The Ultimate Glow-Up Guide for Straight Men - Chapter 13

Shen Zhinan was stunned.

It finally dawned on him today was his birthday.

Of course, it being his birthday wasn’t the surprising part. What shocked him was Fu Yanshi celebrating it for him?

He hadn’t celebrated his birthday in years; it had become a habit.

No one remembered, and he didn’t care much himself. To him, all 365 days of the year felt pretty much the same.

But today, someone was actually celebrating his birthday and had gone to such extravagant lengths.

Shen Zhinan turned his head and stared at Fu Yanshi.

Fu Yanshi’s eyes reflected the fireworks, sparkling like a brilliant galaxy, radiant and dazzling.

So beautiful.

Truth be told, Shen Zhinan had initially approached their relationship with the mindset that they were both adults: if you’re interested in me and I’m attracted to you, then let’s just satisfy each other’s physical needs.

Once that phase was over, they could go their separate ways.

But Fu Yanshi’s actions left Shen Zhinan at a loss.

As an orphan, Shen Zhinan had always lived on the fringes of society. In groups, with no one to rely on, he often felt his very existence was less justified than others’. Being overlooked or bullied was a common occurrence.

The only thing Shen Zhinan had going for him was his decent academic performance, which got him into a good school. Many of his peers from the orphanage had dropped out along the way, straying down the wrong path and drifting further apart.

Shen Zhinan was accustomed to hostility, but when someone suddenly treated him kindly, he didn’t know how to respond.

“Y-you ” Shen Zhinan stammered, his eyes fixed on Fu Yanshi’s face.

“M-me what about me?” Fu Yanshi mimicked his stutter.

“How did you know it was my birthday?” Shen Zhinan couldn’t help but ask.

“I saw your ID card that time we went to a hotel,” Fu Yanshi replied.

Yes, Shen Zhinan and “Shen Zhinan” even shared the exact same birthday.

“Don’t you like it?”

Truth be told, this smooth, well-rehearsed gesture was something Fu Yanshi had learned from He Yanzhou.

Fu Yanshi had expected Shen Zhinan to be thrilled, but he sensed Shen Zhinan wasn’t particularly happy. “I thought you kids were all into this kind of thing.”

Something exaggerated, romantic, and full of ceremony.

After all, Fu Yanshi was seven years older than Shen Zhinan. In his eyes, Shen Zhinan was just like the other younger guys still a kid.

“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Shen Zhinan didn’t know what to say. He felt his heart racing wildly. “You”

Shen Zhinan thought to himself, Could it be… he has a secret crush on me?!

It must be a secret crush why else would he go to such lengths to create such a spectacle?

Wait, no this feels more like an open declaration of love!

But he worried that asking outright would be too shameless, so instead, he asked, “When is your birthday?”

Since you celebrated mine, I’ll celebrate yours too.

Shen Zhinan had always believed in reciprocating kindness.

“The first day of the New Year,” Fu Yanshi said.

January 1st such an auspicious date. No wonder he’d been single for so many years.

“Mm,” Shen Zhinan quietly made a mental note.

Fu Yanshi said, “Let’s head back. Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

When they returned to Shanghai, Fu Yanshi didn’t drop Shen Zhinan off directly at his school. Instead, they went back to his spacious penthouse first.

Shen Zhinan knew it!

Sure enough, whenever the two of them got together, things were bound to get… inappropriate.

But having one last good time before school started wasn’t such a bad idea.

Moreover, Shen Zhinan’s heart was still soft at this moment, and later he could even cooperate with the (former) old virgin by letting out a few embarrassing sounds.

Thinking this, Shen Zhinan managed to embarrass himself, his face beginning to burn.

When Fu Yanshi turned around and saw the unnatural flush on Shen Zhinan’s face, he thought to himself, Could he really have caught a chill?

Fu Yanshi reached out and touched Shen Zhinan’s forehead, finding his temperature quite normal.

Seeing Fu Yanshi take action, Shen Zhinan asked somewhat shyly, “Are we doing 69 or reverse cowgirl today?”

Fu Yanshi’s expression froze for a moment before he burst out laughing: “Are you a walking adult film? What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Shen Zhinan grumbled inwardly, Then why did you bring me back? To chat under the covers like pure souls?

Fu Yanshi opened the refrigerator and took out the birthday cake he had ordered earlier. “I already bought it. Have some, and if you can’t finish it, take the rest back to share with your classmates.”

The cake wasn’t particularly large, but it was exquisitely made, topped with a layer of blueberries Shen Zhinan’s favorite.

Shen Zhinan thought that perhaps Fu Yanshi had originally planned to celebrate here, and the arrangements in Yun City were just last-minute additions.

Fu Yanshi lit the candles. “Make a wish?”

To be honest, Fu Yanshi didn’t really believe in this sort of thing. Wishes were better pursued by oneself than relying on others he usually made his own dreams come true.

But these widely practiced rituals had their own significance.

He thought about it: as a child, there were things he desperately wanted but couldn’t achieve his mother’s illness and passing, the separation from friends, the relentless passage of time. Matters of life, death, joy, and sorrow didn’t always yield to effort.

Shen Zhinan’s thoughts aligned with Fu Yanshi’s he didn’t put much stock in this either.

If making a birthday wish could make dreams come true, he would have been filthy rich long ago.

But people need something to hope for. Everyone needs a little faith.

“Okay.”

Shen Zhinan recalled that the last time he made a wish was when he was ten years old. He couldn’t quite remember what he had wished for probably something mundane and personal, like most people.

At this moment, he closed his eyes, clasped his hands over his chest, and silently thought:

I hope good people live safe and peaceful lives. Let Fu Yanshi, this good person, always be safe.

“Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me.” Shen Zhinan opened his eyes, looking at Fu Yanshi with a bright smile.

Fu Yanshi cut him a slice of cake, and the two sat on the marble-topped island, each enjoying a piece.

Shen Zhinan felt it was the most delicious cake he had ever tasted.

Fu Yanshi wasn’t particularly fond of sweets and ate slowly. Seeing how much Shen Zhinan was enjoying it, he asked, “Want another piece?”

Shen Zhinan nodded.

Fu Yanshi set down his fork, propped his chin on one hand, and quietly watched him eat.

He found Shen Zhinan’s enjoyment of food quite appetizing.

“Have you heard of Moonfire Lake?”

Fu Yanshi suddenly spoke.

Shen Zhinan looked up at the sound and shook his head.

“Legend has it that if you make a wish by Moonfire Lake on the night of a super blue blood moon, your wish will come true.”

“The super blue blood moon appears about once every twenty years. Twenty years ago, I actually made a wish by Moonfire Lake.”

Twenty years ago?

Shen Zhinan thought he might not even have been born back then.

Shen Zhinan asked, “What did you wish for?”

Fu Yanshi remained silent.

That meant it wasn’t something he could share.

Shen Zhinan changed the question: “Did your wish come true?”

Fu Yanshi stared into Shen Zhinan’s clear, bright eyes for a moment before saying, “No. My wish will never come true.”

His tone was calm, but Shen Zhinan felt as though every cell in his body was saturated with sorrow.

It seemed this wish was very important to Fu Yanshi.

Shen Zhinan realized he didn’t actually know much about Fu Yanshi. He had always approached their relationship with the mindset that they would eventually part ways treating it as a fleeting romance to enjoy while it lasted.

But after today, things felt different.

Shen Zhinan couldn’t help it; he was easily moved by others’ care and concern.

He wanted to comfort Fu Yanshi but didn’t know how to begin.

After a moment’s thought, Shen Zhinan stood up, walked over to Fu Yanshi, and wrapped his arms tightly around him. “Hey, it’s all in the past now,” he said, giving Fu Yanshi’s back a firm pat.

A brotherly hug time to speak what’s in your heart.

Fu Yanshi remained silent for a long while before finally making a sound: “If you squeeze any harder you’ll strangle me.”

After the semester started, Shen Zhinan became busy again.

He released an open-source project he had been working on for several months.

The core of the project was free, but he also offered a more powerful and secure “enterprise edition,” which was closed-source and required payment.

During this time, he also took on some freelance work, developing software to earn extra money.

He was now essentially a combination of product manager, operations engineer, salesperson, and customer support.

Every day was overwhelmingly hectic.

The ACM competition was scheduled for October, so despite his busy schedule, Shen Zhinan still had to find time to train with Lin Xunchuan and Gu Yunshen.

Just one month into the semester, Shen Zhinan had already lost several pounds.

But there was no other way he had to endure the exhaustion. He needed the money.

His nightly rustling noises had drawn strong complaints from his roommates. Roommate A said his desk lamp was too bright.

Shen Zhinan thought to himself, But my curtain is pitch black I tested it, and almost no light shines through.

Roommate B complained that he often made noises and it was annoying.

Shen Zhinan refused to accept this one he always typed code outside the dorm, in the stairwell.

He had even replaced his external keyboard with the quietest mechanical switches, so it barely made any sound.

Roommate C said Shen Zhinan left too early in the morning and disturbed his sleep.

At this point, Shen Zhinan understood all these trivial complaints were just excuses. He was being targeted.

Shen Zhinan had long wanted to move out, but not yet. His software had just started generating profit, and he needed his income to stabilize before making the move.

He had already quit his part-time job at the bubble tea shop. As a junior, many plans needed to be set in motion.

Come to think of it, it had been a while since he last saw Fu Yanshi. Shen Zhinan suddenly thought of him and felt a warmth in his chest.

As if reading his mind, just as Shen Zhinan was about to message Fu Yanshi, his phone rang.

“Are you free this weekend?” Fu Yanshi’s voice came through.

“Yeah.” He wasn’t really, but Shen Zhinan figured he could make time if he wanted to.

“Want to go hiking?”

Hiking?

Shen Zhinan hadn’t expected Fu Yanshi to have such a hobby.

Hiking was exhausting.

Hiking was really exhausting.

He’d probably collapse halfway up the mountain.

“Okay.”

Shen Zhinan didn’t know why he agreed.

On the weekend, Fu Yanshi came to pick him up, following their usual routine parking on the street next to the campus.

Shen Zhinan, still acting like a thief, glanced around cautiously before slipping stealthily into the car.

Fu Yanshi rested his hand on the steering wheel, eyeing Shen Zhinan with a sense of novelty. “Oh, new skin?”

Shen Zhinan had changed into a cyan-green hiking outfit and was carrying a backpack, looking every bit the part. Everything had been bought just the day before it had been ages since he last treated himself to new clothes.

“Does it look weird on me?” Shen Zhinan rubbed his nose, aware that his fashion sense had always been lacking. He usually stuck to basics, mostly in black, white, and gray. Whenever he tried something brighter, he worried it would be a disaster.

“Weird? Not at all.” Fu Yanshi started the car and put on his sunglasses. “This color looks good on you.”

Shen Zhinan glanced at him. Fu Yanshi was dressed casually today, wearing a white athletic jacket with his hair falling naturally, making him look several years younger.

The mountain they were climbing, Yunfeng Mountain, was located in the suburbs of Shangjing. It wasn’t a famous peak, nor was it particularly high, but the climb was still no easy feat.

Along the way, the two chatted intermittently.

“What made you suddenly want to go hiking?” Shen Zhinan asked, panting as he walked beside Fu Yanshi.

Fu Yanshi replied, “Been sitting in the office too long. Need to stretch my limbs.”

Shen Zhinan remarked, “You overworked CEOs really do have your hands full.”

Fu Yanshi chuckled. “I’m not a CEO.”

“Then may I ask, what are you?”

“I’m the majority shareholder. The CEO has to listen to me,” Fu Yanshi said, raising an eyebrow.

Shen Zhinan: “…”

Fu Yanshi changed the subject. “Been busy since the semester started? You look like you’ve lost weight.”

“Just the usual, keeping myself occupied,” Shen Zhinan said, suddenly curious. “What were you up to in your third year of college?”

Fu Yanshi thought for a moment. “Also keeping myself occupied, figuring out how to make money every day. The company’s founding members were all friends who started the business with me back then.”

Shen Zhinan asked, “Your family must be pretty well-off, right? Why start a business instead of just inheriting the family fortune?”

Fu Yanshi explained, “It’s different. If I took over my father’s company, I’d just be continuing his legacy. The company I built myself represents my own value.”

And in pursuit of that value, he’d achieved the great accomplishment of staying single for 27 years.

Shen Zhinan said, “You really have high aspirations.”

As they climbed higher, Shen Zhinan was nearly spent, needing to rest every few steps. In contrast, Fu Yanshi wasn’t even out of breath.

It wasn’t entirely Shen Zhinan’s fault. Ever since arriving in this world, his physical condition seemed artificially altered his frame had grown much thinner, and his strength was nowhere near what it used to be.

“Let’s rest for a bit” Shen Zhinan was truly exhausted. His throat was dry, his legs weak, and he slumped onto the steps, deeply regretting his lapse in judgment when he’d agreed to come with Fu Yanshi.

A few raindrops began to fall from the sky. It looked like rain was coming, and they needed to hurry to the summit, where tents were sold.

“Get on,” Fu Yanshi said, crouching in front of Shen Zhinan.

The gesture stung Shen Zhinan’s masculine pride, making him feel utterly pathetic. He reached out a hand to Fu Yanshi and said, “Help me up. I can still climb!”

Fu Yanshi pulled him to his feet, and this time, Shen Zhinan didn’t drag himself along half-dead. He kept pace with Fu Yanshi step for step.

The two reached the summit just before the rain started in earnest.

They set up the tent in the rain.

Raindrops pattered against the tent, a steady, rhythmic sound.

Inside the tent, both of them were drenched by the rain and had taken off their jackets.

“The weather forecast from the observatory must be made up on a whim,” Shen Zhinan grumbled, looking at his phone. “They only updated it to say it would rain today after it had already started pouring.”

Fu Yanshi lay in the tent, his hands tucked under his head, not particularly bothered by the situation. “Since we’re already here, let’s take a nap. The rain will probably stop by the time we wake up.”

Shen Zhinan lay down beside him. The tent was so small that their bodies pressed against each other, the chill from the rain melting away against the warmth of their skin.

The atmosphere was incredibly calm and peaceful.

Shen Zhinan had been staying up until 3 a.m. and waking up at 6 a.m. every day for quite some time. It had been a long while since he’d had a good night’s sleep.

As he caught the pleasant scent of cedarwood from Fu Yanshi, his mind relaxed almost instantly. He shifted closer to him, closed his eyes, and drifted toward sleep.

Just as Shen Zhinan was about to doze off, strange noises reached his ears:

“Ah… you beast, be gentler”

“Baby, why are you so wet”

“So annoying”

Shen Zhinan snapped awake instantly.

Damn, the couple next door is going at it outdoors!