[BL] NEET life in the Apocalypse

Chapter 3—Celebration! (2)

“We are so sorry, dear customer if we startled you!” Song Yu just waved his hands in front of his body.

“N-no! I’m sorry. I just don’t like people touching me so suddenly. It’s okay.” The manager and hairdresser sighed in relief. This salon had a very high fan base with customers ranging from celebrities to business tycoons. If they upset someone, then there would be hell to pay.

“As an apology, we will give you a private suite.” Song Yu just shook his head in shame.

“I just want to be in and out. Please. It was my fault in the beginning.”

The manager and hairdresser tried to negotiate some more, but Song Yu just declined. Eventually, he was seated next to a male idol looking through a magazine. Song Yu curiously looked at the magazine and couldn’t help but frown. The idol on the cover…looked very familiar.

“Dear customer, what would you like your hair to be?” A female hairdresser arrived and respectively assembled the needed items.

“Uhh…I don’t really know. What would be best for me?” Song Yu turned to look at the hairdresser, his bright black eyes staring innocently at her. The hairdresser had seen many handsome and beautiful people coming in and out, but none of them had the innocent charm of this kid.

She smiled and took out several magazines, showcasing some styles. Song Yu had never styled his hair before, so was confused at so many styles. Wasn’t there just a bowl cut?

“Sister, whatever you think is best, is what we should do.” The hairdresser smiled even wider at this use of sister.

“Then customer lets wash your hair. Do I have your permission to touch your hair?”

Realizing that she must have heard about the commotion, Song Yu blushed before nodding his head.

The hairdresser was very gentle, and although Song Yu gave her permission, he was still uncomfortable with other people touching him. Soon, the hair was washed and lightly dried with a towel before the woman took out silver hair shears.

“You have a slightly rounded face shape, big bright eyes and a defined chin. What we can do is part your hair 4/6, cut your bangs lightly and shorten the back. It gives a more youthful but cleaner feel. How’s that?”

Song Yu did not understand any of that but nodded obediently. The idol next to him who had foils in his hair, smiled in his magazine with amusement.

The hairdresser went to work, cutting his shaggy hair. With quick and precise movements, she spent over an hour styling his hair, showing him the products she used and adding additional cuts here and there.

Song Yu watched as she magically changed his hair. By the end, he was smiling widely. The hairdresser was also awestruck. Before, he was indeed handsome, but with the new hairstyle he was…even more handsome!

“Dear customer, are you a new model? Have I seen you in any magazines?” Song Yu felt flattered, but unconsciously knew that she probably said this to all of her customers.

“No. Just a normal person.” The hairdresser nodded but couldn’t help but fluff his soft hair.

“Can I take a picture of you? It’s to advertise the salon. Do you mind?”

Song Yu hesitated before nodding in ascent. The hairdresser smiled happily, and took several pictures of him, focusing on many angles of his haircut and style.

By the time he left, the sky had darkened. He looked around and debate whether he should go home or not.

But…it was celebration time! He had to do something! Song Yu thought deeply on what he wanted to do. His youth was unexpectedly short lived. He didn’t go to any university parties, didn’t drink to excess, nor have a romantic relationship.

Yes…that might have been one regret he always carried.

Song Yu…was a virgin. In the past life, he was too busy to woo anyone. And it wasn’t until it was in his thirties that he realized that he didn’t like woman.

He was a 45 year old gay virgin.

Sure, there were an abundance of people who wanted to get into his pants, but he never connected with someone on a personal level. There may have been some times where he glanced at someone and thought they were attractive, but his introverted personality prevented him from making the first move.

Being reborn might have given him a chance to redo this regret! Song Yu decided!

Let’s go to a bar!

Checking if he had enough cash, Song Yu went to a nice menswear shop and got the saleswoman to choose a nice night outfit. The saleswoman blushed as Song Yu perused himself in front of the mirror. Tapered black slacks, a white t-shirt and a black oversized button down embroidered with black silk vines. It showed off his slim waist, long neck. The black contrast to his white skin made it even whiter. It really did suit him.

Song Yu paid for the clothes and went to a nearby park to check which bars had to most handsome male traction! His jittery heart was aflutter with excitement. This is the first time in his 45 years that he would try to find someone to have a one night stand with!

He would indulge in this small fantasy of his before the apocalypse, and then…live the rest of his life. That small piece of connection was all that he needed. After that, he would go in isolation and most likely never see people again.

He could trust someone with his body, but not his heart. Scrolling through the clubs, he filtered out the gay bars, mostly due to their bad reputations in the area, opting for finding a chap ready to ‘experiment’ with homosexuality. That way, he wouldn’t feel guilty sleeping with him once and not hearing from him again.

Song Yu took a taxi and got off at a reputable club. There was already a line outside waiting patiently. The bouncers were very cautious on who could go in. Song Yu was eye-catching in his outfit and easily got in with his handsome appearance and gentle attitude.

Song Yu entered the darkened club and cautiously watched around. The club was only lit by vibrating neon lights that gave the illusion of movement.  Private tables and sofa’s for the premium members and smaller tables for the parties that came before him. Song Yu was out of his element, but he pushed down the feeling of uncomfortableness.

In one of the private booths, Wang Cheng was pouring a copious amount of alcohol into five glasses.

“Here to us finally getting together for a reunion! If it wasn’t for someone, we wouldn’t have to have waited five years.” Lu Jingxiu, Xiao Zi, and Yu Ci all laughed as they cheered, bopping glasses together. The man in question who had just arrived back in A City silently took a sip before retorting back.

“Sorry if my business took five years. If it wasn’t for someone who didn’t get that Company Y contract.”

“Oohh, he got you there,” Wang Cheng huffed in indignation.

“Lan Zhou! Just because we are partners, doesn’t mean you have right to verbally abuse your employees!” Lan Zhou just continued to sip and raise his eyebrows. Wang Cheng leaned on Xiao Zi and complained about the 5 years in hell.

The five of them had been classmates in high school and university. After graduating, Lan Zhou and Wang Cheng decided to do a startup company. In the last five years, they made splashes abroad. Now coming back to build an office in A City, this reunion was pre-emptive but also welcomed.

“I really did miss you guys. Five years really go by fast. I swear, if I have to hear my dad reprimand me one more time about how to the company should work, I would have run away!” Lu Jingxiu complained.

Their conversations became even more animated as the talked about what conspired in these five years. Lan Zhou was the one talked the least, but was the de-facto leader of this unruly bunch. He laughed at their antics before glancing around the club.

He really did miss this place. This club wasn’t always this popular. In fact, it wasn’t even a club and just a small bar with really good alcoholic beverages. It was their college hangout. Lan Zhou took in the atmosphere and lifted the corner of his mouth slightly. He never expected to come back to this city. When his parents threw him out for being gay, dis-inherited him completely, and mayhap even broke off all familial ties, he vowed that he could make it on his own.

With the small start-up funds contributed by Wang Cheng, they took a plane 5 years ago and built a small empire overseas. With the news of his return, he immediately got a call from his father the moment his plane landed.

As if the last 5 years didn’t exist.

Such irony.

He didn’t want his mood to be ruined by his dad, so Lan Zhou took a larger sip of his wine, his eyes peering over the glass. It immediately set its sights on something in the distance. His drinking stopped.

Next to the bar, he spied a tall young man sitting elegantly at the bar, sipping on an alcoholic beverage. He observed the persons profile, looking down from his perfectly styled hair, to the tip of his shoes. He seemed to be out of sorts with the rest of the atmosphere of the club. The young man was observing the dance floor and seemed pensive. Suddenly, the young man’s head turned.

In the neon light, the man’s beauty was apparent. Big black eyes, handsome features and perfectly formed lips. A small mole on the crook of his neck exposed by the t-shirt, and messy curled hair framing his face. He was…incredibly beautiful.

Song Yu felt a gaze on him, and unconsciously looked in that direction, making eyes with another. He was sitting at a private booth, his hand nursing a wine glass. He looked to be a few years older than him, his hair styled back to show his strong forehead. His eyes were deep and penetrating. Even though they were separated by a dance floor, he could feel the raw masculine authority this man had.

Song Yu’s heart thumped erratically as they continued to stare at each other.

He was really his type! That gaze, that body, that face. 10! 10! 10!  

What Song Yu didn’t realize was that underneath that perfect façade, Lan Zhou had averted his eyes and calmly sipped his wine, and tapped his foot lightly to the beat of the music. To strangers, these actions wouldn’t be unusual, but to the group of five, they immediately looked around like vultures trying to find the unsuspecting prey that their dear friend spied on.

“Jesus Christ! Lan Zhou’s in love!”

Lan Zhou blushed and coughed before calming down.

“Shut up!”