Lian Ming gave another sigh after saying goodbye and dragged the suitcase into the apartment, taking a look around to familiarize himself with everything. The apartment wasn’t big if he considered that a married couple had lived here before. Other than the kitchen, the bathroom, and a small corridor behind the door, there were only two other rooms. It made him wonder if the owners hadn’t had any children.

Lian Ming went into the bedroom and started to unpack his things, refolding the clothes before he put them away. He went to the kitchen next and took a look at the fridge. There were a few things inside but not enough to cook for today and tomorrow. He pondered and then went out again. He should first find a supermarket and get some ingredients. Eating a good meal would help him get used to living here.

He walked down the streets at random and took a few turns. Sooner or later, he was bound to find a supermarket, right? There should be at least one in every neighborhood, maybe even more.

Even though he thought so, it still took him half an hour to find one. Ah, it wasn’t that easy to get to know a new place. He pushed the bag with the groceries up on his arms and then carried it ho…

Lian Ming stopped after walking for a few streets along what he had been sure was the way back to the apartment. Looking around now … it didn’t seem familiar at all. He bit his lip and turned into the next street but it was still the same. He had no idea where he was!

Lian Ming stared in a daze, not knowing what to do. Should he casually walk around in the hope of getting back? But what if he went in the wrong direction and got even further away? Then hail another cab? But that’d be embarrassing if the apartment was just around the corner.

He glanced around uneasily. Just then, he spotted a man talking on his phone on the other side of the street. His eyes lit up. Chinese! He rushed over and excitedly started to talk.

The man lowered his phone and stared at him in a daze. "What?"

Lian Ming’s eyes widened. This … Don’t tell him this guy didn’t speak Chinese?! He opened and closed his mouth but then, his expression lit up. He shoved his grocery bag into the guy’s arms and took out the cards his sister had given him, sifting through them until he found the right one. He held it in front of the guy’s face and earnestly recited his address.

The man looked at the card and his brows very slowly raised higher before he lifted his phone to his ears. "Linda, I think I already found him." He said goodbye to her and then sized Lian Ming up who repeated his address. Ah, really young.

The man looked back at the card and took it from his hands, turning it around to see what the other side said. Huh. As expected. Who knew what kind of fishy website he had used to translate this but the seemingly innocuous plea to point him in the direction of the place where he lived had turned into a … slightly more ambiguous variation:

'Hello, handsome stranger! I am Lian Ming, aged 23, gay, and have just arrived here. I’m a little lost right now so why don’t you bring me home? You can come in for a cup of coffee and a snack. If you’re not in a committed long-term relationship yet, I don’t mind being the snack either.'

The man scratched his head and looked up at Lian Ming again. He tried hard to remember the bit of Chinese he had been forced to learn by his grandparents when he was young and gave a strained smile. "Alright, let me bring you home then."

Lian Ming’s expression lit up when he finally hear familiar words and he nodded fiercely, putting the cards away and taking hold of the grocery bag again. Then he followed him back to the apartment.