FSGOR Ch20

Happiness Harbor Residential Area was far removed from the noise of city traffic, especially quiet at night. But because of Jiang Tian’s last few words, the atmosphere felt frozen, as if the entire world had gone silent.

He’d finally said it.

And yet, even though the plan he had carefully plotted was coming to its end, he couldn’t relax. Instead, a heavy sense of limbo clung to him, leaving him deeply unsettled.

The call was still connected.

The man on the other end, the CEO, remained silent—only his heavy, oppressive breathing could be heard.

Jiang Tian sat as if on pins and needles, not daring to speak again. All he could do was silently count the seconds.

Then—

Chu Xuyu’s voice came through, low and menacing, carrying a chill that made Jiang Tian’s scalp tingle.
“Are you serious?”

Jiang Tian’s throat felt glued shut. He could only respond with a nasal hum: “Mm.”

He could tell the man was angry now. The faint sound of his cold chuckle sent shivers down his spine. That unpredictable tone made him uneasy.

But he didn’t feel like his decision had been too abrupt. After all, when he first added Chu on WeChat, he had laid the groundwork clearly:

KIRA: Don’t worry, we won’t have a “role collision.” Let’s meet up sometime.

And now, in the grand, empty mansion, Chu Xuyu—sobered up, with a splitting headache—also remembered that message. He let out a laugh, genuinely amused.

Back then, this guy wasn’t his “sweetheart.” He was still the brazenly confident Super Buff Guys.

The guy had insisted Chu Xuyu was a bottom, and proudly called himself the perfect dominant match. That’s how their chat had even started.

Chu Xuyu had never clarified his own preferences.

He wasn’t the kind of person to box himself into labels. At first, he’d thought their interaction was fated. If they met and it felt right, things could naturally progress.

But now—

Veins popped at his neck. His handsome face was shrouded in shadowy gloom. He was, undeniably, furious.

To him, it felt like Jiang Tian had orchestrated an elaborate setup—intentionally using this “little movie” to bail on meeting him.

He hated being manipulated. And when it involved feelings, that crossed the line.

In the echoing silence of the living room, Chu Xuyu’s former lust had long since burned out. His gaze was cold as deep water, and his words came out through clenched teeth:

“I’m not the bottom you thought I was.”

Jiang Tian swallowed hard—but deep down, he actually felt a little relieved. He thought maybe this meant the other man would let him go.

“Sorry.”

“I misunderstood before.”

“Then going forward—”

But Chu Xuyu, pressing a hand to his temple, still sneered and cut him off:

“Not everyone in the community sticks labels on themselves.”

“And since we haven’t even met—what gives you the right to decide we’re not a match?”

Jiang Tian: “…”

He thought his plan had no flaws, airtight from every angle. But once again, this CEO didn’t follow any expected pattern.

The whole thing had already been a bit messily handled. Now it was just a disaster—and what really unnerved him was when the man lowered his voice, the tone brushing against his ear with dangerous ambiguity:

“Do you have a reaction right now?”

Jiang Tian: “!!!”

He jerked back, the chair screeching loudly across the floor.

He instinctively wanted to deny it, but the truth was obvious—something strange really was happening to his body.

For someone who had always considered himself straight, it threw him completely off balance. On the other end of the line, the man wasn’t planning to let him go so easily:

“I’m just like you.”

“The positions in that video don’t mean anything.”

“Only when we meet in person will we know if we’re really a match… Don’t you think?”

Jiang Tian opened his mouth but couldn’t form the words. His logic screamed at him to stop the conversation now.

But his heart was in chaos. Even beyond the man’s powerful status and his own guilt, Jiang Tian realized—he didn’t dislike this online crush.

In fact, when he thought about that night at the bar—the creepy guy who hit on him, the disgust he felt—it wasn’t like that at all with President Chu.

He knew he should get out of this mess fast, and yet, he still blurted out a question even he didn’t expect:

“But… you prefer being the top, right?”

“Sweetheart.”

Chu Xuyu let out a half-laugh, furious and amused at once. He even thought the boy sounded naively cute.

“You won’t even meet me—”

“And you’re already talking about that?”

Jiang Tian’s ears flushed red.

By the time he realized how outrageous his own question had been, it was too late. He wanted to hang up right then and there.

And he did.

“Sorry.”

“Ge, you know things at home are a mess lately. I really can’t handle this right now. I won’t bother you anymore.”

Not only did he cut off communication coldly, he even returned the money—as if that would settle everything.

To someone like Chu Xuyu, who had everything, that was borderline insulting.

He had prepped the amount beforehand. The transfer alert chimed with an annoyingly cutesy message from the app:

“Baby, please accept this ¥708,825~ 💕”

Chu Xuyu’s breath hitched, the fire in his chest building again.

“What the hell is this supposed to mean?”

“…”

Jiang Tian gripped his phone awkwardly.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t accept a direct transfer… so I refunded all the red envelopes you gave me during our chats. The money should hit your account in a couple days.”

Chu Xuyu said nothing, staring at the oddly specific amount. His veins bulged in his hand. His expression darkened like a storm was rolling in.

Jiang Tian tried to explain more carefully:
“I kept it all in my investment account, earned a decent bit of interest. Even covered the withdrawal fees. It’s all there.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I hope you meet someone more suitable.”

As his final words fell, Jiang Tian convinced himself this was the best way to wrap things up. No matter how Chu Xuyu reacted, his next step was clear: disengage.

So he hung up like he was fleeing for his life.

Exited the viewing room.

Turned off his internet entirely.

This kind of running away—was a first in his 18 years of life.

He knew it was irresponsible.

 But without a better solution, this was the best he could do:

Repay the debt.

Cut clean.

End it.

After it ended.

Jiang Tian rushed into the bathroom, trying to wash away the cold sweat from his body—only to cause a loud ruckus. First, he broke the doorknob, and then he accidentally knocked the showerhead to the floor with a sharp bang.

Jiang Jing had long since noticed her brother’s abnormal behavior. She deliberately sat in the living room pretending to scroll on her phone, but in truth, she was waiting for him to finish showering.

When the bathroom door finally opened, she glanced over at her younger brother, now changed into a fresh set of pajamas. Her tone was probing:

“Did you get everything sorted out tonight, little bro?”

“…”

Jiang Tian had just come out of the shower, drying his wet hair with a towel. He nodded, a bit awkwardly. “Yeah.”

Jiang Jing sighed.
“Let’s hope President Chu doesn’t take it to heart.”

Jiang Tian could only hope so too. But on reflection, he figured he was just a fleeting figure in that powerful man’s eyes—hardly enough to stir even the smallest ripple.

There was less than a month left until the national college entrance exam. The old district was lined with top-ranking high schools, and the atmosphere on the streets was tight and anxious.

As the sister of a top-ranked student in one of those elite schools, Jiang Jing should have felt carefree. But instead, her heart was full of guilt and unease.

Earlier that year, a physical exam had revealed some minor health issues, so she had quit her job to rest at home. Occasionally, she went out with close friends or colleagues to relax—and also discreetly asked about President Chu’s current status.

Fortunately, her former coworkers said everything seemed normal with him.

That gave her some comfort. Since it had already been over a week since her brother cut off contact with President Chu, she figured nothing more would happen.

But reality said otherwise.

Chu Xuyu had been in a foul mood these past few days. His work and private life were now completely split, and one night, he even drove solo to Guanshan Island just to clear his head.

He took his luxury sports car, choosing the most scenic coastal route on purpose. Through the speakers, Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream looped over and over.

The ocean views along the way were stunning—the sunrise over the sea horizon was breathtaking. His high-definition dashcam recorded everything in professional-level quality, syncing the footage to his phone album.

Bang—

After a short rest at a gas station, Chu Xuyu returned to the driver’s seat and tossed his phone onto the console with a dull thud.

He was still upset. Picking up his phone again, he noticed all the messages he had sent to his “sweetheart” remained unanswered. Frustrated, he deleted the scenic photos that had auto-synced to his album—pretending as if he’d never had the intention to share them in the first place.

Ning City.

Middle of the night.

Jiang Tian awoke from a nightmare, startled and panting. He downed half a glass of water in one gulp and thudded the cup back on his bedside table. His heart was still thumping like a drum.

He couldn’t clearly remember what he had dreamed about—just a vague sense of endlessly falling, anxiety wrapping him tight, cold sweat pouring from his back.

Acting on instinct, he opened his phone and tapped into the chat with Afternoon Tea.

Sure enough, the man had messaged again just a few minutes earlier.

Afternoon Tea: ?

Afternoon Tea: Still pretending to vanish?

Ever since Jiang Tian had ghosted him, the man hadn’t stopped messaging. It was nothing like what his sister had said.

The young CEO’s life was not business as usual. If anything, he seemed hell-bent on keeping this entanglement going.

But Jiang Tian hadn’t told a soul—not even his teammates or close friends. He knew even if he did, it’d be pointless. He’d only invite a bunch of terrible advice.

When it came to that President Chu, Jiang Tian felt like he’d lost all ability to judge.

The panic from the nightmare only worsened his emotional confusion.

Still, he didn’t reply. He pretended not to see anything, preparing to turn off his data and go back to sleep.

Buzz—

Another message popped up.

Afternoon Tea: I’m at Guanshan Island.

Afternoon Tea: It’s raining hard.

Afternoon Tea: [Photo]

Jiang Tian froze.

He sat up straight, his hair messy like a bird’s nest. He ran a hand through it, trying to calm down.

The photo showed rain pelting against the glass of a luxury car. It was pouring outside, clearly unsafe.

After nine whole days of silence, Jiang Tian finally responded—though his tone was distant and cold.

KIRA: Sorry.

KIRA: Please don’t message me anymore.

KIRA: It’s dangerous to be out in this weather. Please stay safe and avoid staying outdoors.

Afternoon Tea: .

 Afternoon Tea: Where are you?

The sudden question caught Jiang Tian off guard.

He hesitated, debating whether or not to reply… but in the end, his concern for the other man’s safety won out.

KIRA: There’s thunder in Ning City.

 KIRA: It looks like it’s raining even harder at Guanshan Island.

 KIRA: Please find a safe place first.

Afternoon Tea: Okay.

Afternoon Tea: Talk later?

KIRA: …

KIRA: Okay.

Jiang Tian exhaled deeply. Outside his window, rain and thunder clashed like a war. He still hoped the other man would stay safe and not play with his phone in such dangerous conditions.

What he didn’t know—

Was that Chu Xuyu had long since parked his car and was now sitting safely inside a café on the island.

A steaming cup of coffee sat by his side as he stared at the message the boy had just sent.

His eyes were deep and hard to read, trying to decipher Jiang Tian’s mindset.

These past few days, he had swung between anger and calm, replaying their past conversations again and again.

And still, he couldn’t figure out what triggered that sudden, inexplicable fallout.

Guanshan Island was popular with foreign tourists on vacation. The café wasn’t busy, but Chu Xuyu stood out like a beacon.

He was tall, handsome, and carried the unmistakable aura of a powerful man. Women were naturally drawn to him.

He wore no cologne, no flashy designer gear—none of the stereotypical “gay man” markers.

In every way, he looked nothing like someone who had ever been rejected.

Just as he was replying to a message, a wealthy white woman driving a Maserati tossed a flirtatious glance his way.

Chu Xuyu didn’t even smile. He responded with a polite yet firm look of rejection, leaving the woman to give up with some disappointment.

It had only been a few minutes, but he was already growing impatient. He picked up his phone again, afraid his little sweetheart might ghost him once more, and sent a message:

Afternoon Tea: I’m taking shelter from the rain in a café.

Afternoon Tea: [Photo Shared]

Seeing the message, Jiang Tian’s gaze landed on the image. The usually low-key CEO had, surprisingly, sent a picture of himself holding a coffee cup.

He’d deliberately let his luxury watch show in the shot. Jiang Tian couldn’t name the brand, but it was obvious at a glance that it was expensive.

If it had been anyone with bad intentions, their eyes would’ve lit up—eager to pounce and cash in.

But curled up in his bedroom, Jiang Tian just felt a headache and a guilty conscience. If he weren’t concerned about the man’s safety, he wouldn’t have continued the conversation at all, much less allowed the atmosphere to slip back into anything remotely flirtatious.

KIRA: That’s good.

KIRA: Stay safe.

Afternoon Tea: Do you really hate talking to me that much?

KIRA: I’ve made myself very clear, ge.

 KIRA: We’re not a good match.

Having just turned down someone else’s flirtation, Chu Xuyu’s face now darkened like it had been drenched in a thunderstorm. The teen’s cold response completely shattered what was left of his patience.

Afternoon Tea: What the hell do you mean?

Afternoon Tea: I told you already—

Afternoon Tea: My patience has limits.

A CEO worth billions had already humbled himself beyond reason—sending messages to a boy of unknown background, desperately trying to understand his thoughts—and still hadn’t lost his temper until now.

He couldn’t comprehend why the other’s attitude was so distant and resistant. The way this kid now acted felt completely foreign compared to the sweet, clingy boy from before.

KIRA: I’m sorry.

KIRA: I never should’ve messed with you.

Afternoon Tea: ?

Afternoon Tea: Just because of a position issue?

Afternoon Tea: You’re really doing this?

Chu Xuyu let out a cold laugh. His knuckles turned white from gripping his phone too tightly, like he might crush it at any moment.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tian kept refreshing the weather app, noticing the rainfall on Guanshan Island was slowly letting up—but the storm wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.

Even if he didn’t want to continue the conversation, he still hoped the man would stay safe, and offered a sincere suggestion.

Avoiding the tension-filled topic, he simply asked how the CEO had gotten to the island and when he planned to leave.

KIRA: Ge, you drove yourself there, right?

KIRA: The weather’s bad today.

 KIRA: You should stay on the island until tomorrow.

Afternoon Tea: …Are you worried about me?

Jiang Tian hesitated for a couple seconds, pretending not to see that message, quietly waiting for a follow-up instead.

Afternoon Tea: Sweetheart.

Afternoon Tea: How about we meet tonight?

It was a six-hour drive from Guanshan Island to Ning City. If the man really tried to come see him in this weather and got into an accident, Jiang Tian would never forgive himself.

But he also didn’t believe he had that kind of allure—that a CEO worth billions would drive through a storm just to see him.

Thinking carefully, he figured the other man, as a composed adult, was only being this persistent out of pride—angered by being treated coldly, something he probably never experienced before.

Even if he could see through this guilt-trip tactic for what it was, Jiang Tian still feared dragging things out any longer might actually push the man to do something reckless.

Better to end things cleanly than risk it.

KIRA: Ge.

KIRA: I’m not going to meet with you.

Afternoon Tea: You sure?

KIRA: Mm.

KIRA: I wish you the best going forward.

KIRA: Please don’t contact me again.

Reading that final sentence, Chu Xuyu frowned deeply. A sense of foreboding rose in his chest. He sent a single punctuation mark:

Afternoon Tea: .

Then his heart sank.

A red exclamation mark popped up on screen, accompanied by an icy system message:

[You are not friends with this user. Message cannot be sent.]