During their two-day visit in Kyoto, they stayed at the Arashiyama Onsen as Japan is famous for its hot spring culture. In order to further examine ancient architecture, the group visited the Kinkakuji Temple** and the Ryoanji Temple. ** In addition, the group visited the Fushimi Inari Temple.**

  After soaking in the hot springs in the evening, the group gathered to drink tea and play cards. In the spirit of the occasion, many of the group members wore a Japanese yukata that was provided by the hotel.

  When they all met, most of the guys were laughing and boasting about their looks in the yukata especially the over-weight Zhu Hongzhen. He felt like he was a yakuza boss from a movie. With the garment’s long figure lines, correctly worn yukata looks quite elegant, but no one could pull off the proper look, except for Gu Yu.

  Somehow, since the yukata fit Gu Yu perfectly, he looked like a model. His presence invoked the saying, ‘shamed by one’s inferiority when flanked by genius.’


  Now sitting around the low Japanese style table, the card game was in full swing. Although sitting, like the weighted relaxed stance of contrapposto, Gu Yu looked effortlessly comfortable with his leg up and his arm leaning on his knee. In his hand, he held his cards. Glancing at everyone’s expression, he surveyed his own cards and elected to draw from the deck. He languidly reached out for a card and in doing so, his yukata stretched and exposed more of his bare skin. Examining his cards, he lazily checked the sets on the table then in a fluid motion, he discarded one card: “Next.”


  Keenly aware of Gu Yu’s smooth skin underneath his yukata, Zhang Siyi couldn’t retract his line of site. Watching him expose more of his collarbone and chest by his calm, graceful movements, Zhang Siyi couldn’t control the desire that welled up. His movements were just too sexy!

  “It’s your turn.” Zhu Hongzhen stretched out his leg and used his foot to nudge Zhang Siyi.

  “Oh, oh!” Ears turning red, Zhang Siyi immediately retracted his thoughts and altered his sitting position to disguise the reaction of his lower body part.

  Not a minute had past, when Zhang Siyi’s line of site returned to Gu Yu and gazed at him from top to bottom. Indulging in the perfect male physique sitting before him, Zhang Siyi couldn’t take his eyes away from Gu Yu.

  When the game ended, Zhang Siyi couldn’t take it anymore and decided to go to the bathroom for a breath of air.

  Leaving the room, he heard a burst of laughter emanating from the women’s public area that was separated by a half-length curtain. Zhang Siyi looked down and saw the legs of several Japanese girls under it.

  For any straight male, the scene might be tempting, but for Zhang Siyi, his heart wasn’t moved at all. It was only until he got to the end of the hall that he realized and reacted. – Damn, I don’t even respond to women anymore. There is no going back!

  In the restroom, Zhang Siyi opened his clothes and sighed deeply to relax. Letting his bladder go, he looked down at his body covered by the yukata. Zhang Siyi thought Japanese clothing was very beautiful and rather liked it. In the eyes of others, he wondered what he looked like.

  As he was lost in thought, Gu Yu entered the room. When Zhang Siyi noticed him approaching, his body immediately reacted and his heart started pounding in his chest……

  Think cold thoughts!

  Zhang Siyi assumed Gu Yu was coming into the restroom to urinate, but in fact he went straight towards him.

  “What is it?” Zhang Siyi asked casually.

  Gu Yu did not answer him. The closer he moved towards him, the more Zhang Siyi felt that something was wrong. Now facing Gu Yu, he frantically tried to assemble his yukata and said: “You…… What are you doing?”


  In the next second, he was caught off guard by Gu Yu’s grasp. The back of his hand and arm, made a hard ‘slap’ sound as it hit the back wall of the room.

  Zhang Siyi: “.……”


  Gu Yu brought his face close to the crook of Zhang Siyi neck and inhaled deeply like a hungry animal smelling his prey, ready to eat.

  Zhang Siyi unconsciously moved slightly and bared his neck for Gu Yu, expecting a kiss and his lips. However, Gu Yu didn’t kiss him.

  While Gu Yu was deeply inhaling Zhang Siyi’s essence and exhaling, both his breath and the tip of his nose gently brushed against Zhang Siyi’s delicate neck, along his jawbone and cheeks, tantalizing him.

  The withhold of contact was more sensual then an actual kiss. By the force with which Gu Yu grabbed his wrist, Zhang Siyi knew he wasn’t the only one enduring.

  Quivering, Zhang Siyi eagerly anticipated the sensation of Gu Yu lips on his skin. He wanted Gu Yu to kiss him, to bite him, to enter him……

  Wait, Wait, Wait, Wait! Hold Up…… Oh, my God! What the hell am I thinking! (q/////q)

  Slowly, Gu Yu took a deep breath and finally stopped moving. He buried his face in the crook of Zhang Siyi’s neck and in a strained whisper he said: “Did you know that at every moment, you are seducing me to eat you.”


  “.……” Fuck! You are doing the same thing to me!

  “.……” Fuuuuuuck! Why is this a corporate trip!?

  Even if they wanted to get another room, in order to avoid suspicion, they went back to their assigned room with their colleagues and went to bed laying far apart. Not able to express their desires with physical action, both Zhang Siyi and Gu Yu didn’t get any sleep during the night. Waking up with a pimple on his forehead, Zhang Siyi felt utterly frustrated and depressed.

  Leaving Arashiyama, the group stopped at Nara** then finally came to the last stop on their trip, Tokyo.

  In Tokyo, the company arranged for them to stay at a standard business hotel. In the afternoon, they arrived at the hotel and went to their rooms to drop off the luggage. When everyone was assembled the group went out to visit the National Museum of Western Art.

  Along the Rainbow Bridge, ** they saw many painted cars and cheering people on the road. At first, the group didn’t think there was any special significance to it, but when they got to the other side of the bridge, they stopped to watch the group of people that were wearing colorful clothing while holding a rainbow flag.

  The crowd was cheering and shouting. Many of the people were hugging and kissing in public, even those of the same sex. The scene was quite spectacular!

  One person chimed in: “Isn’t the rainbow flag a gay symbol?”


  “Shit! These people are all gay?”


  “I think so……”


  Seeing so many gay people together, everyone was quite shocked. Lu Qiao looked frightened and even Zhang Siyi was stunned.

  “Damn, Tokyo is too open!””


  Is the Rainbow Bridge a gathering place for gays?”


  Curious, they continued to watch them for a little while longer and realized that today was a special day as many people of the group were holding signs up with the date ‘June 26, 2015’ written on them.

  Enquiring a passerby about it, they learned that June 26, 2015 was the day that the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.

  “No wonder there are so many gay travelers together!”


  “But, what does the United States law have to do with these people here in Japan?”


  “It has nothing to do with the country, but rather the gay community as a whole. For them, the legality of homosexuality in the United States represents a more open world so this is a day worth celebrating.”


  Zhang Siyi discretely looked at Gu Yu. He saw Gu Yu looking his way with the same pleasure in his eyes. Yes, although this incident has nothing to do with them, it has undoubtedly given them hope.

  Love is gender-neutral. There will be no place on Earth to hold them back.

  After returning to the hotel, Zhang Siyi thought about whether or not he should approach Tao Fei and talk to him about swapping rooms. Tonight, he especially wanted to stay with Gu Yu.

  Maybe his emotions were influenced by what he witnessed today or perhaps, the stress from maintaining a distance and cautious attitude has become unbearable. Zhang Siyi was hungry and thirsty.

  His resolute decision, spurred him into action. When he opened the door, he didn’t expect Gu Yu to be there and say: “Lu Qiao went to sleep over there.”