Fang Zhaomu landed in Seattle at three in the afternoon.
Seattle was raining again. To keep his luggage light, Fang Zhaomu did not bring an umbrella.
Before he had boarded the plane, Andrew had sent him the address of the hotel. Fang Zhaomu had searched it online. That hotel was a little far from the airport, but as he was afraid of getting lost on the public transport, pondering over it, he still decided to take a taxi.
In the taxi, Fang Zhaomu told Andrew, âIâm here.â
Andrew sent him a reply very quickly. âYouâre on the way already?â
The taxi moved off, and the scenery outside the window sped past. Andrewâs voice was placid, and Fang Zhaomu could not identify Andrewâs location, nor could he distinguish how Andrew was feeling about it. So he only replied, âMnâ, then yawned.
âIf I take a taxi, how long would it take before I arrive?â
Andrew paused before saying, âIf thereâs no jam, itâll be about 40 minutes.â
He had sat for too long on the plane. No matter how Fang Zhaomu adjusted his position, he still felt stifled. Cracking the window just a little open for some fresh air, he asked, âWhat time will you reach the hotel? How would I go up?â
âIâm also on the way back to the hotel,â Andrew said. âIâve left a keycard with the front desk. You just have to let them know my room number, and theyâll give the card to you.â
Fang Zhaomu obediently agreed, then asked Andrew again, âHow long do you need before youâll reach?â
âIâm not sure. You should take the card and head up directly.â
Fang Zhaomu told him he understood, and after hanging up, he stared unseeingly at the scenery outside.
When he reached the hotel, following Andrewâs instructions, Fang Zhaomu went to the front desk. The staff immediately understood when Fang Zhaomu told her the room number, and without asking any further, she gave him a keycard.
As Fang Zhaomu headed to the lifts, he looked around at his surroundings. He thought that Andrew must be very competent at work, if not his company would not have provided him with such a luxurious hotel for him to stay at.
In the lift, he sent Andrew a message, saying that he was on the way up. Andrew was staying on the 28th floor, and the lift was so fast that he reached very quickly. Yet to receive Andrewâs reply, Fang Zhaomu cautiously pulled his luggage along and found the room. Unlocking the door, he opened it.
Beyond the door was darkness. Fang Zhaomu stepped inside, and the door closed behind him. He could not see anything.
Fang Zhaomu was afraid of the dark, and he also did not know if Andrew was there. Nervousness crept up upon him, and he did not dare to take a step further, even wanting to open the door and run away instead.
Towards the complete darkness, he called out softly. âAndrew?â
After a while, no one responded. Fang Zhaomu gave a small sigh of relief, thinking that Andrew must not be back yet. He stretched his hand up, about to fumble for the light switch, and suddenly heard a voice he was very familiar with near him. âXiaomu.â
This was the first time Fang Zhaomu had directly heard Andrewâs voice, and his heart instantly sped up.
Andrewâs voice was a lot more solid than listening to it through the phone. Just by hearing âXiaomuâ, Fang Zhaomu could imagine how Andrew was standing there. He did not know how much taller than him Andrew was, as it could not be seen from the photos.
âWhy didnât you switch on the lights?â Fang Zhaomu hesitantly released his luggage and walked in with his hand against the wall.
âI donât want to scare you.â Andrewâs voice was a little closer. From what Fang Zhaomu saw of the room just now with the door open, Andrew should be standing at the end of the doorway.
âWhy would I be scared?â Andrew sounded very earnest, and Fang Zhaomu laughed hearing him. He comforted Andrew, âYouâre exaggerating. Iâm very daring, I wonât be so easily scared off.â
He took another step, groping his way through the dark. When he suddenly caught a personâs arm, he then realised that Andrew had actually been so close.
Fang Zhaomu let go, but his hand was now instead caught by Andrew.
âYouâre very daring?â Andrew asked him.
Fang Zhaomu could hear the amusement in Andrewâs question, and so blustered, âWhat do you mean? Say it clearly.â
Andrew did not speak, and only laughed.
In a dark room, a personâs senses would be heightened. Andrew had only gripped his wrist with a little strength, and it was enough for Fang Zhaomuâs mouth to turn dry. He was afraid that if his heart beat any harder, Andrew would be able to hear it. In the air tinged with a light incense fragrance, Fang Zhaomu suddenly felt that the room was filled with underlying ambiguity that was slowly heating up. Fang Zhaomu did not dare to move, but Andrew moved.
Holding onto Fang Zhaomuâs wrist, he gave a tug, and pulled Fang Zhaomu into his arms.
Andrew was a lot taller than Fang Zhaomu had imagined. He hugged Fang Zhaomu, and Fang Zhaomuâs hand was on Andrewâs chest. Through a thin t-shirt, he could feel his firm muscles.
âAndrewâŠâ Fang Zhaomu called him, then did not know how to continue. He looked up, his lips brushing past Andrewâs chin, and Andrew seemed to unconsciously leaned back a little.
Fang Zhaomu was taken aback, and pushed Andrew. âForget about the fact that you didnât turn on the lights, why are you hiding?â
âIâm not.â Andrew denied.
His hand was on Fang Zhaomuâs back, a very gentlemanly way of hugging him.
Fang Zhaomu again pushed him lightly, and Andrew released him.
âI finally know why you wanted to download the dating app,â Fang Zhaomu leaned into Andrewâs body again. He raised his chin, tracing Andrewâs stubble, and accurately pressed into his lips before moving apart, then grumbled, âBecause you donât know how to take the initiative at all.â
In the next second, Fang Zhaomu could not say a word anymore. Andrew held onto Fang Zhaomu, and lowered his head.
Fang Zhaomuâs shoulders were tightly held by Andrew, his lips and tongue fiercely occupied by Andrew, and he almost could not breath. Andrew kissed him like he wanted to devour him, and the passionate sound of kissing filled the room. Fang Zhaomuâs legs weakened, he was about to slide down the wall. Only by holding onto Andrewâs arms did he barely manage to stand.
Andrew registered Fang Zhaomuâs unsteady feet, and moved back a little. âIâll carry you over to a seat?â
Hugging Andrew, it took Fang Zhaomu sometime before he responded. âMn.â
Andrew lifted Fang Zhaomu up in a princess carry, and took a few steps before placing him down on something very soft. Fang Zhaomu reached out to touch his seat, and asked, âAre we on the bed?â
âYes.â
âAre we still keeping the lights off?â Fang Zhaomu asked. âDonât you want to see me?â
âI donât want to scare you.â Andrew repeated.
When Fang Zhaomu heard this, he wondered if Andrewâs face had some disability, or an even bigger problem. His heart ached a little for him, and so he said, âItâs fine if we leave them off then. It doesnât matter.â
Fang Zhaomu reached out and tugged at Andrewâs clothes. âCome over then. It should be fine if I touch you, right?â
Andrew leaned over, kissing Fang Zhaomuâs lips haphazardly. He grabbed Fang Zhaomuâs hand and placed it on his face.
Fang Zhaomu lightly dragged his hand down Andrewâs face. âMn, your eyebrows are very nice.â
A second, and Fang Zhaomu leaned in to kiss Andrewâs brows, then touched his brow bone and eyes. âYour features are very defined.â
He then kissed his eyes, and touched his nose and face. Andrewâs nose bridge was very high. Although he could not see it, Fang Zhaomu felt that he could not be ugly, and so intimately kissed the tip of Andrewâs nose. âYour nose is very sharp too.â
Finally, it was his lips. Fang Zhaomu pressed on his lower lip, and then replaced his fingers with his own lips. He pecked him lightly, and felt Andrewâs warmth and his breaths. He concluded, âTheyâre all very nice.â
âAre they?â With a low voice, Andrew pressed against Fang Zhaomuâs back, pushing him to sit on him.
âYes, they are,â Fang Zhaomu said. âActually, Iâm also not much to look at. When you see me, you might be disappointed as well.â
âI wonât.â Andrew responded.
His embrace was very warm, and when he spoke, his lips were plastered to Fang Zhaomuâs ear. âI know that youâre very good looking.â
âBut you canât always keep the lights off.â Fang Zhaomu said helplessly.
Andrew rested his head on Fang Zhaomuâs shoulder. After a moment, he spoke up. âLet me hug you for awhile more.â
âWhy are you behaving like weâre about to be parted forever?â Fang Zhaomu laughed. âThen weâll just keep the lights off for now.â
Andrew grasped around for Fang Zhaomuâs hands, and held them tightly, seeming as though he was feeling insecure. Fang Zhaomu lost his rationality. He leaned over next to Andrewâs ear and asked him, âOr shall we⊠do it before we turn on the lights?â