WRA CH73

Xiang Zhen had said that finding a husband just meant asking the person you liked if they wanted to get married.

Could it really be that simple?

Dou Manning felt that finding a husband was a far more discreet and private matter.

When Shen Ku emerged from the bathroom, Dou Manning hurriedly stuffed his phone beneath the blanket.

Shen Ku wore only a black tank top and a pair of shorts.

Previously, whenever Dou Manning saw him, he was always clad in a reflective vest and long cargo trousers.

Across his arms, shoulders, and neck, three distinct tan lines had formed. Shen Ku wasn’t particularly pale, so the contrast wasn’t jarringly stark; instead, it accentuated the smooth, defined contours of his musculature.

Shen Ku truly was a solid, hardworking laborer, radiating a raw, untamed physical power.

By comparison, the sprite fell a bit short, which only went to show that he hadn’t participated in enough social labor yet.

Noticing that Dou Manning was staring at him intently, Shen Ku wondered if his state of undress had offended him. He instinctively reached for the plaid flannel shirt hanging from the metal bed frame. “Do you need to shower?”

Dou Manning nodded, picking up his toiletries bag and heading inside.

When the weather was warm, plant sprites only needed cold showers.

Turning on the showerhead, he found the pipes ice-cold, with no trace of warm water having run through them recently. That meant Shen Ku had taken a cold shower just moments ago as well.

Rumble—

Muffled rolls of thunder echoed from outside. The wind had picked up, and the unsecured site equipment—tower cranes, loose tarpaulins, and scaffolding—whipped up a cacophony of clatter.

Having dressed, Dou Manning emerged without drying his hair. Seeing Shen Ku seated at the computer examining blueprints brought a quiet wave of reassurance over him.

Shen Ku turned his head. The beauty looked like a fresh lotus emerging from the water, his head slightly tilted as he towel-dried his hair. He noticed that Dou Manning hadn’t changed into pajamas, but was still wearing his daytime clothes—clearly still keeping his guard up.

“Wait a moment. I’ll go borrow a hairdryer.” Shen Ku kept his own hair short and had no use for one.

“Thank you.” Dou Manning sat on the lower bunk, draping the towel over his shoulders. His loose, cascading curls rested against the terrycloth; soaked with water, his hair didn’t coil tighter, but straightened out under the extra weight, lending him an even quieter, more elegant air.

With a creak of the door, Shen Ku returned with the hairdryer. Driven by some inexplicable impulse, he blurted out, “Let me dry it for you.”

Dou Manning nodded.

Every time Dou Manning agreed to even a trivial request, Shen Ku found it hard to believe his luck.

He plugged in the hairdryer and clicked the switch upward. The no-name appliance immediately roared to life, louder than the gale howling outside. Lacking temperature regulation, the blast of sudden heat caught Dou Manning off guard; he braced both hands behind him on the mattress, practically half-reclining on the bed.

“Sorry.” Flustered, Shen Ku hastily toggled it down to medium heat. Inviting his beloved to stay over without being properly prepared—why hadn’t he hired a courier to bring his mother’s hairdryer from home?!

Dou Manning closed his eyes, leaning into the comfort. “It’s fine.”

The warm breeze coaxed out the bitter aroma of coffee nestled within the locks. The fragrance seemed to sink into the marrow of his bones—emanating from one person’s body and effortlessly seeping into the core of another’s.

Shen Ku barely dared to draw breath. Taking Dou Manning’s hair strand by strand, he dried it section by section. Working toward the nape of the neck, his rough fingertips inevitably brushed against porcelain-smooth skin as he gathered the stray hairs to dry them.

“Mmh, it’s better if you don’t blow it directly on my skin. Thank you,” Dou Manning murmured. The hair was made of coffee beans and could be roasted, but the rest of his body was made of leaves and branches; he disliked excessive heat sapping his moisture.

Shen Ku hurriedly angled the dryer upward, his face flushing crimson with shame, feeling like a scoundrel who had just been caught red-handed.

Dou Manning had noticed and spoken up to stop him.

As a highly educated man, making advances on someone who hadn’t even finished elementary school… Any disparity in status made it an unfair, predatory imposition.

He was in the wrong.

“It’s dry. You can go to sleep now.”

“Thank you.” Accustomed to waking up early to run his shop, Dou Manning naturally went to bed early. Hearing this, he drew his feet up onto the mattress, pulling the quilt completely over his head and face. “Good night.”

During thunderstorms, sprites preferred curling up entirely under the covers.

Noticing his defensive, uneasy sleeping posture, Shen Ku said, “I won’t turn off the light tonight.”

Dou Manning nodded from beneath the blanket. “Whatever suits you.”

Shen Ku set an unopened bottle of mineral water by the bed stand. “This is fresh. Drink it if you get thirsty.”

A slight rustle stirred beneath the quilt—a small nod of acknowledgment.

Shen Ku checked to ensure the door was securely bolted. Then, gripping the guardrail of the upper bunk, he vaulted up in two swift steps.

He didn’t bother using a blanket, merely lying flat on his back.

The iron bunk was on the older side. When a muscular man standing 1.9 meters tall climbed aboard, Dou Manning on the lower bunk felt a shudder run through the frame like a minor earthquake.

Shen Ku truly was exceptionally tall and imposing.

The phone screen lit up. Sneaking a peek from beneath the covers, Dou Manning saw a WeChat message from the sunflower sprite, saying he had successfully persuaded his husband to help with moving tomorrow.

[We’ll arrive punctually at twelve noon!]

[Thank you and your husband. I’ll repay you with lots of coffee beans.]

The next morning, Shen Ku woke up early. With work suspended today, the canteen wouldn’t open so early, so he made a trip out in his car to buy breakfast. Not knowing what Dou Manning liked, he bought one of everything the breakfast stalls had to offer.

Dou Manning was roused by the savory scent of food. Sitting up with a tousled mane of curls, he asked, “Did you buy this much?”

Shen Ku: “It’s for the other technicians too. Keep whatever you like, and I’ll hand out the rest.”

Dou Manning picked a fried dough stick, soy milk, and a shaomai.

Shen Ku: “Want a steamer of shrimp dumplings too?”

Dou Manning: “No need, this is plenty.”

The peerless beauty sat by the crude desk nibbling his shaomai bite by bite, while Shen Ku kept a straight face as he headed out to distribute the remaining food.

He feared that if he didn’t maintain a stern facade, he might inadvertently betray an inappropriate gaze toward Dou Manning.

After finishing breakfast, Dou Manning packed his belongings, folded the bedding, picked up his large tote bag, and prepared to return to the coffee shack.

He had to pack everything up and prepare to move.

Returning after handing out breakfast, Shen Ku caught sight of Dou Manning fully packed and ready to leave, feeling the hollow pang of a “boyfriend for a day” trial period expiring.

“Leaving already?”

“Mhm, going back to open up shop,” Dou Manning replied. He didn’t mention he was moving away, knowing how eager to help Shen Ku always was.

The coffee sprite was setting out on his next business venture; if Shen Ku found out, he would surely try to patronize the business again. Dou Manning planned to come back for Shen Ku once he achieved commercial success.

If his coffee venture took off, he could even persuade Shen Ku to quit working on the construction site.

The site was a place that sapped a person’s lifeblood in sweat.

Last night’s heavy downpour had left puddles scattered across the site’s low-lying patches. The yellow clay had turned to deep slush, squelching under every step.

Shen Ku took the tote bag, hung the strap around his neck, and crouched down in front of the door. “I’ll carry you across.”

Dou Manning was slightly taken aback. Plant sprites loved muddy patches like these; stomping through them felt wonderful. If anything, he ought to be carrying Shen Ku instead.

Shen Ku: “Hop on. If your shoes get filthy, they’ll be a pain to wash.”

Well, since Shen Ku’s boots were already covered in mud anyway…

Dou Manning settled onto Shen Ku’s back, feeling the solid, broad breadth of a human’s shoulders for the first time. Shen Ku likely hauled heavy rebar on the site regularly; carrying him felt effortless as he strode through the mud with wide, steady paces, escorting him to the entrance in silence.

Beyond lay the gravel road, where he could walk on his own.

As Shen Ku handed the tote bag back, he slipped a brand-new smartphone into the pocket of the bag.

He feared Dou Manning would decline if he handed it over face to face.

Yet he desperately wanted Dou Manning’s contact information; Dou Manning lacked a phone, but it was Shen Ku whose hands were tied because of it.

“Goodbye, Shen Ku.” Carrying the bag, Dou Manning beamed as he waved farewell.

Shen Ku: “I’m heading out on field assignment today. I might not make it back in time to buy coffee from you at noon.”

Still reluctant to give up, he wanted to inspect that downtown commercial property in person, take video footage of the interior and exterior, and consult a professional designer. Perhaps once Dou Manning saw the conceptual renderings, he would be swayed.

Dou Manning offered, “I’ll make you a cup right now then.”

The final cup.

Shen Ku happened to have cash on hand. “Sounds good.”

Seeing him insist on paying, Dou Manning smiled without saying a word. Once Shen Ku left, he sorted through all the cash Shen Ku had handed him over these past few weeks.

They were all small bills—tens and twenties—yet they completely filled an entire mooncake tin.

Counting it up, there were 2,900 yuan.

Shen Ku had spent nearly three thousand yuan on coffee alone at his stall over a single month.

Master Zhang had mentioned his take-home pay was 8,400 a month; since room and board were covered, he usually wired 7,000 back home. In the off-season, things were even tighter.

If Shen Ku kept spending like this, how would he have anything left to send home?

Early in the morning, Engineer Shen had carried a striking beauty out from the dorms, a sight witnessed by several on-site technicians.

Had his unrequited crush finally paid off?

Returning to the office to grab his car keys, Shen Ku was met with several pairs of gossiping eyes.

Given his strict, no-nonsense demeanor, the technicians didn’t dare pry.

Only the assistant engineer gazed at him with an expression of grave, patriotic concern, making it impossible for Shen Ku to ignore.

“Something on your mind?”

Assistant Engineer: “Boss, watch out for romance scams.”

That fashionable beauty looked razor-sharp. Opening a coffee stall out here of all places was profoundly bizarre—second only to an imperial exam scholar bumping into an ethereal maiden in a haunted forest.

Shen Ku: “I’d actually prefer it if he was just after my money.”

The assistant engineer turned paler with dread. “Boss, in that case, I’d rather you just got scammed out of some cash. Whatever you do, don’t take money from him.”

Too many factions were eager to drag Chief Shen into the quagmire of corruption. A honey trap was the last thing they needed; landing a Chief Engineer who was upright, uncorrupted, and avoided shady banquets had been harder than finding a spouse!

Shen Ku felt thoroughly exasperated: “Do I look insane enough to take his money?”

Assistant: “So are you two officially dating now?”

Shen Ku: “…”

Shen Ku: “I… I’m not even sure if he likes men.”

Shen Ku had no prior experience being gay, but what were the odds that the person he fell for just happened to be gay as well? Would fate really be that kind to him?

He walked on eggshells, terrified of ruining even their friendship.

Assistant: “He let you carry him on your back; eight out of ten chance he likes guys. We straight guys don’t do that.”

Shen Ku’s brow furrowed sharply. “Are you sure?”

His tone carried the weight of a structural engineer demanding lifelong legal liability for a building assessment.

Assistant: “I’m not sure.”

Shen Ku: “Have you ever pursued anyone?”

Assistant: “No. But look, if your intentions are genuine, do more and say less. If you’re faking it, say more and do less.”

A pointless platitude.

Yet it held a grain of truth.

Until he could confirm whether Dou Manning liked men, doing more and saying less was the safest course.

Twelve noon on the dot.

Just as Dou Manning finished packing everything up, a sleek white SUV pulled up on time. The chassis was clean and elegant; despite last night’s rain, the exterior hadn’t caught a single speck of mud.

On the site, nearly every vehicle was caked in grime, including Shen Ku’s.

This was the most presentable car Dou Manning had ever laid eyes on. A car reflected its owner; Xiang Zhen had landed himself a very respectable husband.

He didn’t possess many belongings—everything fit neatly into the trunk. The lounge chair and bar counter were left behind for Shen Ku.

As for the engineering textbooks Shen Ku had gifted him, Dou Manning packed every single volume.

Flipping through one of the books, he found a page with ample blank margins, tore it out, and wrote the words Relocating Shop. On the reverse, he penned: The key is under the brick. Move the rocking chair and table to your dorm to use.

Taping it to the door, he stepped back two paces, gazing at it quietly for several seconds. “Let’s go.”

Zhenzhen was remarkably clever. Both he and his husband worked in an office tower, and he had proposed the idea of selling coffee through company internal chat groups.

A staple necessity for office workers.

It aligned perfectly with Dou Manning’s initial plan of selling affordable brews to university students.

An office complex provided a far more stable customer base.

Zhenzhen’s husband and direct superiors were equally supportive.

Dou Manning asked, “Should we call it Sunflower Cafe, then?”

“No,” Xiang Zhen replied with sharp commercial instincts. “Our core selling point is your homegrown, specialty coffee beans. We need to brand it under your name to establish market recognition.”

Dou Manning nodded. “Then let’s call it Manning Coffee!”

Wasting no time, Xiang Zhen borrowed his husband’s phone and immediately posted an update on his Moments:

[Manning Coffee is officially open for business! Lattes at 9.9 a cup! Place your order now for desk-side delivery tomorrow morning!]

In the afternoon, Dou Manning and Xiang Zhen attended a crash course on how to steam milk and balance sugar for lattes.

Launching a new business was exhausting. By the time they returned from the training, Zhenzhen’s husband had already finished outfitting an indoor coffee workshop for them, cordoned off from the living quarters by glass display windows—meeting hygiene and presentation standards that rivaled commercial franchises.

Dou Manning gave the setup a test run; it operated without a hitch.

The rental apartment Xiang Zhen leased to him was a proper one-bedroom, one-living-room unit—kitchen up front, living space in the back. Compared to the corrugated iron shack, it was immaculately clean.

Dou Manning thought to himself that when the chance arose, he would brew Shen Ku a proper cup of coffee here.

He could even look up latte art tutorials online.

Two in the afternoon.

Shen Ku personally inspected the 300-square-meter commercial space and lined up an interior designer.

Dou Manning loved reading; it had suddenly struck Shen Ku that he could merge the coffee shop with a bookstore concept. He had even toured several bookshops, finding the atmosphere delightful.

This time, Dou Manning wouldn’t refuse him, surely?

Shen Ku couldn’t wait to share the news with Dou Manning.

Driving back to the site, an odd feeling washed over him from a distance.

Where was the “Freshly Ground Coffee” banner?

His heart gave a violent jolt. Abandoning the truck, he sprinted over on foot, only to spot the four words Relocating Shop taped across the door.

In utter disbelief, he peeled it off, discovering Dou Manning’s message scrawled on the reverse.

Finding the key beneath the brick, Shen Ku unlocked the iron shack. The interior was completely empty, leaving behind only the two pieces of furniture he had gifted.

Shen Ku went entirely frantic. Like a stray dog returning home only to find its house demolished, he circled the iron shack twice, desperately scouring for any trace Dou Manning might have left behind—perhaps a slip of paper with contact details blown away by the breeze.

Nothing. Not a scrap of paper in sight.

Like a search-and-rescue hound, Shen Ku combed through the interior of the container.

He could even pick out which corner held the thickest scent of coffee—that had to be where Dou Manning laid his head to sleep at night.

What good was a sharp sense of smell now?! Dou Manning was gone!

The bar counter stood solitary; no one would ever lean across it to hand him a fresh cup of coffee again.

Reaching behind the counter, his fingers brushed against a metal tin. His chest tightening, he pried it open, only to be met with neatly organized stacks of banknotes.

Dou Manning had returned every cent spent on his coffee over the past month.

He had drunk free coffee for an entire month.

Was Dou Manning trying to sever all ties between them?

No! Absolutely not!

Shen Ku snatched up his phone to call his brother for help tracking him down. Opening WeChat instinctively, panic wiped his brother’s contact name completely from his mind.

At the top of the chat list were several pinned group chats; the latest message from a technician read: I think I just saw Zhou Sicheng outside the site, couldn’t tell for sure.

His fingers mechanically typed “Manning” into the search bar, returning zero results. They had never exchanged contacts; he had gifted the phone too late.

Never in his life had Shen Ku felt so hopelessly inept.

A red badge appeared on the Moments tab, indicating his brother had posted an update.

Right—reach out to his brother for help.

Shen Ku clicked into Moments, intending to jump straight into a private chat through his brother’s profile picture.

He didn’t register what his brother had posted. Just before his thumb could tap the avatar, the post directly below struck through his chest like a length of rebar:

[Zhou Sicheng: Manning Coffee is officially open for business…]

[Zhou Sicheng replied: A new recipe crafted by my wife. Patrons are required to submit an 800-word tasting review.]

His wife’s shop???

A sudden thought clicked, and Shen Ku scrambled back to the group chats. Sure enough, several technicians had noted spotting Zhou Sicheng lingering around the site earlier.

He was positive Zhou Sicheng had never visited the site before today.

He was equally positive Dou Manning hadn’t known Zhou Sicheng prior to this.

Which meant Zhou Sicheng had swooped in on his very first visit, packing up Dou Manning, the shop, and everything else in one clean sweep.

And was already calling him his wife.

On what grounds?

He was the one who arrived first!

A suffocating despair crashed over Shen Ku, as if his chest had caved in to the wind. It was that flaunting, doting tone in Zhou Sicheng’s post; it was the lounge chair and counter Dou Manning had left behind.

He had taken even his rickety little stool, leaving behind only the things Shen Ku had given him.

Could that despicable Zhou Sicheng have discovered the furniture was a gift from someone else, forbidding Manning from bringing it along?

Shen Ku ground his teeth. He hadn’t just drunk free coffee for a month.

He had wasted an entire month of his life!

While he was still agonizing over whether Dou Manning even liked men, Zhou Sicheng had swooped in and was already calling him his wife!

Zhou Sicheng didn’t respect Dou Manning in the slightest.

He still had a chance.

Glaring at Zhou Sicheng’s Moments post with raw intensity, Shen Ku followed Fan Hao’s instructions and placed an order for a latte.

How could Zhou Sicheng covet another man’s wife?!

That Fan Hao was no saint either. When he conducted the loan follow-up on site yesterday, had he taken note of Manning’s breathtaking beauty and reported it straight up to his boss?

Why else would Zhou Sicheng have shown up today of all days?!