The Road of Panic

Zhao Zheng had been straight for twenty-nine years. He never imagined that one day, for a man, he would take the path that frightened him most. Even less did he expect that the path he agonized over before finally deciding to defy his family's expectations and take it would be nothing more than a way to pass the time for that man. "Him? Just something to fool around with. I've never tried a straight guy before, so it sounded pretty fun. And I just happened to have a bet going with someone." Qin Shaojun wore his usual lazy smile, lounging bonelessly on the sofa with a man on one side and a woman on the other, looking neither quite wicked nor quite respectable. Everyone in their circle knew he was a player. There had never been a shortage of people around him over the years. The only time he had quieted down a little was during the six months he spent pursuing Zhao Zheng. And now, mere days after finally winning him over, he was back out partying. "You seemed so serious about him before. You were even about to quit smoking and drinking for his sake. We thought you'd turned over a new leaf," his friends teased. "You're a real bastard. Does Zhao Zheng know you pursued him on a bet?" "No." "Damn, that's cold." "But now he does." Zhao Zheng stepped out from the corner, his face frighteningly pale. The lazy look on Qin Shaojun's face froze the moment he saw Zhao Zheng. He hurried to his feet and tried to take Zhao Zheng's hand. Zhao Zheng slapped his hand away and repeated, trembling, what Qin Shaojun had said earlier. "Never tried a straight guy before, so it sounded pretty fun?" Before Qin Shaojun could react, Zhao Zheng continued: "Thank you, Young Master Qin, for taking time out of your busy schedule to play with me for more than half a year. It really was quite fun." "But from now on, let's never see each other again." "The game ends here." P.S. 1. Turning a straight man gay. 2. A gentlemanly seme who thinks he is straight because of his traditional beliefs X a strong, seductive, manipulative uke who knows exactly how to lure a powerful man. 3. Classic melodramatic angst, with the pursuer chasing his lover to the crematorium. Theme: Overcome fear and face your true self.