These mixed thoughts only lasted for a moment.
After regaining his composure, Zhou Chaosheng replied indifferently, “Sorry, this is my private matter. It’s not convenient to disclose.”
Fang Yi was stunned for a moment. The smile on his lips slowly became a bit stiff, and he awkwardly said, “I’m sorry, Zhou-ge… I was just curious, really didn’t mean anything else.”
Zhou Chaosheng responded with a simple “Mm” and didn’t continue the conversation.
He was never one for socializing. Unless required for work, he would put on a mask to maintain a perfect public image. In reality, he was solitary by nature, preferring to be alone. He valued quality over quantity in friendships, and conversations with strangers rarely went beyond surface-level politeness.
—
Ten minutes later, they followed Lucas to the world’s largest museum. Each of them spent 2,750 Icelandic Krona on tickets. No reservations were needed; after ticket validation, they could enter directly.
The museum’s collection satisfied most people’s curiosity. Although it was a museum, there was no display that disrespected women in any way. In fact, some locals even brought their children here for sex education.
Zhou Chaosheng noticed that Jiang Yunzhi was particularly interested in this exhibition. While others merely glanced at the displays, she would stop in front of the specimens, observing them attentively.
The museum was small. If one didn’t look carefully, it would only take about ten minutes to walk through all the exhibits. Zhou Chaosheng, preoccupied with his own thoughts, casually browsed a few displays before unconsciously walking over to Jiang Yunzhi’s side.
They stood together in front of a sperm whale’s specimen, which was nearly two meters long. When Jiang Yunzhi looked up and saw him, she appeared a bit surprised, though the expression quickly faded.
Turning toward him with a smile, she asked, “President Zhou, are you interested in this as well?”
Zhou Chaosheng didn’t correct her way of addressing him. In fact, he found such a title more natural than being called “Zhou-ge.”
“Not particularly. What about you?”
Jiang Yunzhi once again showed a trace of surprise, perhaps not expecting him to continue the conversation. She paused briefly before replying, “Not particularly either. I just haven’t seen this type of artwork before, so I was a little curious.”
Zhou Chaosheng let out a quiet “Mm,” his gaze fixed ahead as he casually asked, “Did you all attend the same university?”
“Yes, but we weren’t in the same major. We met because we all joined the same club during our freshman year. Over time, we naturally became close,” Jiang Yunzhi explained.
“What kind of club?”
“Astronomy club.”
Zhou Chaosheng was slightly puzzled. June marked the beginning of Iceland’s summer, a time when there was only continuous daylight without night, making it impossible to see the Northern Lights. Given that they were from an astronomy club, they were likely interested in auroras. If that was the case, why didn’t they choose to visit in winter instead?
Jiang Yunzhi seemed to notice his confusion and took the initiative to explain, “The main reason we came to Iceland was to see the Skogafoss waterfall. Although most people associate Iceland with winter, summer is actually a better season for travel. Also, since Xiao Man is sensitive to cold, we chose a time when everyone was available to come here.”
She paused for a moment before turning to ask, “What about you? Why did you choose to come at this time?”
Zhou Chaosheng answered truthfully, “For the same reason as you.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Yunzhi chuckled. “I’ve heard people talk about you before. They all say you’re a ruthless businessman, but after chatting with you today, I think they must have misunderstood you deeply.”
Zhou Chaosheng had heard similar compliments countless times before, so his expression remained unchanged. He simply responded with a faint smile, “Maybe.”
Jiang Yunzhi averted her gaze and got straight to the point, “President Zhou, is there something specific you want to ask me?”
Talking to a smart person was effortless. Zhou Chaosheng let out a light chuckle, and this time, his smile seemed somewhat genuine.
"Indeed."
"You may speak"
Zhou Chaosheng asked casually, "Do you think Jiang Man is interested in Lovien?"
Jiang Yunzhi was momentarily stunned. She shifted her gaze back to Zhou Chaosheng's face to confirm he wasn’t joking, and her expression took on an indescribable strangeness.
"...President Zhou, may I ask why you want to know this?"
"A bit curious."
Jiang Yunzhi: "...."
She twitched the corner of her lips. "Do you like Jiang Man?"
The question was indeed easy to misinterpret, but in order to get the answer he wanted, Zhou Chaosheng did not immediately deny it.
Seeing that he didn’t respond, Jiang Yunzhi assumed it was tacit confirmation. Her expression cooled slightly. "President Zhou, Jiang Man is not suitable for you."
Zhou Chaosheng glanced at Jiang Yunzhi. "So, you think she and Lovien are a good match?"
The latter’s tone dropped to near freezing, but she maintained a polite smile on the surface. "Not a good match."
Sensing the shift in her tone, Zhou Chaosheng seemed thoughtful but did not continue asking.
After a brief silence, Jiang Yunzhi unexpectedly broke it. "I’ve heard in the industry that your relationship with President Jiang has always been tense. How is it that you’ve suddenly reconciled and are now traveling together in Iceland?"
Zhou Chaosheng looked at her. "Since you knew, why did you pretend not to earlier?"
"I noticed that President Jiang didn’t want others to know his identity, so I went along with it..." Jiang Yunzhi’s tone shifted. "President Zhou, I’d like to ask you for a favor."
Zhou Chaosheng: "Go ahead."
Jiang Yunzhi’s expression turned serious. "I’ve known Jiang Man for four years. She’s a very simple person... If— and I’m just saying if— if there’s a competitive relationship between you and President Jiang, or if you need to prove something through some kind of game, then I’d like to ask both of you not to drag her into your personal grudges. Can you do that?"
Zhou Chaosheng paused for a moment. "I think you’ve misunderstood."
Jiang Yunzhi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Then what does President Zhou mean...?"
"Nothing," Zhou Chaosheng said indifferently. "You can rest assured. I have no interest in your friend. I only asked because I was simply curious about her opinion of Jiang Yuanye."
Jiang Yunzhi gave Zhou Chaosheng a suspicious yet intrigued look before slowly saying, "President Zhou, you can also rest assured. Jiang Man isn’t interested in men."
As the words fell, Zhou Chaosheng’s heart skipped a beat, a sudden discomfort arising as though a secret of his had been seen through. At the same time, he was also surprised by the near-blunt revelation of the other person’s orientation.
".....Oh"
—
Before parting ways, Zhou Chaosheng heard Jiang Yunzhi casually say to him, “President Zhou, rather than focusing on Jiang Man, you’d be better off paying attention to the person who has always been close to you.”
Zhou Chaosheng asked, “What do you mean?”
Jiang Yunzhi glanced at him with a meaningful expression but didn’t elaborate. “I still have some specimens to look at. I’ll head off first, President Zhou. Take your time enjoying the exhibits.”
Zhou Chaosheng watched as she turned and walked away, then lowered his gaze.
The person who had always been close to him…
Fang Yi?
At that thought, Zhou Chaosheng lifted his eyes as if unintentionally, just in time to catch Fang Yi, who had been secretly watching him from a distance.
To be honest, Fang Yi’s looks were on par with those internet-famous celebrities—tall and slender, with delicate features. He was the type that most young girls liked.
Previously, he hadn’t thought about it that way. But now, after Jiang Yunzhi’s remark, when he looked at Fang Yi again, he noticed something different.
That gaze.
It was the same as those who had confessed to him before. In Fang Yi’s eyes, there was always an indescribable emotion.
Zhou Chaosheng once again felt a wave of physical discomfort.
He thought—he still couldn’t accept homosexuality. Or rather, he could never get over what he had seen in the boys' restroom back then.
A male student holding a secretly taken photo of him, calling his name while touching himself.
Even after that student was exposed, instead of stopping, he became even more brazen in expressing his so-called “love,” forcing Zhou Chaosheng to transfer schools.
Of course, he hadn’t transferred because the student’s family background was superior. On the contrary, Zhou Chaosheng’s status was enough to ensure that student received a disciplinary record or was even expelled.
But he hadn’t done so. Not because he was merciful, he simply didn’t want to waste his energy on someone like that.
Even now, he could still recall the way that student had looked at him. Sticky, burning, and utterly unhinged.
It was the same way Fang Yi was looking at him now.
Just slightly more restrained. If one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t even notice.
Zhou Chaosheng withdrew his gaze as if nothing had happened, turned on his heel, and walked toward the museum entrance.
As he walked, he wondered,
Was it just his looks that attracted men?
Back in high school, why hadn’t Jiang Yuanye ever been confessed to by another guy? Or had he been, and Zhou Chaosheng just never noticed?
Regardless of which was true, one fact remained. Jiang Yuanye was extremely attractive to women.
The more he thought about it, the more another question arose.
Since he couldn’t accept homosexuality and was so repulsed by being liked by men, then why was Jiang Yuanye an exception?
Why…
Did he hope that one day, Jiang Yuanye would like him?
What was it about Jiang Yuanye…
That made him the only one Zhou Chaosheng was drawn to?
—
At 12:30, they arrived at Slenski Barinn. Just as they reached the entrance, Zhou Chaosheng happened to see Jiang Yuanye and Jiang Man talking and laughing together.
Even though he knew Jiang Man liked women, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable. As he brushed past Jiang Yuanye, he didn’t even want to acknowledge him. But before he could walk away, Jiang Yuanye grabbed his wrist and said, “Didn’t see me?”
Zhou Chaosheng didn’t feel like responding.
Jiang Yuanye turned to Jiang Man and apologized, then draped an arm over Zhou Chaosheng’s shoulders, pulling him aside near the entrance while restraining his attempt to struggle. At the same time, he told Lucas, who was approaching, “You guys go in and order first. We’ll join you in a bit.”
Lucas simply agreed without asking any questions, leading the others inside.
Once everyone had entered, Jiang Yuanye finally spoke. “You’re jealous.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
Zhou Chaosheng glanced at the smirk on Jiang Yuanye’s lips. “And you’re happy about it?”
Jiang Yuanye nodded with complete honesty. “Of course. If you’re jealous, it means you care about me.”
Zhou Chaosheng: “…”
“Jiang Yuanye, do you know why couples break up?”
Jiang Yuanye asked, “Why?”
Expressionless, Zhou Chaosheng said, “Because one of them has no sense of boundaries. Like a human air conditioner, always showering every woman with attention.”
Being accused of being a ‘human air conditioner’ didn’t bother Jiang Yuanye at all. Instead, the amusement in his smile deepened. “I think you’re misunderstanding the meaning of ‘showering attention.’”
Zhou Chaosheng: “Misunderstanding? How?”
Jiang Yuanye patiently reasoned with him. “If this kind of behavior makes me a ‘human air conditioner,’ then back in high school, when you lent your jacket to a girl because of a period stain, gave your umbrella to a girl who forgot hers in the rain, or took drinks on behalf of your female colleagues at social gatherings…
Zhou Chaosheng watched as Jiang Yuanye counted on his fingers. Only when he reached the tenth finger did he stop. “There are so many similar instances. If I’m a human air conditioner, then wouldn’t that make you a super human air conditioner?”
Zhou Chaosheng: “…”
“Chaosheng.” Suddenly, Jiang Yuanye reached out and ruffled his hair. As Zhou Chaosheng widened his eyes in shock, Jiang Yuanye smiled and said, “You look really cute when you’re jealous.”
A hint of warmth spread across Zhou Chaosheng’s ears. “You…”
Jiang Yuanye withdrew his hand, looking at him with gentle eyes. “But don’t be jealous over nothing. What I did just now isn’t any different from what you used to do. It’s just basic courtesy and decency, nothing more.”
Zhou Chaosheng was momentarily stunned.
Right. These behaviors were normal no matter who did them. So why was he so bothered when Jiang Yuanye got close to other women?
He felt like his thoughts had been led astray. “But we weren’t even together back then.”
Jiang Yuanye was taken aback for a moment. Then, after thinking for a few seconds, he suddenly had a realization. “So the issue for you is that I was with Jiang Man?”
Zhou Chaosheng averted his gaze, unwilling to admit it.
But Jiang Yuanye kept pressing him, asking if that was the case.
Annoyed, Zhou Chaosheng finally let out a reluctant “Mm.”
Jiang Yuanye chuckled.
“Close your eyes.”
Zhou Chaosheng looked back at him. “For what?”
“Just do it, come on. Close them.”
Zhou Chaosheng couldn’t stand it when Jiang Yuanye softened his voice with him, so he obediently shut his eyes.
“Now, give me your hand,” Jiang Yuanye said.
“What are you—”
Just as Zhou Chaosheng was about to open his eyes, a large hand covered them completely.
“Don’t open them.”
Jiang Yuanye’s hand was slightly cool, sending a tingling sensation through Zhou Chaosheng’s nerves as it touched his eyelids.
“Your hand,” Jiang Yuanye urged again.
“…”
Zhou Chaosheng extended his hand.
Jiang Yuanye took his wrist and reminded him, “I’m going to let go now. You can’t open your eyes.”
“…Mm.”
After Jiang Yuanye released his hand, nothing happened for a while.
With his eyes still closed, Zhou Chaosheng could clearly hear the rustling sounds of Jiang Yuanye searching through his pocket.
After about ten seconds, something cold touched his skin, slowly sliding from his fingertips over the back of his hand—feeling like a bracelet.
A minute later, Jiang Yuanye said, “Alright, you can open your eyes now.”
Zhou Chaosheng opened his eyes and looked down, seeing a new bracelet around his wrist. His heartbeat sped up again.
“…So, you went to buy me a souvenir?”
Jiang Yuanye raised an eyebrow, smiling at him. “Yeah. It’s a volcanic stone bracelet… The reason I spent time with Jiang Man was to keep you away so I could surprise you.”
Zhou Chaosheng’s eyelashes trembled slightly. “…Why did you buy this?”
Jiang Yuanye: "Because I noticed that you always check your watch from high school until now. So, I thought of getting you a bracelet to wear beside it. That way, whenever you look at your watch, you’ll naturally see it too. And when you do, you’ll remember who gave it to you."
In short, he just wanted Zhou Chaosheng to think of him.
A cold wind swept past them, but Zhou Chaosheng didn’t feel the chill at all. Instead, it felt like something soft had wrapped around his heart, filling it with warmth, as if that warmth was seeping into the very core of his being.
In that moment an impulse surged within him, one so strong that he couldn’t resist it. Acting on it, he grabbed Jiang Yuanye’s wrist and pulled him into a secluded corner where no one else was around.
—
Suddenly, Jiang Yuanye's back was already against the wall. One leg slightly bent, he was a little shorter than Zhou Chaosheng. Looking up, he saw the man lowering his head, slowly approaching him.
Their distance grew closer and closer, so close that their breaths were about to intertwine when Zhou Chaosheng finally braced against the wall and slowly stopped.
In that instant, all sounds rushed away from Jiang Yuanye’s ears like a receding tide.
The rumbling of an electric scooter rolling across the ground, the laughter of children playing with their parents on the street, the conversations drifting out through the restaurant’s glass doors and window gaps…
All of it faded away with the cold wind, leaving only Zhou Chaosheng’s voice.
"Jiang Yuanye..."
"Do you want to kiss me?"