

“Thank you, Brother Zhinan,” Lin Rui said with a smile, revealing a gap in his teeth.

“Oh, you’re so adorable,” Shen Zhinan exclaimed, gently pinching Lin Rui’s cheek. “I wish I had a little brother like you.”

“Isn’t my brother your brother too?” Lin Xunchuan laughed.

Shen Zhinan agreed wholeheartedly. After hugging the dog, he now hugged the child. “Let’s go eat, little brother!”

Though Grandpa Lin was getting on in years, he still looked spry and energetic. To welcome his grandson’s friends, he had prepared a feast.

Shen Zhinan was an enthusiastic eater, polishing off three full bowls of rice as a testament to Grandpa Lin’s culinary skills.

Grandpa Lin was delighted to have guests and even brought out his homemade fruit wine. “This wine can only be made with the fruits from our Lin Family Village! Xiao Shen, Xiao Gu, you have to try it!”

Shen Zhinan took a sip the fruit wine was crisp and sweet, leaving a lingering fragrance on his lips and tongue.

“This is delicious!” Shen Zhinan’s eyes lit up.

Gu Yunshen took a sip as well and said, “Grandpa Lin, your brewing skills are truly exceptional.”

Grandpa Lin chuckled heartily, “Come, come, bottoms up! Xiao Shen and Xiao Gu, you must stay a few more days!”

“Sure thing!” Shen Zhinan nodded.

“Mhm,” Gu Yunshen replied.

After eating and drinking their fill, Shen Zhinan offered to wash the dishes. Both Grandpa Lin and Lin Xunchuan tried to dissuade him, but Shen Zhinan insisted he needed to move around after the meal.

Shen Zhinan was adamant, and the two couldn’t sway him, so they let him be.

“I’ll help you wash them.”

Gu Yunshen followed him into the kitchen, feeling that not pitching in would reflect poorly on his sense of responsibility, especially when compared to Shen Zhinan.

“Alright.” Shen Zhinan rolled up his sleeves without standing on ceremony. “I’ll wash, you rinse.”

There weren’t many dishes to begin with, and they were done in no time.

It was getting late, and Grandpa Lin and Lin Rui had already gone to bed.

Shen Zhinan, Lin Xunchuan, and Gu Yunshen sat on small stools in the yard, continuing to drink fruit wine.

The alcohol content wasn’t high, but after a few glasses, they started to feel a bit tipsy.

“I like it here,” Shen Zhinan muttered after drinking quite a bit, a slight drunkenness in his voice.

“The scenery is beautiful,” Gu Yunshen commented as well.

“It feels like home.” Shen Zhinan smiled. “Brother Lin, your home is really nice.”

Lin Xunchuan had also faced his share of hardships. His parents had passed away a few years ago, and he and his younger brother had been living with their grandfather ever since.

Thinking of Shen Zhinan’s background, Lin Xunchuan felt a pang of sadness. Shen Zhinan always seemed cheerful and carefree, making it hard to imagine he was actually an orphan.

Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Lin Xunchuan mustered the courage to say, “Zhinan, if you’re willing, consider this your home from now on. You’re like a brother to me, and to Rui Rui as well.”

Shen Zhinan seemed taken aback by Lin Xunchuan’s words. After a brief silence, he grinned playfully and said, “Haha, then I’ll shamelessly drop by often to hang out.”

Shen Zhinan knew Lin Xunchuan had a soft heart. Kind words could easily sway one’s emotions, but even in his slightly tipsy state, Shen Zhinan remained acutely aware this was someone else’s home.

His own home had long been gone.

Having been an orphan for over a decade, Shen Zhinan was used to it by now.

When faced with others’ happiness, it’s impolite to dwell on one’s own misfortunes.

Downing the last of the wine in his bottle, Shen Zhinan suddenly declared, “You two stick with me, and you’ll be set for life!”

“I’m going to make something of myself!”

No matter which world I’m in.