You're Really Wonderful

[Social Butterfly Top x Slightly Socially Anxious Bottom, seven-year age gap, 1v1, happy ending]

Blurb:

Han Mu is thirty-one this year, and has run a noodle shop for eight years.

He has gone from a young man full of ambition to the languid, frustrated man he is today.

The stove at home is warm, but his bed is cold.

Han Mu is troubled. He really wants someone to share his life with.

Spring has arrived, and everything is coming back to life. Even an old peacock wants to show off its feathers.

The precious spring rain has brought him a flutter of romance. A young street vendor with a stall nearby comes inside to take shelter.

Han Mu grins so widely his mouth nearly reaches his ears. What a lech. He saw how handsome and sweet the guy was and immediately started having improper thoughts.

He even put on an act and asked, "May I ask your surname?"

The young vendor's eyes widened. He stammered, "Chi, Chi."

"Chi Chi." Han Mu rolled the two syllables around in his mouth, growing happier with every repetition.

He was just about to make conversation when the young vendor turned and ran.

-

Chi Yin is a little socially anxious. He likes staying home and painting.

He also buys toys and accessories wholesale online, and puts a few of his own paintings out on his street stall to sell.

He doesn't call out to customers and rarely speaks to anyone first. He answers whatever customers ask.

Everything has a clearly marked price.

He hoped this would help him practice, but it never seemed to work.

Not until he met Han Mu.

The man was a loudmouth. He even left his own noodle shop to come help him advertise.

He shamelessly bragged, "This painting is the owner's original work. He's so talented, better than all those famous painters."

Customer: "Give me a break. This is pretty average."

Han Mu: "You really don't know how to appreciate art."

Chi Yin blushed and begged him to stop.

-

Later, under Han Mu's relentless pursuit, Chi Yin could only surrender.

The stove in the old peacock's home was warm, and the bed was even warmer.

Han Mu: "Yinyin, can you paint a portrait? A completely nude one. I'll model for you. It'd sell for a fortune."

Chi Yin: "..."

In the end, he painted it, but didn't sell it.

Han Mu gave a knowing "Oh." "So you want to keep it for yourself." He teased, "Which part of your painting do you like best?"

Chi Yin's face turned bright red. "I, I like all of it."

Reader's guide: 1. Noodle shop owner x night-market street vendor. An everyday-life story, warm and sweet, with no angst.

Theme: Pretty good.