Chris was tall, standing over six feet. He was dressed in a form-fitting undershirt, highlighting his well-proportioned physique. His wide-legged jeans loosely hung on his hips, and a bright red down jacket was draped over the back of the chair. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing colorful tattoos on his forearm, accompanied by a short crop of red hair.

This style was a far cry from Stephen's preferences. His values and esthetics leaned more towards tradition, appreciating a clean and tidy appearance. Unless Chris had an exceptionally attractive face, he wouldn't be inclined to strike up a conversation.

Chris' attractiveness fell somewhere between handsome and beautiful, easily noticeable and flamboyant. He was the kind of person who caught people's eyes, like a celebrity.

In addition to his flashy appearance, he had fair and clean hands. Stephen couldn't tell what kind of work he did, but he thought they were the hands of a pianist.

As Chris noticed the man scrutinizing him, he raised an eyebrow, his crimson lips curling into a smile. This handsome man was alluring just with his smile.

"I noticed you as soon as you walked in, and then you made plans with someone else. I was just thinking about the connection between you two when that person left. It's like destiny brought me here to meet you," Chris remarked.

"Well, then you should know why he left." Stephen casually placed his left hand on the table, revealing a platinum diamond ring on his ring finger, "Doesn't it bother you?"

"Why should it bother me? I had no intention of marrying you," Chris replied.

Stephen chuckled, as if he had asked a silly question.

Chris also examined him, his gaze direct and his words straightforward. "You're my type. What do you do for a living?"

"Guess?" Stephen met his gaze, a hint of challenge in his eyes.

In response, Chris lazily rested his arm on the table, letting it droop lifelessly. "I don't feel like thinking. If you don't want to say, let's forget it."

"It's not inconvenient. I'm in charge of a mechanical processing company," Stephen replied.

"Oh," Chris showed little interest upon hearing about the ordinary job. Stephen also had no intention of delving deeper into the conversation and asked, "What about you? What do you do for a living?" As he said this, he stared at Chris's hand, which had crept over the table and was now almost reaching him.

"Guess," Chris stretched his hands out, palms up.

Stephen played along and started guessing, "A musician?"

"Mmm, incorrect," Chris shook his head.

Stephen furrowed his brows, then looked at his arms. "Tattoo artist? Painter?"

"No, no. You're judging people too superficially," Chris remarked.

"Then just tell me."

Chris shrugged with both hands. "I don't have a fixed job. I've worked as a barista, a convenience store clerk, a street dance teacher... I've done a bit of everything." As he moved his hands, following the gaze of the man, "I've also worked as a hand model."

"But you can afford the membership fees here..."

"Haha, that's why I've been a son for the longest time. Mainly because my mommy gives me pocket money," Chris playfully grabbed his own hand in front of Stephen's eyes. "Do you like my hands?"

Only then did Stephen look into his eyes. "You have the hands of a pianist."

Chris also gazed at his own hands. "That's what everyone thinks. I learned to play the piano when I was younger, but later I realized I didn't really have any musical talent." As he said that, he rotated his wrist, showcasing his hands from every angle, "But then I discovered they were suited for something else..."

"What?" 

Chris suddenly leaned over the table, his scent filling Stephen's nostrils, a teasing smile on his face. "Masturbation..."

He formed a circle with his thumb and index finger of his left hand, and with his right hand, he inserted his middle finger into the circle. "Want to try? I'm pretty skilled at it."

"Now?" 

"Yeah, in the restroom?" 

Stephen was a bit speechless as he chuckled and declined, "I'm not accustomed to doing that kind of thing in the restroom, and it's too fast."

"Fast? You, a married man, came out to play just for this, right?"

Stephen had no defense and neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he extended an invitation, "Let's go somewhere else to talk. Tonight, I'll treat you to dinner."

Chris readily agreed and walked with him. 

As the car drove along, heading toward the outer ring road, Chris in the passenger seat was completely confused. "Aren't we going to book a hotel?"

"No, we're going to Lake Park."

Chris widened his eyes.

"In this freezing weather, instead of going to a hotel to fool around, we go to the park. Are you feeling alright?"

Chris seemed fixated on booking a hotel and having sex, which made Stephen quite uncomfortable.

"I told you, I don't want to rush things." He parked the car by the roadside. "If you don't want to go to the park, I can take you back now. Where do you want to go?"

"..."

Chris stared at him for a moment, then hugged himself and shrank into the seat. "Fine, let's go to the park. I don't have anything else to do anyway."

The car started moving again, but Chris' enthusiasm seemed to have diminished, and he became much quieter.

"Are you a top or a bottom?" Stephen observed his personality and appearance, finding it difficult to tell. So he asked directly.

Chris glanced at him. "I can do both. I guess you are the top, and definitely won't be a bottom."

Stephen didn't speak, which was considered agreement.

"Why though? I don't understand you guys with your rigid preferences. Isn't it about pleasure? Why not try being on the receiving end for a change?" His tone suddenly changed. "I'm good at being a top too. Want to try with me?"

"No, thanks."

"Tsk~ So boring... How old are you, by the way?"

"33."

"You're at the age where you should be having fun. Why are you so bored?"

Chris' complaints made Stephen laugh. "Whether it's fun or not, we'll only know when the time comes."

"Oh, you're not so serious after all. But anyone who leaves their family to go out and have fun can't be considered serious. With your appearance, you can actually intimidate people."

He spoke impulsively, and only afterward did Chris realize he had crossed a line. He observed Stephen's reaction, wanting to apologize quickly, but Stephen seemed unfazed. He asked in a calm tone, "How old are you?"

"24," Chris breathed a sigh of relief subtly, then made a joke, "Legally an adult, free to play around."

When they arrived at the park, the weather was clear, but the temperature was too low.

Even in the afternoon, there weren't many people around. Stephen led the way while Chris followed, tightly wrapped in his down jacket. His upper body felt alright, as a trendy guy like him would never wear long johns. Only his legs, covered by a pair of jeans, were trembling from the cold.

Looking at the trees with fallen leaves and the dry grass scattered all around, Chris couldn't help but wonder if Stephen really intended to spend the entire afternoon in the park.

Who the hell goes to the park in the dead of winter? Was this some kind of foreplay? He just wanted to sleep with him. Was it really worth the effort?

Fortunately, they didn't stay outdoors for too long and quickly arrived at a café by the Lake.

Stephen seemed like a regular here, as the waiter led him directly to a table by the glass wall on the second floor. The heating on the second floor was much better, and Chris finally started to feel alive again.

"Do you like sweets? They make a great red velvet cake here," Stephen said.

"It's okay, you can choose," Chris rubbed his hands together and looked around. There were no tourists during winter, and the coffee shop was quite empty. They were the only customers on the second floor. "Why did you bring me here?"

"To have coffee and chat."

"...Can't we do that in a café downtown?"

"It's more peaceful here."

As they spoke, their food and drinks arrived. Chris quickly took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through his body, warming not just his body but also his restless heart. Honestly, he was starting to regret it a little.

"Is there really someone who can handle you?" he asked.

Stephen smiled. "You're already handling me."

"Actually, I'm almost at my limit. My idea is simple. I just want to sleep with you. If it's too much trouble, we can forget about it."

Stephen ignored his comment and suddenly pointed outside the glass wall, saying, "Look outside."

"There's nothing outside..."

Indeed, there was nothing, just an empty space with no pedestrians. There was a vast lake and clumps of withered reeds by the lakeside, creating an expansive and desolate winter scene.

But everything looked different under the reflection of the setting sun.

The winter sunset was a fiery red, like a salted egg yolk that had been churned and overflowing with oil. The clouds on the horizon turned red as well, casting a crimson light that tinted the expansive lake, even the unfrozen water at its center, with a reddish hue.

The air was cold and dry, as if a crisp sound would be produced with every breath, but the sunset's intense red was smooth and warm. Only nature, the masterful painter, could bring such colors to worldly things.

When faced with such rare beauty in nature, people were always mesmerized, able to sense something, and their hearts gradually expanded, becoming full, easily moved.

Chris was the same.

He had lived for over 20 years, and it was the first time he had witnessed such a beautiful sunset.

After a while, he slowly turned his head. "Did you bring me here specifically to see this?"

Stephen continued to gaze outside and took a sip of his coffee. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"...Yes, it's beautiful. Honey, if we continue like this, I'm afraid I might fall in love with you."

Stephen turned his head and smiled at the man. "What's wrong with falling in love with me?"

"..."

Chris also smiled, "You're going all out. Aren't you afraid that one day you won't be able to extricate yourself?"

"The more I can't extricate myself, the more happiness I can receive from you."

The sun completely disappeared behind the mountains, and the dim light softened his gaze. "Sex without emotions is merely mechanical, and I'm not interested in that."

"Interesting." After spending the whole afternoon with Stephen, Chris's eyes started to shine. "It's the first time I've met someone like you. It's fascinating."