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This was probably a little bit illegal, but so much has gone wrong for Shen Yuan that breaking the law a smidge was the least of his worries.
His parents had been upset that he had yet to get a proper “job” by some made-up deadline and threatened to cut him off if he didn’t. Even a measly cashiering would be alright with them at that point, though they would only be slightly less disappointed in him than they already were. It stung, but the truth of the matter was Shen Yuan did get a job, three actually. Back to back. And either quit or got fired for one reason or another. They did not consider his proofreading work for webnovels real work because it didn’t come with benefits nor did it pay anything more than pocket change.
He had been cut off, as promised, and within three months he was booted from his apartment. He kept as much as he could in his car and slept either in there or manga cafes but it’s been a rough past couple of months. He ate worse than ever, sold a lot of his older merch he didn’t care as much for, and in his anger, refused to answer any of his parents’ calls when they inquired about his life. A voicemail from his mother weeks ago told him if times were tough, he could come back home.
Shen Yuan was so close to taking up her offer but he was both mad and full of pettiness, choosing to sleep in his car instead of letting them think they won whatever game they were playing. They proved their point! Shen Yuan heard it loud and clear!
He might not have told his parents he was booted from his apartment, and that he’d since redirected the rest of his mail to their vacation home that they rarely visit. He was tempted to take up residence in said vacation home, but he didn’t want word from one of the attendants keeping the house clean during the off season that he was squatting there.
Now, the illegal part of all this was he was tired of instant noodles, pre-made sandwiches from the corner store, and loads of treats from coffee and bubble tea shops. He dug out one of his nice suits from storage (surveying all of his anime merch boxed away in here for safe keeping) had one of his little notebooks he used for editing and the really nice fountain pen his dad gave him for his birthday a few years back.
With a confident stride, he had made reservations for this very nice Michelin-star restaurant called The Black Sheep that usually had a wait list of three months, but was able to wiggle himself in two weeks in advance at an odd dining time. He chose this specific restaurant to swindle because he has heard for a while now how incredible the food is.
The restaurant sat nestled in an odd spot of the industrial district with cypress trees used to create a private atmosphere from the rest of the city. Shen Yuan’s table was situated in a corner that had one of those weirdly artisting chandeliers made of iron and wooden lattice partitions. Shen Yuan opened his notebook and perched his glasses at the tip of his nose, writing down “can barely see in front of me due to dim lighting”. The atmosphere was quiet despite the restaurant being full to the brim, people talking in low whispers amongst themselves and the quiet swish of the servers' aprons played along with the gentle piano music that trickled through the air.
Shen Yuan was sweating in his suit. He had maybe nine dollars to his name right now and a credit card that was almost completely maxed out. If this didn’t work, he’d have to take out a loan and work as a dishwasher if he wasn’t thrown into jail for identity theft.
Tonight, he was Shen Jiu, a Michelin-star food reviewer for the Beijing Daily and Shen Yuan’s cousin. He’d cut himself off from the family the moment he turned eighteen and made his own name for himself as a rich journalist and married to some CEO. If anyone would sue for everything Shen Yuan had and then some, it would be his estranged cousin. He would probably make sure Shen Yuan went to jail for a while on top of taking his firstborn child.
It made the hoax easy because they looked eerily similar. Shen Jiu had these narrow, wire-framed glasses and his hair long, but an easy switch of glasses, faking a haircut, and getting that look like he sucked on a lemon etched on Shen Yuan’s face then voila, they were identical. Even down to the deep emerald suit and black button up. He did not have a Rolex like Shen Jiu, a Patek Philippe, but those were details. Which he should sell soon. Exchange it for something more mid-line, like a Bulova or Seiko.
He ordered an appetizer to start, the bestseller, and received a glass of their house Chardonnay with it. He wrote periodically in his notebook, things like “the wine is good, nice and sweet. Get name for later?” And “I’d kill someone for the beef carpaccio”.
It had been so long since he’d eaten anything this good he couldn’t help but moan into his food, savoring every bite. He cleared his appetizer and ordered a cocktail, a mix of expensive rums, avua cachaca, coconut, lime, mint, and vanilla. The glass of wine didn’t do him in but three sips of this cocktail will have him on the floor.
His main course arrived swiftly. He had done research earlier and ensured to order their most popular dishes— the duck pie, lobster rolls, steamed razor clams, wok-fried pea shoots, and the clap pot tiger prawns. The dishes were small portions, artfully arranged, and presented with a flourish. Shen Yuan ate with every ounce of etiquette his mother had drilled into him to keep the charade going, but was overwhelmed with the delicious food and completely forgot that he needed to pull this off if he didn’t want a thousand dollar bill in his lap.
“Complimentary of the head chef.” His server put down a bamboo steamer with three fresh dumplings. “Chicken and truffle with seasonal greens.”
Shen Yuan thanked his server, made a note in his fake notebook, and dove into his new dish. He had barely finished when a dessert came, a matcha ganache that Shen Yuan had not ordered. Another treat from the chef.
He ate this one even slower, feeling the lingering warmth of alcohol and a meal that left him feeling satisfyingly full (not uncomfortably full like some fast food did to him) for the first time since, well, his parents took him out to a birthday dinner at a restaurant like this. It had probably been five months ago at that point, and they had used the happy occasion to break the news that he was nearly out of time to get a job.
Bitterly, he wrote in his journal, trying to keep the charade going by actually writing about his dessert, if only to get his mind off his stupid, awful, situation.
“Sir,” the server came by, cheque book in hand. Shen Yuan froze, suddenly rolling with nausea.
“Your cheque,” the server continued, then smiled brightly. “Had been comped by the head chef. Today’s meal is on the house. And this, too.” Another server came over with an affogato.
Shen Yuan sank gratefully into his seat, thanking the servers profusely as he took the offered affogato. He wrote a little note in his journal about the affogato, figuring he could at least make a Weibo post about this.
Someone cleared their throat just as Shen Yuan finished his affogato and was checking his Weibo feed. He peeked up, expecting his server again to ask if he needed anything else. Shen Yuan jolted, definitely biting back a squeak of surprise.
Oh, this man was handsome and had to be the bespoke head chef. The founder of this restaurant, the one who handcrafted the menu himself, the generous donor of probably the most delicious meal of his life: Luo Binghe.
His chef’s coat was black and somehow cut to follow the strong line of his waist and tapered to fit his broad chest and arms, definitely tailored. His inky, curly hair was tied back in a knot at the base of his neck and a black bandana to keep the stray whisps down, a few little curls framing his face. His eyes were darker than night, a starless sky overhead a massive city. His face was beyond gorgeous with a straight nose, smooth brow, full lips, a sharp jaw. He quirked one of his straight eyebrows as he smiled crookedly, boyishly.
He was much younger than Shen Yuan, in his decrepit age of twenty-eight. Luo Binghe was, as Shen Yuan read, a prodigy who opened his first restaurant at twenty and earned his Michelin star at twenty-one. Now at twenty-two he towered tall and imposing over Shen Yuan.
“You must be Shen Jiu. It’s been an honor hosting you at my humble restaurant.” Luo Binghe’s voice was smooth like a velvety chocolate. Shen Yuan involuntarily shivered.
Shen Yuan quickly shot to his feet to shake Luo Binghe’s hand. It was hot and rough in his palm, the fingers long and his grip strong. “Uh, yes, that’s me. The pleasure is all mine. You have an excellent establishment here and I can’t wait to go home and finish my article.”
“Please, let me bribe you a little longer. Is that not how these things work?” Luo Binghe winked, his hand squeezed Shen Yuan.
“The meal was more than enough. Anything else and you’ll have to roll me out of here,” Shen Yuan chuckled. He didn’t want to talk to the founder and head chef of the same establishment he was cheating a meal out of! He’ll blow his cover if Luo Binghe starts asking too many questions!
“I insist. I know who you are, Shen-xiansheng, and I would love to pick your brain before you head out,” said Luo Binghe, already laying a hand on his lower back and guiding him to the back of the restaurant. Shen Yuan stumbled along, realizing he was a little dizzy in his feet from the cocktail and wine. He’d been so caught up in the euphoria of having so much good food for a moment he forgot he’s breaking so many laws and could both go to jail and get fined for what he’s doing.
Luo Binghe led them through the kitchen doors where it was bustling with movement, and drowning in its bright lights. The smell of sizzling meat and rapid fire instructions all made a sharp contrast to the low lit, peaceful restaurant on the other side of the double doors. Luo Binghe easily maneuvered through the kitchen with Shen Yuan in tow to another set of doors at the back. The sound quieted again and they entered a low lit hallway and up a staircase.
“My office.” Luo Binghe waved Shen Yuan through the room at the top of the stairs. The windows faced away from the main entrance of the restaurant and toward the city skyline. It was roomy with dark wood furniture and a sitting area with a fake fireplace.
“Scotch? Wine?” Luo Binghe offered, opening up a cabinet that revealed a wet bar complete with a sink and mini fridge. Of course a chef would have a kitchen in his office.
Shen Yuan gingerly sat in one of the weirdly curved chairs in the sitting area. “Water is fine.”
Luo Binghe hummed and brought him a crystal glass with ice balls filled to the brim with crisp water. Shen Yuan chugged it gratefully, trying to sober himself faster. Luo Binghe muddled around at the wet bar for a moment before returning with bourbon, two crystal cups, and a wooden tray balanced with an artful charcuterie display.
“I hope you saved room. This is a goat Gouda from the Netherlands, a special wheel aged an extra six months to really bring out the flavor.” The tiny board he placed neatly on the coffee table had an artful arrangement of the crumbled cheese with a black wax crust sat in the center with some thinly sliced apples, candied rosemary nuts, chocolate, and an oozing honeycomb. Luo Binghe poured two glasses of bourbon with an orange slice sitting on its rim.
Shen Yuan didn't like bourbon. He hated dark liquor and tended to lean towards light wines and seltzers. He took the glass and followed Luo Binghe’s lead in taking a slow slip. He choked it down, coughing as he tried to wash it down with a gulp of water. Luo Binghe chuckled.
“No worries, you don’t have to finish it. I heard you liked a good whiskey and saved this for a special occasion,” Luo Binghe said.
“No, I love it! Very uh, rich in flavor.”
Luo Binghe hummed. “Try the cheese board. I’m especially happy I was able to snag a slice from that wheel. They only make this particular wheel once a year.”
Shen Yuan used the spear-tipped knife to break off a chunk of cheese and took a taste. It was weirdly sweet and rich, crumbly on his tongue. He hummed into the flavor. “It’s delicious. How is it so floral?”
“The extra months give it more depth. Try it with the chocolate. A friend of mine makes these.” Luo Binghe picked a piece of chocolate from the plate and held it to Shen Yuan’s lips. He cringed back slightly to look at the chocolate and meant to grab it from his fingers, but Luo Binghe pushed forward and pressed the chocolate to his lips. Shen Yuan opened up, taking the chocolate with his tongue. It was sweet and rich, pairing nicely with the cheese still lingering in his mouth.
“How long have you been doing food reviews?” Luo Binghe asked, taking his own bite of cheese with some of the candied nuts.
“Since 2018. Did local culture news at first but I wanted to switch things up. My husband suggested I try something unexpecting and out of my usual zone of writing.” That was not false, Shen Jiu had been doing food reviews specifically since 2018 but has been publishing in newspapers and journals since 2012.
“Husband?” Luo Binghe glanced down at Shen Yuan’s left hand. Shit he didn’t have a ring!
“I’m mad at him right now,” Shen Yuan huffed, tucking his hand out of sight. Because the glass was in his other hand still, he took a sip of his bourbon to escape a bit of the tension. He didn’t cough, but he certainly made a face.
Luo Binghe laughed. “If this is not to your taste, there is no need to be so polite. I could grab us a plum wine?”
“Sounds good,” Shen Yuan rasped, putting down his bourbon and picking at the cheese platter.
Luo Binghe still chatted with him from the wine bar, putting away the bourbon, not without finishing his glass in a single mouthful, then taking out an elegant bottle with new glasses to match. “This is a very light wine from Japan. I hope this is more suited to your taste.”
It was light and fruity with barely a hint of dryness some high end wines liked to boast about. Shen Yuan hummed into his cup.
“I want to give my compliments to the chef,” said Shen Yuan, finishing his first glass in two mouthfuls and diving back to the cheese board. Those dinner portions had been small and he wasn’t full full, so what’s some more cheese and wine before the night ends? “It had to have been the best meal I’ve had in a very long time. You have an impeccable menu and I don’t have a single complaint about anything I ate. Though, the lights could be a little brighter in there.” Shen Yuan pushed his glasses up his nose, the wire rims easily slipping down his face.
Luo Binghe quirked a smile. “I sure hope so. When I found out you were here, I made sure to personally make all of your dishes.”
“That sounds like cheating to me. I’m supposed to inspect your restaurant as it is with any normal patron,” Shen Yuan chided. He reached over to pour himself another glass of wine but Luo Binghe had already snatched the bottle and was elegantly pouring more for him.
“I do a lot of the cooking with my staff, I don’t just order them around and sulk in my office. On a regular day, every single patron will eat something I made with my own hand, even if it was just the sauce. I do prefer a more hands on approach to my kitchen. Try the honey?”
The little ornamental spoon was scraped across the honeycomb, picking up a dainty mouthful of golden honey with a corner of honeycomb and brought to Shen Yuan’s lips. He didn’t fight it this time, opening his mouth and letting Luo Binghe drag the spoon across his tongue. Shen Yuan closed his lips around the spoon and playfully made Luo Binghe tug it from his mouth. It was rich and sweet, floral like the cheese, and seemed to slowly melt through his body. He moaned into the flavor.
Luo Binghe leaned back and used the same spoon to scoop some honey for himself and suckled on it slowly.
“What inspired you to become a chef in the first place? I’m sure you’ve answered these before in a ton of interviews, but I want to hear it from you.” Shen Yuan tugged out his little journal and pen, flipped to a clean page then posed to take notes. His hands were certainly hot from all the alcohol but he was mostly clear headed.
Luo Binghe laughed. “Easy. My mother taught me when I was young. She worked a lot to make ends meet, so our times cooking together are some of the most precious memories to me. She showed me everything she knew. When she passed, I couldn’t cook like I wanted to. I had someone in my childhood encourage me, and in high school I was able to cook again, even just using the school’s home economics class. I have to thank my friend from a long time ago for reigniting that spark for me, or I would have never applied to culinary school.”
Shen Yuan wrote sloppily in his notebook: Goddess of a mother taught this man the art of love and cooking.
This time, Luo Binghe openly laughed. He had leaned over to look at his notebook. “That works!”
They talked, and it was wonderful. Shen Yuan wouldn’t be able to recall their exact words, just that they had a long conversation, finished the wine, and Luo Binghe had turned on the fake fireplace. The hour must be late but hey, it’s not like Shen Yuan had anywhere to go!
At some point, Luo Binghe had scooted close to him on the couch, his arm draped across the back. They were close, only a few breadths apart. Shen Yuan couldn’t help lingering on his pink lips, stained dark from the alcohol and honey. Luo Binghe’s nighttime eyes flickered downward, lingered, and wet his own.
“Shen-xiansheng, I haven’t had many secret reviewers that I’ve caught come back here and have a drink with me, nor have this much fun. Would it affect my review if we… continue?”
Shen Yuan didn’t think it would. “No, I already have it drafted in my head.”
Maybe it was because he’s fallen on some hard times and it’s making him act out by stealing his cousin’s identity, or maybe because this guy was so beautiful he doesn’t think any woman had ever made him feel this breathless. Or a combination of all that plus the liquid luck of too much wine and rum in his system. But Shen Yuan closed his eyes and allowed Luo Binghe to kiss him. His lips were hot and sweet from the wine and honey. Shen Yuan tensed, then relaxed when Luo Binghe’s hand came up to cup his face, his fingertips dragging slowly through his hair. Shen Yuan gasped, opening his lips to invite Luo Binghe’s tongue in, shivering with the new touch.
They melted into each other. Luo Binghe leaned forward, holding Shen Yuan at his head and low back to lay him gently on the couch, covering his body by slipping a kneed between his thighs. Shen Yuan arched up with a gasp as his hand trailed tenderly across his sensitive waist.
“Shen-xiansheng,” Luo Binghe hummed, kissing his jaw and down his neck. “Shen-xiansheng, is this alright?”
“Y-yes!” Shen Yuan gasped, barely able to bite off a moan as fingers caressed the line where his button down tucked into his slacks. His belt came undone and his shirts pushed up, Luo Binghe’s hand running across his naval, moving downward.
Shen Yuan arched when fingertips touch his cock, a sudden, tiny burst of shock to his nerves. Luo Binghe nipped his neck, sucking a mark in the sensitive junction. Shen Yuan moaned into his hold, fingers stroking his cock, working him into a half hardness as Luo Binghe’s rough palms cupped them. He twitched, hips rolling involuntarily.
“Good, you’re so good, Shen-xiangsheng,” Luo Binghe groaned into his neck. His hardness pressed down onto Shen Yuan’s quivering thigh. His hand worked over his cock, rubbing his thumb at the tip and squeezing him so deliciously on the upward strokes. Shen Yuan moaned, unable to hide it behind his hand that was stuck between him and the cushion, his other hand too busy running up and down the lines of Luo Binghe’s back. Luo Binghe tensed over him, inhaling sharply at the sound. His hand worked faster over his cock and Shen Yuan was but a weak, virgin man and came quickly. Luo Binghe held him steadily as Shen Yuan writhed, gasping and moaning as he fell over the edge.
Shen Yuan blinked, some of his heavy fog lifting to stare at the ceiling, reveling in the feeling of Luo Binghe tracing tender kisses along his throat, his hand lifting from his cock to start working on removing his chef coat. Shen Yuan unstuck his hand and helped as best he could with his fingers still noodly from an orgasm. Luo Binghe huffed out a laugh, sitting up to chuck his coat and undershirt off. He was nicely toned, his broad chest flexing in the warm light of the cozy lamps. His soft stomach flexed, revealing its core strength. His shoulders were so big it made Shen Yuan want to sink his teeth into them.
He wanted to, pretty badly, actually. As Luo Binghe worked on his belt to get his pants down, Shen Yuan scrambled to sit up and shuck off his emerald blazer, getting the top four buttons undone before yanking that and his undershirt off at once. He rolled over to crawl toward Luo Binghe, who froze at the sight of his bare torso.
Shen Yuan liked being looked at by him. He momentarily forgot any sort of embarrassment or self-consciousness he might have felt. He reached for Luo Binghe’s pants and helped pull them down. His cock sprang free as Luo Binghe fell back against the other arm of the couch. Shen Yuan felt blind panic overwhelm him momentarily as the monstrous weapon, blazing red and swollen so large it was starting to bead, threatened his existence.
He would try. It’s the least he could do after receiving his second gay kiss and first hand job. Luo Binghe sucked in a sharp breath as Shen Yuan gently held his cock, feeling its heat scorch his palms. His eyes flickered up to see Luo Binghe nearly panting, his stomach tensing and untensing. Shen Yuan gave it a slow stroke up and touched the tip of his tongue to the head. It tasted bitter, salty, and somehow warm. His musk, cologne, and perfumed herbs clung to his skin. Shen Yuan traced his lips down his cock, up to suck the head. Luo Binghe’s hips bucked.
Shen Yuan hummed into his cock, kissing and licking wetly up and down the length until he felt brave enough to wrap his lips around the tip, flattening his tongue and letting the broad head slip into his mouth. He sucked the girth in his mouth, bobbing his head up and down to slowly work as much as he could into his mouth.
It took everything not to gag, letting himself up. Luo Binghe’s hand tangled into his hair, gripping him close and making it tricky for him to properly lift himself up with Luo Binghe’s bucking hips. He choked, recovered quickly, and wetly worked the rest of his girth with his hands as he sucked as much as he could.
Luo Binghe came with a startled cry, nearly cracking Shen Yuan’s neck and clamping his head between his thighs. Cum hit the back of his throat forcing a cough as he spat out the dick and let the cum splatter on his face. Shen Yuan blinked, his crooked glasses catching the brunt from hitting his eye. Luo Binghe looked down at him in awe, cheeks flushed and swollen lips parted in a sweet little o.
“You’ll kill me like this.” Luo Binghe lurched forward, dragging Shen Yuan up to smash their lips together. He made out with him hot and fast, his tongue pushed down his throat. His cum soaked his mouth, bitter and salty.
Luo Binghe pulled back, breathing hard. “I hope your husband doesn’t mind.”
“He… he won’t mind,” Shen Yuan said, in a daze and breathless from kissing.
Luo Binghe threw himself over the couch, barely hoisting his pants high enough to stay up and ran to the wet bar to grab something. Shen Yuan could admire the strength of his back from here, his curly hair that had come undone and now laid free and bare down his shoulders, his bandana having long disappeared somewhere around the third cup of wine.
He returned with a bottle of cooking oil. His strong hands flipped Shen Yuan over to have him leaning over the arm of the couch. Slick fingers stroked over his low back, over his rear. Shen Yuan shivered, sensitive.
“Tell me if it’s too much, and tell me when it feels good,” Luo Binghe murmured into his shoulder, pressing a kiss tenderly into the blade.
Shen Yuan gasped at the first press of fingers against his hole, gently circling and wet. He arched into the touch burying his face into his arms. Luo Binghe rummaged with something off to the side, but Shen Yuan was lost to the slow pumping of his finger.
A yelp was pulled from him when just as a second finger nudged him, something cold and viscous drizzled down his back, starting from the center of his shoulders and oozed down the dip of his spine like a slow moving river.
“Shhh, I wanted to taste the honey off your skin.”
A hot tongue met the trail of honey somewhere on the small of his back, illicing a moan from Shen Yuan. Luo Binghe kitten licked the rich honey up his back, leaving a sticky, burning trail in his wake, until he reached between his shoulder blades, pressing a long, slow kiss to suckle the rest of the honey.
It all went straight to his cock, burning hot pressed against the couch. Luo Binghe was easily fucking three fingers into Shen Yuan before he pulled out and straightened up, running his hands up and down Shen Yuan’s sensitive sides.
“Relax, Yuan-er.” Luo Binghe said, his voice smokey and rich.
Shen Yuan relaxed as best he could into the touch as the breadth of Luo Binghe’s cock pressed against his hole. He shivered, groaning into the couch as the stretch burned, but was overwhelmed quickly by the pleasure. The shock of pain felt so good, taking the breath right out of him as Luo Binghe shallowly pumped his cock.
“So good, you’re so good,” Luo Binghe hushed as Shen Yuan shivered and moaned under him. He began to fuck him more earnestly, thrusting deeper each time and pinning Shen Yuan’s low back to the couch with one hand, the other gripping his ass to hold him just right. His own cock was rubbed between himself and the couch, understimulated but there was enough to keep him teetering.
The full length of his cock fucking him deeply, with bruising thrusts that left Shen Yuan wheeling and breathless, chocked out cries barely muffled by the arm of the couch. A hot mouth sank its teeth into Shen Yuan’s shoulders. He gave a high cry, tears pricking out of the corner of his eyes as his cock throbbed, his nerves alight with jolts of pleasure-pain. He shook underneath Luo Binghe’s hold, overwhelmed and burning with an inferno.
He came, untouched and squished against the couch as shocks of pleasure arched through him with every deep fuck of Luo Binghe’s cock. He whined, shivering. Luo Binghe cooned over him, stroking his sides as he kept a steady pace of his cock, still fucking him. The pace was quickly picking up again. Shen Yuan could barely garble out a cry as Luo Binghe’s pace broke, wildlyfucking into him until he gripped Shen Yuan’s hips with a bruising force and buried himself as deep as he could, coming hard and hot inside Shen Yuan. He moaned with him, his cock twitching pathetically beneath him, dribbling more into the mess he left.
It was after they caught their breaths, slowly wiped themselves down with a damp towel, and moved to tangle on the floor onto a blanket, basking in the heat of the fake fireplace, when Luo Binghe pulled out his phone and showed him an article.
Shen Yuan’s post-orgasmic bliss was shattered by a review for The Black Sheep written by Shen Jiu and published last week. Shen Yuan sat up quickly, blearily looking at Luo Binghe. He didn’t know what to say except stare in angry fright.
Luo Binghe sat up to sit on the balls of his feet, a blanket half-heartedly thrown over his naked lap. “I figured out you weren’t Shen Jiu around the first entree. I genuinely did bring you back here to reveal you were a fraud and blackmail you, but realized while drinking with you that you were Shen Yuan. I was so happy I couldn’t help but act on my feelings.”
He bowed his head. “If anyone was apologizing, it should be me.” he said wetly, sniffing. “For deceiving you.”
Shen Yuan thought about it for a second, rolled around this new information. “And that makes you… not want to turn me over to the police so my cousin can sue me for identity theft?”
Luo Binghe clasped Shen Yuan’s hands between his, his head bowed and refusing to meet his eyes. “Because you’re the one who reminded me that there are things in the world I love, and that I can immortalize my mother with my cooking. You inspired me so much I went to culinary school.”
He paused, looking up and frowning. “... You don’t remember?”
Shen Yuan grimaced. “A lot of my first twenty years are a bit blurry. I was immunocompromised as a kid. But…” Shen Yuan squeezed his hands back, thinking that he might remember a foggy face with wild hair and wide, nighttime eyes. “I wouldn’t mind getting to know you again. If you promise not to turn me over to the police, or my cousin.”
Luo Binghe smiled. “The meal is still on the house if you promise to go get coffee with me tomorrow. If… your husband doesn’t mind?”