Chapter 2 (part 2)

He would have to buy a few more furnishings and ornaments to make it more pleasant to live in.

After placing all his belongings, he made a list for immediate purchases. Food shopping came first.

Shuangjing was a residential neighborhood in Chaoyang District. It was located just a few minutes away from the Beijing Cbd (Nda. Beijing Central Business District), where the editorial office where he would be working was also located. It was a lively area, full of supermarkets and western-style restaurants. Moreover, its population included many ex-pats like himself. So he would fit right in, he thought.

Given the proximity of the shops he needed, it didn't take him long to finish his errands. He still had most of the afternoon to spare. Since he already knew the city, he didn't need to visit it, so he decided to go to the newsroom to test the waters before the official start the next day.

Taking advantage of the beautiful autumn day, he decided to go for a nice walk; he put on his earphones, turned on his player, and headed for his destination.

The editorial offices were inside a new steel and glass building. Adam paused for a second to admire the structure, but just as he was about to enter, he got the feeling that he was being watched. He removed his earphones and looked around slowly but saw no one watching him.

It must be the effects of yesterday's meeting, he thought to himself, and without further ado, he went inside. He had already received his access badge, so the guards inside frisked him before letting him through the turnstiles.

From the information he had received, he knew that he had to go to the 30th floor. So he called for the lift, but as soon as the doors opened, familiar notes sounded from his earphones, a sorrowful ballad. He hadn't heard that song in years; it reminded him of his worst days; he didn't even think it was still on his playlist.

He immediately reached out a hand to retrieve the device from the back pocket of his jeans and change the tune. But, unfortunately, the player slipped out of his hand and ended up at the feet of a person behind him. Adam reached down to pick it up, but as he approached the newcomer, he was enveloped in an intense, aromatic scent, a fragrance unknown to him, whose essence was nothing short of enclosing.

He picked up the reader and stood up again, his eyes only reaching the height of the stranger's prominent Adam's apple. He lifted his head higher to look into his face and thank him for not stepping on it, but as he met his eyes, he froze on the spot.

Two inky-black eyes were staring at him coldly while his mouth was clamped in a straight line.

Hēi Sé.

He hadn't seen or heard from him in seven years; he had cut ties with him the day he had discovered his betrayal thanks to his amiable little cousin.

Lin Shàng Wèi, Hēi Sé to friends and enemies alike, stood before him, elegantly dressed in a pearl-grey two-piece suit. The suit emphasized both his tall stature and statuesque physique very well.

He looked like one of those models who occupied the front pages of fashion magazines. The appearance was that of a young man in his thirties in the full force of his age. Yet, he had all the traits to attract the admiring gaze of all people. The depth of his inky eyes, his high nose, and his strong chin made him a unique specimen of masculinity. And he was aware of it. He had definitely improved over the last few years, from a handsome and charming boy to an irresistible man.

Adam mentally cursed himself for his stupid thoughts. What the hell was wrong with him? How could he observe him as a girl infatuated with her idol? He was the enemy, the one who had ruined his life.

He was also probably judging him negatively for his clothing because, unlike Shàng Wèi, he was dressed casually and looked more like a high school student than a young professional. The pair of denim jeans and the bottle-green cashmere pullover was not the best way to appear in front of his ex.

"The doors will be closing soon," said Shàng Wèi in a dry voice.

It took Adam a few moments before he snapped out of his trance-like state, looked away from his throat, and realized that he was talking to him.

"Please! I just came downstairs." Adam replied with no small amount of conviction.

"How strange!" Shàng Wèi exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you'd just come in," he added, flashing one of his mocking smiles.

"No! I mean, yes! It's just that I remembered there's something else I have to do first."

"What?" asked Shàng Wèi dryly.

"None of your business!" he replied in a serious tone, clenching his fists.

Even before he could add or do anything, two fingers harpooned his chin, bringing their respective faces much closer together.

"''You are wrong, Xiao Wū Mù. Everything you say, do, and think is my business. So don't think that now that you're here, I won't take advantage of the situation."

As he spoke those words, he pulled their faces even closer together. Finally, their breaths were one, and the mysterious fragrance enveloped him like a warm blanket, Adam felt his legs weaken and his gaze grow misty.

Was he going to kiss him?

But as soon as that thought crossed his mind, he was let go and pushed roughly away. The shock and lack of support made him stagger backward.

"Now, let me through. You're wasting my precious time." Shàng Wèi ordered him as he stepped into the lift.

Adam stood looking at the closed doors for a few more minutes after Shàng Wèi had left. His heart was pounding madly in his chest, and every ounce of reasoning had been sucked out of him.