My Boyfriend Watches Me Like I'm a Thief - Chapter 2

When we got to Lu Shang’s place, he went to fetch the alcohol while I helped Fu Ming onto the sofa.

He soon came back carrying a whole pile of bottles.

Neither of them was thinking clearly anymore, but somehow they still managed to start a second round.

Lu Shang and I had only recently moved in together. The lease on my old apartment had expired, and he had invited me to stay at his place.

He said he wouldn’t charge me rent as long as I cooked and cleaned for him every day.

I glanced at the two drunken men, said nothing, and went to my own room.

I locked the door, took a shower, and went to bed.

I fell asleep quickly.

But that night’s dream was dark and heavy, pressing down on me until I couldn’t breathe.

Struggling for air, I opened my eyes—and found myself staring straight at Fu Ming’s face.

He had taken off his shirt and was wearing only a workout tank. His muscular arms were locked around my waist.

I jolted upright. “Fu Ming! What are you doing here?”

My shout woke him. Looking just as confused, he scratched his head in frustration.

“Sorry. I think I came into the wrong room.”

There was a sudden knock at the door.

Lu Shang.

“Baby, have you seen Mr. Fu? Why isn’t he in the guest room?”

I don’t know if my brain had simply seized up. Startled and frightened, I instinctively pulled the covers over Fu Ming, who was still beneath me.

“Maybe he went to the bathroom? Are you sure you’ve checked everywhere else?”

The door swung open.

Lu Shang glanced at me. “I was wondering why you hadn’t shut the door. Turns out the lock’s broken. You’ll have to make it up to me with a present, you know.”

I tightened my grip on the covers.

Lu Shang said he’d come back from studying abroad believing in equality. Besides, I wasn’t a woman, so there was no reason to follow all those traditions about men taking wives. Money and work were therefore kept strictly separate between us.

Still, the way he calculated everything down to the last detail made me uncomfortable.

“All right. I’ll pay you back.”

He waved a hand. “Oh, baby, that’s not what I meant. It’s just a little bit of fun between lovers. I know I’m your first love and you don’t understand these things. I’ll teach you slowly.”

“Oh, and if you really insist on making it up to me, just get me a small present. Anything will do.”

He shut the door and went off to look for Fu Ming.

Fu Ming poked his head out of my bedding.

His tank stretched tight over his waist and abdomen. Propping his chin on one hand, he looked at me.

“I have lots of doors at my place. Lots of locks, too.”

I blinked. “What?”

“If you ever have time to visit, you’re welcome to smash any of the locks for fun.”

I knew he was only trying to ease the awkwardness.

But it comforted me all the same.

***

The next time I saw Fu Ming was when the professor specifically sent me to deliver the project’s bid proposal.

I noticed that Lu Shang had left his watch there.

At that moment, Fu Ming was bringing up the security footage. It happened to show a female secretary spilling something on Lu Shang’s clothes. She knelt between his legs to wipe it off, hinting that he could touch her.

Far from getting angry, Lu Shang squeezed her waist.

“It’s all right. I know you didn’t mean to.”

Then he watched her leave.

I couldn’t help remembering how, when he’d helped me move some things, he’d stained his cuffs and trousers and told me I had to compensate him.

Apparently, women didn’t have to pay him back.

And I was a man.

The footage continued.

“Those clothes must have been expensive,” Fu Ming said. “Feeling generous?”

Lu Shang gave him an ingratiating smile. “She’s your secretary, Mr. Fu. Besides, hasn’t she already compensated me?”

Fu Ming merely smiled.

“Your secretary’s lovely, Mr. Fu,” Lu Shang went on, “but I know somewhere even better. I’ll take you there to enjoy yourself one of these days.”

“Oh?” Fu Ming said. “I heard you had a boyfriend. Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out about all this?”

Lu Shang froze for a moment, then said, “I don’t have a boyfriend, Mr. Fu. I don’t know where you heard that rumor. I only like women.”

The footage stopped abruptly.

Those words—I only like women—struck my heart like a hammer.

I set down Lu Shang’s watch.

“Mr. Fu, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Fu Ming looked at me with a smile. “Let you see him for what he really is.”

“And then?”

“Then help you get out of this misery.”