Chapter 22: The Male Model
Man Ting Park and the General Buddhist Temple are connected, so most tourists visit them together.
After watching the “Dai King” procession, they went to the General Buddhist Temple to pay respects to the true Dai King, Dao Shixun, the last monarch of the Dai people.
Zhang He recounted his legendary life before the monument, also mentioning his research into ethnic languages and his compilation of a Dai-Chinese dictionary.
Liang Youyun remarked that Zhang He would be better suited as a teacher or academic; Zhang He pursed his lips, saying it was just common knowledge, merely showing off in front of her.
Youyun rolled her eyes at him, but since she truly didn’t know, she turned to Jiang Muhe, who had been quietly standing by, and asked, “You know about this too?”
Afraid of making Youyun feel awkward, Jiang Muhe hesitated to tell the whole truth and replied, “Uh… I just found out.”
“How could that be?” Zhang He exposed him. “As far as I know, military personnel are required to study the history and culture of their stationed locations!”
Youyun glanced at him, pressed her lips together, and turned away.
Muhe sighed and shot Zhang He a subtle glare.
After leaving Manting Park, Zhang He suggested heading to the Tropical Flower Garden.
Jiang Muhe remarked that it was still just plants, offering little novelty.
Zhang He disagreed, saying, “If we go now, we can still catch the Palm Beach Carnival.” Then, with a charming smile directed at Youyun, he added, “My favorite part is the male model performance; I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too.”
Upon hearing this, Youyun’s eyes lit up. Recalling the male dancers from their last visit to the bar, she remembered how accommodating they had been, fulfilling every request from the audience. Making a living wasn’t easy for them, so they deserved more opportunities.
Before starting the car, Jiang Muhe asked again, “Are you sure you want to go?”
Youyun gave an awkward laugh. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Muhe couldn’t come up with a reason not to go; he just shook his head and said with a smile, “I can understand your going, but I didn’t expect Director Zhang to be into male models too.”
He delivered this line with a touch of dry humor; his tone and expression carried a hint of disdain, yet somehow didn’t make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Zhang He, feeling guilty under his gaze, offered an awkward smile and said, “That performance was indeed spectacular; you would have enjoyed it too if you had gone!”
Muhe smiled faintly, this time with genuine disdain.
Youyun remained silent, smiling to herself. Jiang Muhe was a man of profound depth; when someone’s suggestion didn’t align with his wishes, he wouldn’t openly oppose it. Instead, he’d deliver a light yet cutting remark that left no room for rebuttal. It seemed this man was not as humble and kind as he appeared on the surface.
The Tropical Flower Garden was vast; after entering, one had to walk quite a distance before reaching the performance area.
The music was dynamic and noisy, bodies swaying joyfully. A folk singer stood in the center of the pool, surrounded by men and women in revealing attire; a grand carnival was unfolding.
To be honest, Youyun felt a bit regretful. Although she had acted bold, she was actually quite socially anxious in such settings. Zhang He, on the other hand, was completely at ease, singing and dancing amidst the crowd.
Jiang Muhe whispered softly into Youyun’s ear, “I didn’t expect him to be so lively. I thought that apart from work, nothing else interested him.”
Youyun shook her head. “You don’t know him. Essentially, he’s an artist. At our unit’s annual party before, he always sang a song and even performed an Indian dance!”
Jiang Muhe watched the tall, slender man from afar, feeling a sense of admiration. He had to admit that he himself was still too conservative.
The heavy-echoing speakers announced the next act, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Four burly, muscular, and strikingly handsome male models stepped onto the stage. Dressed in tight black tank tops, black slacks, black belts, and black sunglasses, they exuded the aura of domineering CEOs.
They began by dancing in the pool, their synchronized movements showcasing a uniquely masculine charm.
Screams erupted continuously from the audience. After all, where in real life could one find so many perfectly proportioned handsome men? Since the ladies had come, they might as well feast their eyes to their heart’s content.
Sure enough, amidst the roaring chants of “Take off your clothes!” from the crowd, the male models simultaneously ripped open their tank tops, instantly transforming the black garments into tattered shreds.
Jiang Muhe put on his sunglasses.
He couldn’t bear to look.
Still dressed in the white shirt and black suit trousers he’d worn during the meeting, now topped with sunglasses, he was the very embodiment of a real-life domineering CEO.
Youyun glanced at him and burst out laughing, “Actually, your look today is no less impressive than a male model’s!”
Jiang Muhe said nothing, yet he shielded her constantly. When someone jostled forward, he blocked them with his body; when water was splashed, he raised his hand to cover her head; when something unknown was carelessly thrown, he intercepted it just in time.
Youyun gazed at this bodyguard beside her with an expression of tender indulgence. His brows remained furrowed, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead—whether from the heat or intense nervousness, it was hard to tell. He looked utterly out of place in this setting.
Zhang He shouted from ahead, “Come on, Liang Youyun! This handsome guy is offering hugs!”
Youyun glanced over. Sure enough, beside Zhang He stood a burly man a head taller than him, currently pulling the belt from around his waist to the rhythm of the music. How to describe it? He looked bewitching, sexy, and… utterly heart-fluttering.
“Don’t go.” Muhe grabbed her arm. “It’s too dangerous!”
“It’s fine, they’re all good people! It’s just for fun!” Youyun felt uneasy inside but wore a triumphant expression on her face.
“The water in the pool isn’t clean; don’t go,” Jiang Muhe said, frowning and still refusing to let go.
Zhang He, on the other side, grew anxious and shouted, “Hurry up, Liang Youyun! I finally got our turn!”
Behind him, several older women were already growing impatient, while the male model waved at Youyun and mimed pulling a rope, signaling, “Come on quickly, beautiful!”
Youyun tried to push Muhe’s hand away. “I want to give it a try.”
“What’s there to experience? They hug one person after another; it’s not like you’re the only one being hugged.” His anxiety made his tone hurried.
Youyun patted his shoulder. “It’s fine. At least I’ve got a great figure and good looks, so I’m not losing out.”
Jiang Muhe’s tightly pressed lips formed a straight, taut line; he neither relented nor let go.
Youyun pretended to be angry and pushed him away. “I need a bodyguard, not a nanny. Why do you have to control everything?”
She had no intention of paying attention to his mood; besides, what right did he have to care? Who exactly was he to her?
Liang Youyun strode forward, stepping into the pool and drawing closer to Zhang He and the male model. To be honest, she felt quite excited, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint why. Was it because she was taking advantage of someone? Thinking that way felt a bit dirty.
Caught up in the moment, she was almost within arm’s reach of the male model.
But suddenly, without warning, her body grew light, her feet lifted off the ground, and she found herself swept horizontally into someone’s arms!
Oh my god, which male model is this! So proactive!
Youyun exclaimed in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, then took a closer look: Jiang Muhe!
The man kept his face taut and lips pressed together; even behind sunglasses, his tension and discomfort were palpable.
Breathing slightly heavily, he held her close and made his way toward a less crowded area.
Zhang He was stunned on the opposite side, shaking his head repeatedly; it seemed the fox had finally revealed its tail!
Youyun looked at Muhe, finding the situation amusing no matter how she thought about it, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. A hint of a smile finally appeared on Jiang Muhe’s face as well.
“Take me for a walk to the middle of the pool, and I’ll forgive you,” Youyun commanded.
Jiang Muhe carried her toward the center of the pool, moving slowly. The water soaked his leather shoes and trouser legs; he must be on the verge of breaking down, disgusted by the filth.
“It’s just muscles. What’s there to covet?” he said coldly.
Youyun freed one hand and placed it against his chest. His pectoral muscles were even firmer, scorching hot, as if a fire burned within.
Muhe’s heartbeat faltered into chaos, freezing him in place.
Youyun leaned in close, deliberately teasing him by his ear: “Why didn’t you tear my clothes off?”
Jiang Muhe’s Adam’s apple bobbed uneasily. He lowered his gaze to the woman in his arms: “So you like playing games like this? Tearing clothes, whipping with belts?”
“I…” Youyun was caught off guard by his question, stammering, “I… I’ve never played like that either. I was just curious.”
“If we’re going to tear clothes, it won’t be here. I won’t let them watch.”
“…You want me to see it?”
Youyun stared at his profile: the taut cheeks, the bluish stubble, the sharp jawline—all undeniably masculine. Yet his expression remained so innocent and guileless. Ah, what a contradictory man he was.
That fire spread from Muhe’s chest, creeping up to the roots of his ears until they burned crimson.
He didn’t know how to answer her. He certainly hadn’t expected her to be so forward. A hint of resentment stirred within him; he couldn’t help but wonder if she had used this same disarming approach to fool other men before.
He stood motionless in the water, holding her close, bathed in sunlight.
Perhaps because there was no one around, and the reveling crowd hadn’t noticed them, Liang Youyun suddenly felt that this moment was too precious. Even if it lasted only a brief while, she felt content. It was as though they couldn’t be together openly, yet that didn’t stop her from briefly possessing him during these fleeting moments.
Youyun reached out, gently pinching Jiang Muhe’s slightly bluish chin, smiling warmly as she said to him, “Jealousy King.”
Jiang Muhe froze, his face instantly flushing red. How could he not understand the meaning of those two words? Instinctively, he lowered his head to look at Youyun in his arms, who was smiling mischievously, her lips curved in a gentle grin.
At this very moment, Muhe could sense Liang Youyun’s thoughts. She understood clearly; in this instant, their hearts were connected.
Jiang Muhe carried her back, and as they reached the edge of the pool, a woman in a slip dress hurried over, waited beside them, and smiled with narrowed eyes.
Muhe set Youyun down. The woman immediately grabbed his arm: “Oh my goodness, finally my turn! I’ve been watching for ages. Even though you haven’t taken off your clothes, your figure is better than those other guys! You don’t need to carry me; I’ll just sit on your lap for a photo!”
“Uh… sorry, you might have misunderstood. I’m not a male model; I’m a tourist,” Muhe said, gently removing her hand from his arm as he hastily explained.
“Oh?” the woman asked awkwardly. “So you’re just carrying your girlfriend around to fill in as a fake model?”
“…”
Muhe glanced nervously at Youyun; she covered her mouth, laughing, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
He took a deep breath, nodded to the eldest sister, and smiled. “Yes, I apologize for the misunderstanding.”
Zhang He rushed over from the crowd, panting heavily. Hands on his hips, he looked at Jiang Muhe. “Not bad! If I’d known you had this kind of skill, why would I have bothered looking for a male model? Why don’t you give me a hug too? I’m also fond of hunky men!”
After speaking, he stepped forward and made a gesture as if to embrace. Muhe knew he was joking, so he retreated while waving his hands: “Spare me, Director Zhang! You’re going to wear me out! You can’t bully an old man like this!”
The three of them burst into laughter together.
“Hey, just call me Zhang He. ‘Director Zhang’ doesn’t fit this kind of occasion!”
Zhang He also let down his guard. Suddenly, he felt that Jiang Muhe was different from what he had imagined. He had assumed Muhe was out of touch with reality, aloof and arrogant, but that was merely his own prejudice. He glanced at Youyun; deep dimples graced her smiling face, and his heart felt much lighter. Come to think of it, rather than chasing those eternal myths of love, it’s better to live in the moment and embrace a little more freedom. After all, the only thing we can truly control is this very moment, this very second.