The charm of a good man

The lights in the research institute were even colder and whiter than those in the hotel, and the air was filled with the mixed scent of disinfectant and paper ink. When Gu Yansheng arrived, Lin Yang was like an ant on a hot pot, pacing around in front of his computer, his eyes red and swollen, obviously from crying.

"Brother Gu! You are finally here!" When Lin Yang saw Gu Yansheng, he felt like he saw a savior, and his voice trembled.

"Don't panic, take a deep breath." Gu Yansheng casually placed Jiang Lin's car keys on the table, and immediately pulled out a chair next to Lin Yang and sat down. His movements were accompanied by a steady sense of strength, which instantly soothed Lin Yang's emotions that were on the verge of collapse.

"Which data set specifically? Show me the original records, and also the version you entered."

He spoke clearly and got straight to the point. Lin Yang quickly pointed to a stack of documents and an open computer screen.

Gu Yansheng quickly got into the zone. He leaned slightly closer to the screen, his slender fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard, calling up the background data records, his eyes scanning the densely packed numbers and charts intently. The light coming in from the window outlined the profile of his focused face, his thick eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyelids. Because of the fever that had just subsided and the rush to get here, his face was still slightly pale, and fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead.

But this did not detract from his reassuring, gentle, and reliable demeanor. Occasionally, he would point to a certain point on the screen and whisper a few questions to Lin Yang. His voice was not loud, but it had a strange soothing power.

Lin Yang stood aside, his heart filled with panic and self-blame, but gradually calmed down under Gu Yansheng's orderly handling and gentle attitude. His eyes involuntarily followed Gu Yansheng.

Watching Gu Yansheng's slightly furrowed brow as he worked diligently, watching his beautifully shaped lips pursed in concentration, watching him roll up the sleeves of his white shirt to reveal his sleek forearms, revealing a few lingering red rashes, watching him patiently explain to me where the mistake was, why it was important, and how to correct it...

Lin Yang's heart began to beat violently and uncontrollably.

This senior, who is usually gentle and amiable and always guides him patiently, stepped forward and turned the tide at this critical moment. His appearance was like a dazzling light that accurately hit Lin Yang's young heart.

Gu Yansheng's temperament, which was a mixture of professionalism, gentleness, reliability and even a bit of fragility - the temperament after the attack, all had a fatal attraction to Lin Yang.

An unprecedented throbbing and desire grew in his heart - he wanted to get closer to this person, wanted to know more about him, wanted to... pursue him.

An hour and a half later, under Gu Yansheng's guidance and personal operation, the erroneous data was corrected, the model was re-run, and the results returned to normal. Gu Yansheng then quickly helped Lin Yang sort out the key parts of the report that needed to be revised to ensure a smooth handover tomorrow.

"Okay, it's done." Gu Yansheng breathed a sigh of relief, leaned back in his chair and rubbed his sore neck, a gentle smile of relief on his face.

“Next time before entering critical data, remember to cross-check it three times or use a script for secondary verification.”

"Brother Gu! Thank you so much! Really! If it weren't for you, I would have been dead this time!"

Lin Yang was so excited that he was incoherent. He looked at Gu Yansheng with eyes full of gratitude and... undisguised ardent admiration, "You are simply my savior!"

Gu Yansheng was amused by his exaggerated tone. "It's not that serious. Just be more careful next time. It's getting late. Pack up and go back early." He glanced at his phone. There was still some time before the two-hour deadline given by Jiang Lin, but he had to go back quickly.

"No, no!" Lin Yang grabbed Gu Yansheng's arm as he was about to stand up, his movements a bit anxious and intimate. "Brother Gu, you helped me so much and came here without even having dinner. How can I let you go like this? I'll treat you to dinner! I have to! Otherwise, my conscience will be uneasy!"

Gu Yansheng was startled by his pull and subconsciously tried to pull his arm back, but Lin Yang held it tightly, his eyes full of sincerity and earnestness. Gu Yansheng looked at this junior in front of him, whose eyes were still red and whose face said, "If you don't agree, I will cry in front of you," and he couldn't bring himself to say no.

Mr. Nice Guy couldn't control his habit of obeying the other person's wishes. He was soft-hearted by nature, and what's more, the other person had just experienced great ups and downs, so his gratitude at this moment was beyond words.

"This... you're welcome, it's just a piece of cake." Gu Yansheng tried to decline politely.

"It's just a small favor for you, Brother Gu, but it's a huge deal for me! Brother Gu, just give me a chance to express my gratitude! Just a meal! It'll be quick! I know there's a new mushroom hotpot restaurant nearby. It's very light, definitely not spicy, and not irritating at all!"

Lin Yang's eyes were bright and full of anticipation, and he deliberately emphasized the word "light", obviously noticing Gu Yansheng's clothes and the faintly visible rash.

Gu Yansheng was in a dilemma. Looking at Lin Yang's eager eyes, he realized that he was really hungry, and... mushroom pot did sound safer.

He sighed helplessly and said with a wry smile, "Okay, let's just eat something simple, really simple. I have to go back quickly after eating." He deliberately emphasized "go back quickly."

"No problem! I promise not to waste Brother Gu's time!" Lin Yang immediately smiled and was as happy as a child.

Gu Yansheng took out his phone, clicked on Jiang Lin's WeChat profile picture, paused his finger on the screen, and typed quickly

[Jiang Lin, Lin Yang's data problem has been solved, but he insisted on treating me to a meal to express his gratitude. I can't refuse! Let's have a mushroom hot pot near the research institute. It's light, I promise! I'll be back right after! About... an hour?]

He thought for a moment and added, with a touch of comfort and assurance:

【Don't worry, I will be careful and only eat safe food. 】

After sending the message, Gu Yansheng felt a little uneasy, as if he could already see Jiang Lin's frown. But things had come to this point, so he had no choice but to go. He put his phone back in his pocket and said to Lin Yang, "Let's go."

Lin Yang's smile widened, and he attentively helped Gu Yansheng pick up the thin coat draped over the back of the chair. Together, they walked out of the brightly lit building of the research institute. Lin Yang walked beside Gu Yansheng, occasionally stealing glances at his handsome face. His heartbeat quickened again, as he pondered how to naturally build a closer relationship during dinner.

However, Gu Yansheng's thoughts had already drifted back to the apartment with the strict "guardian" and the corgi waiting to be fed, as well as... the WeChat message for which he didn't know what kind of reply it would get.

This mushroom hotpot restaurant near the research institute is elegantly decorated, with warm yellow lighting and wooden tables and chairs creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. The rising steam, wrapped in the rich, fresh aroma of various mushrooms, is truly appetizing.

Lin Yang deliberately chose a quiet booth in the interior, attentively helped Gu Yansheng pull out the chair, and rushed to order food.

He had obviously done his homework and ordered all kinds of nourishing and mild mushrooms: morels, bamboo fungus, porcini... The soup base was a light black chicken soup, and he specifically told the waiter not to add any irritating seasonings.

"Brother Gu, do you think these are okay? They are all warming and nourishing and should not irritate the skin." Lin Yang handed the menu to Gu Yansheng for confirmation, his eyes full of consideration and caution.

Lin Yang was very considerate and did not ask about the rash on his arm, as if he was deliberately avoiding the issue. These actions made Gu Yansheng feel relieved. At least he didn't have to think about what reason to use to answer him.

Gu Yansheng glanced at the menu and found nothing wrong with it. He nodded and said, "Very good, thank you."

A thin coat was draped over the back of the chair, revealing a tightly wrapped long-sleeved shirt underneath. It looked somewhat out of place in the warm store, and a few red rashes on the collar were still visible under the light.

The bottom of the pot soon boiled, and Lin Yang enthusiastically acted as a "waiter".

He deftly put various mushrooms into the pot, accurately controlling the boiling time, then used a serving chopstick to pick up the perfectly cooked, plump and tender mushrooms and carefully placed them in the bone dish in front of Gu Yansheng.

"Brother Gu, these morels are ready, they're really fresh, come and try them!"

“The bamboo fungus has absorbed the broth and tastes amazing!”

"The porcini mushrooms need to be cooked a little longer. This is ready!"

He hardly had time to eat himself. He was observing Gu Yansheng's reaction the whole time, diligently serving the dishes and adding soup.

Every time he picked up a dish, he would inched closer, trying to close the distance. His eyes would occasionally fall on Gu Yansheng's face, watching his cheeks flush slightly from the heat, watching his eyelashes droop as he lowered his head to take small bites of food, watching him occasionally inhale slightly because the mushrooms were too hot, and subconsciously lick his lips...

Lin Yang's heartbeat was getting faster and faster, and his ears were feeling hot.

"Brother Gu, you really helped me a lot." Lin Yang put down his chopsticks, held the cup with both hands, looked at Gu Yansheng with sparkling eyes, and started the conversation, "If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't have been able to keep this job. You are such a good person, both capable and gentle. Everyone in the institute says so!"

Gu Yansheng, who was gasping for air from the burn of a porcini mushroom, waved his hand sheepishly, "It's not that exaggerated. It's just my job. You've worked hard, too. Just be more careful next time."

"Yes! I will definitely keep Brother Gu's teachings in mind!" Lin Yang nodded vigorously, then changed the subject, with a bit of curiosity and tentativeness, "Brother Gu, you are so nice and so handsome... you must have a girlfriend, right?" He asked cautiously, but there was expectation in his eyes.

Gu Yansheng was choked by the sudden question and started coughing, "Ahem... No, no. I'm very busy with work." He answered subconsciously, but Jiang Lin's expressionless face inexplicably flashed through his mind.

Lin Yang's eyes lit up, and he was secretly happy, but he put on a look of regret on his face. "Ah? How could it be! Brother Gu, you are so good... Then, where is your boyfriend?"

He asked a little more directly. In today's open society, homosexuality is no longer a strange thing, but as he said it, his heart was pounding and he stared at Gu Yansheng's expression.

Gu Yansheng was truly stunned this time. Boyfriend? The word seemed so distant to him. His mind was instantly in a tizzy, flashing back to the doctor couple in the parking lot, the flirtatious heckling at the wedding, and finally settling on Jiang Lin's steady heartbeat as he held him last night, and his cold back this morning...

He shook his head subconsciously, his tone filled with a bit of confusion and irritation that he himself didn't even notice. "No. Stop guessing and eat."

He lowered his head and poked the mushrooms in the bowl with his chopsticks, obviously not wanting to continue this topic.

Lin Yang keenly noticed Gu Yansheng's irritability and avoidance at that moment, but he automatically interpreted it as a signal of "single", and was even more excited because Gu Yansheng did not explicitly reject the word "boyfriend".

He knew when to stop and immediately changed his tone to a relaxed one, "Okay, okay, I won't ask any more questions. Brother Gu, eat more. This soup is really good. I'll help you get a bowl to warm your stomach!"

He began to serve enthusiastically again, with his mind full of calculations.

[Brother Gu is single! Great opportunity!]

Gu Yansheng ate his food without tasting it, his mind racing against time. He stole a glance at his phone; Jiang Lin hadn't replied to his message. This silence unnerved him more than any reprimand. He ate faster.

Finally, when Lin Yang was still unsatisfied and wanted to talk more, Gu Yansheng put down his chopsticks, his tone gentle but unquestionable.

"Lin Yang, thank you for your hospitality. The mushrooms are delicious. But I really have to go back. I have something to do at home."

He deliberately blurred the meaning of "home". For some reason, Lin Yang's mind automatically emerged with the "childhood friend" who had the green pass card for the research institute's office.

"Ah? So urgent..." Lin Yang was a little disappointed, but he stood up immediately, "Then let me take you home, Brother Gu? It's hard to get a taxi at this time."

"No, no, I drove here." Gu Yansheng quickly refused and picked up the coat on the back of the chair. "You should go back and rest early too. You have to submit a report tomorrow."

"Well... okay." Lin Yang reluctantly sent Gu Yansheng to the door of the store. The night wind was blowing. He looked at Gu Yansheng's handsome silhouette under the street light and mustered up the courage to say, "Brother Gu, thank you so much today! Can I treat you to dinner again some other day... some other day? Just as... a formal thank you!" He looked at Gu Yansheng expectantly.

Gu Yansheng now just wanted to get back to Jiang Lin's apartment as soon as possible. Facing the possible "trial", he really had no energy to deal with it. He could only vaguely respond, "Let's talk about it later. Let's go." He waved his hand hurriedly, turned around and walked quickly towards the parking lot.

Lin Yang stood there, watching Gu Yansheng's hurried back disappear into the night, a determined smile on his face. He felt like he had really fallen in love with this gentle, reliable, and somewhat mysterious Senior Gu.

The first step of contact was very successful, next... I have to plan how to pursue her!

Elsewhere, Gu Yansheng slid into the driver's seat, fastened his seatbelt, and the first thing he did was pick up his phone again. On WeChat, Jiang Lin's profile picture remained silent, with no replies. Only the two messages he had previously sent hung there, lonely and unnoticed.

“…”

Gu Yansheng stared at the silent dialog box, his heart aching. Knowing Jiang Lin, this kind of silence often meant... a storm was brewing. He scratched his hair irritably, started the car, and drove towards the place that now made him feel uneasy and inexplicably like his only destination.

What was waiting for him in the apartment was probably not Xiaofei's warm welcome, but Dr. Jiang's cold face that looked like a storm was coming.