Before I got on the bus back to Saigon, I didn’t forget to stop by Nam and Sang’s house to say hello. Nam saw me and quickly pulled me inside, excitedly asking, “How many rounds last night?”
Sang, beside me, was also eagerly awaiting my answer. I scoffed and scornfully replied, “Not a single round at all.”
Sang clicked his tongue in frustration, “Damn, this guy is so weak. I told him everything, and he’s as timid as a rabbit.”
I put my hands on my hips and confronted him, “So you took off Thinh Van’s pants and put him in my room, right?”
Sang nodded, proudly saying, “Yeah, I did it, no need to thank me!”
Those two were really perceptive; they knew Thinh Van liked me the first time they met him. And Thinh Van not doing anything to me wasn’t because he was timid, but like me the other day, no matter how much he wanted to, he wouldn’t dare cross the line with Truong An. I just found Thinh Van to be kind and capable. After more than eight hours, the car I hitched a ride in with Thinh Van finally stopped in front of the gate. I said goodbye to him and walked inside, my head bowed as I looked at the pebbles scattered along the path. The promise I made to Thinh Van last night still lingered in my mind. Two years from now, I wonder what will become of us both.
As I approached the doorstep, I suddenly felt a slight chill. I looked up and was startled to find Truong An standing there, staring at me intently.
Truong An raised his eyebrows and asked, “Why are you so startled? Were you startled last night?”
I don’t know what Ngoc Nam told Truong An again. I could only try to change the subject: “What are you doing here? Aren’t you going to work today?”
Truong An still didn’t take his eyes off me, making me feel uneasy all over. He coldly replied, “It’s my house, I can stand wherever I want. It’s my job, I can take a break whenever I want.”
I gave a wry smile: “Then you stay there. I’m going to take a shower first.”
I stepped onto the porch, brushed past Trường An, and slipped straight inside. As soon as I was out of his sharp gaze, I felt a few pounds lighter. I didn’t know what Trường An had gotten into with the production team, but I knew I needed to get away quickly before he used me as a target for his “shooting practice.”
I had just reached the bathroom door when Trường An came in from outside and said, “Prepare a pot of bathwater for the child, Nanny. Give it to Phúc to bring up later.”
I hurried over to him, grumbling, “It’s my day off today, isn’t it?”
Trường An replied nonchalantly, “I’ll pay extra, are you going to do it?”
I clicked my tongue and silently put my clothes back in the room. What could I do? Who would ever refuse money?
After preparing the bathwater, I called Trường An. He walked in completely naked, giving me a fright. I asked, “Where are your underwear?” Chang An climbed into the bathtub and said, “You saw it all the other day, why bother wearing anything?”
He was right, but I still felt something was off. My eyes avoided looking at his private parts, afraid he’d notice and tease me, leaving me with no way to deny it.
Chang An casually lay in the tub, stroking his penis in front of me. Seeing my attempts to avoid his gaze, he said, “Why are you shy? If we turned off all the lights and it was pitch black, you probably wouldn’t be shy anymore, right?”
For some reason, I felt like Chang An was trying to pick a fight with me. I quickly washed my hair and scrubbed my back, then found an excuse to rush out. Before I left, Chang An just said, “Get ready, we’re going to a party later.”
I stopped at the bathroom door and refused, “Oh my god, I don’t know anything about going. Aren’t you afraid of losing face if you take me along?”
Trường An stood under the shower, rinsing off the soap from his body, scrubbing as he replied, “You don’t need to know anything. Just follow me and protect me. Hurry up and shower, I’ll take you shopping.”
After a while of questioning, I agreed to go along because Trường An said I just needed to act like a wooden dummy standing next to him. But I only said “agree” to make it seem democratic; once he’d decided, I had no right to refuse.
Anh Tài stopped the car in front of a luxurious suit shop. Just looking at the outside, I felt I wasn’t classy enough to go inside. Trường An said to Anh Tài, “Take Phúc to my usual hair salon and ask the barber to give him a party haircut.”
Then Trường An opened the door and walked straight into the suit shop. Anh Tài drove me to the hair salon, and there was an empty chair inside. Anh Tài exclaimed, “Wow, luckily the owner has a free customer.”
The chubby-cheeked barber smiled broadly: “Since Mr. An ordered it, of course it has to be available, sir. Shall we get it done now?”
This was the first time I’d ever been to an air-conditioned barbershop, sitting in a comfortable leather chair under a gleaming mirror. The barber’s scissors moved smoothly, and before long, I had a completely different look.
He then led me to the hair salon to wash, dry, and style my hair with hairspray. I was stunned by my transformation in the mirror.
Mr. Tài clicked his tongue: “That’s why they say teeth and hair are the cornerstones of a person’s appearance!”
The barber finished styling my hair with a few combs, praising me: “If this young man were a little fairer-skinned, he’d look just as good as a TV actor.”
Just then, Mr. Tài received a phone call. As soon as he answered, he heard the voice on the other end urging: “Are you done yet, sir? It’s almost time.”
No need to ask, I knew who it was. Mr. Tài started to pull the hair out. I ran straight to the car; even without him pulling me, I would have run as fast as I could.
The car returned to the suit shop, and Mr. Tài urged me to go inside. The interior was spacious, grand, and luxurious, with hundreds of suits displayed on mannequins. Each suit had a different style, its own unique features, and overall, they all possessed a different kind of beauty.
I gazed at them, completely mesmerized. A male employee approached me and asked, “Did you come to the wrong shop?”
That question immediately brought me back to reality. Judging by my clothes, I certainly wasn’t someone worthy of entering this place.
I replied, “Ah, I’m looking for…”
He interrupted me, a contemptuous smile curling at the corner of his mouth: “I don’t think you’ll find anything suitable here. Go outside, follow this main road, go past Kim Bien Market in District 5, you might find something there. There’s a lot of stuff there, you can find anything from cheap to cheap.”
So even in such a fancy place, people can still utter such harsh words.
I took a deep breath, unsure how to respond, when suddenly a loud voice called from afar: “Vinh Phuc, come here!”
I looked up and saw Truong An glaring in our direction. The employee was probably smart enough to understand who Truong An was calling, as evidenced by his face turning as green as a frog’s bottom. He panicked even more when another person appeared beside Truong An and heard him say, “Is this kind of person worthy of serving me?”
The other man heard this and immediately replied, “Of course not, sir. Please forgive me. Even the sweetest flowers and ripe fruits sometimes have worms gnawing at them. If you don’t see them, that’s fine, but if you do, you must remove them immediately.”
I ignored his dejected face and headed straight towards Chang An. He led me deep into the dressing room, where a suit he had probably chosen beforehand was already hanging.
I stood still like a puppet as he helped me put on the suit. Afterward, he stood there staring at me for a long time, his expression as bewildered as when I stared at myself in the hair salon.
I asked, “Do I look strange in this outfit, sir?”
Chang An pressed two fingers between his eyebrows, his eyes closed, and a smile on his lips as he said, “I don’t know how many more things you have up your sleeve to surprise people.”
I asked again, “Do you want me to tell you another surprise?” Trường An said seriously, “Go ahead, I’m listening!”
I glanced at the pendulum clock on the wall, leaned closer to his ear, and whispered, “We’re late!”
Only then did Trường An realize the party was about to begin. He hurriedly pulled me to the car, urging Tài to drive us both to the party.
Watching Tài weave through traffic, my heart pounded in my chest. But I had another question I wanted to ask Trường An: “You’ve probably been to many parties before, right? So, before I came along, you went alone?”
Trường An replied, “No, I went with the photographer who took your picture the other day. But I don’t know what happened to him today, he took the day off.”
I nodded, understanding. Trường An continued, “Anyway, next time there’s a party, you can go with me.”
A small joy suddenly blossomed in my heart. Even though it was just a simple statement that didn’t confirm anything.
Stepping out of the car, a carpeted walkway immediately appeared before us. About a dozen meters away was a reception desk on one side, and on the other, a backdrop had been set up for attendees to take photos.
I trudged along behind Trường An, when he suddenly stopped, tilted his head, and whispered, “Look up, look straight ahead. You look like a movie star today, there’s nothing to be self-conscious about.”
Encouraged by Trường An, I felt much more confident. When we reached the reception desk, a hired reporter immediately invited him up for a photo. Trường An was very familiar with this, and the photoshoot was done in a flash. As we walked through the gate to go inside, the reporter suddenly stopped me and said, “Oh, sir, let’s stay and take some pictures before going in.”
I shook my head, “I’m just…”
Trường An interrupted, “This is your assistant.”
The reporter scratched his head: “Oh, I’m sorry. He was dressed so elegantly, I thought he was a guest.”
Truong An led me inside, then turned to me and whispered, “See? People might even think you’re a movie star!”
Inside the lavish party, which resembled a castle, the guests were all dressed like princes and princesses. Despite the crowd, the atmosphere was quiet, not noisy or boisterous like a bar or any other party I’d ever attended.
A waiter approached Truong An with a glass of wine on a tray, gesturing for him to take it. Truong An, unusually haughty, said, “Give me another glass.” Then he turned to me and said, “Go get me a clean glass of wine.”
I asked, “Huh? What do you mean by clean?”
Truong An replied, “It means just the glass and the wine.”
I understood the hint and followed him around, observing him from the moment he picked up the glass until he poured the wine, looking for anything unusual. Even though it was his first time at a party like this, I didn’t think Trường An was overly anxious. Because… “Who wouldn’t want a man like him?”
After bringing wine to Trường An, he said, “Go wait for me over there. I’ll go greet the guests for a while. If you see me faint, bring me back immediately, okay? Eat whatever you like. Take a little on your plate, finish it, then take more. Just don’t eat like you’re scooping rice at home.”
I smiled shyly and went to the other side. If Trường An hadn’t warned me, I might have actually scooped the food like I was scooping rice. I quietly observed the other guests. Not everyone was carrying a glass of wine and greeting people like Trường An. Instead, they were carrying plates and walking around, enjoying each dish on the magnificent long table. The food was incredibly appetizing, and everyone who tried it praised how delicious it was.
I slowly approached the table to get a plate and spoon, scooping up food while glancing at Trường An as if afraid someone might snatch him away. Chang An kept glancing over at me, like a father juggling entertaining guests and keeping an eye on his child playing.
The food here was really delicious; I only regretted not being able to pull up a chair at the table to devour the food to my heart’s content. There was also fruit juice, coffee, and wine on the table. I tried a little of each, clearly feeling the difference between the drinks here and the best I’d ever tasted.
As I reached for some more pastries on the table, a girl next to me suddenly asked, “Hello! Are you a model?”
I shook my head: “No, I’m not. I’m… uh, an assistant to…”
She interrupted: “Ah, let me guess. An assistant to Mr. Tô, right?”
I smiled: “No, I don’t even know who Mr. Tô is.”
She pointed towards Truong An and said, “There, do you see the man in the white suit? That’s David Truong An. And the man talking to him is Mr. To.”
Mr. To didn’t look much younger than Mr. Nhat. But he seemed much more energetic. People his age usually have pot bellies, but Mr. To’s stomach was flat even in his shirt. In short, he looked much more dashing than his age; I’m pretty sure he must have been a famous hot boy when he was younger.
I took the opportunity to ask, “Really? And what about the man in the white suit?”
She replied, “Handsome. Extremely handsome. A model-like physique, as talented as a superstar. When he smiles, girls swoon, but he rarely smiles. Talking to him could easily freeze you solid; he’s incredibly cold. I’ve never seen him get close to any model or actress before. It would probably take a world-class supermodel to move him.”
Inside, I thought, “If you want to see him being close with a girl, you’ll have to wait until your next life; he’s gay in this life.” But outwardly, I nodded, “And he has multiple personalities too, you know. I’m his assistant, I know.”
She excitedly said, “Wow, really? So he also has a cheerful and friendly personality, right? Do you have any pictures of him smiling? Why don’t you secretly take a picture of him smiling and show it to me? I’ll buy it all!”
I nodded perfunctorily. People usually recoil at the mention of multiple personalities. Someone who could ask such a few questions like her must be a huge fan of Trường An.
She kept rambling on while I just ate and watched Trường An on the other side. She said, “Why don’t you become a model? You’re handsome, bright, and have captivating, mixed-race-like eyes.” “If you’re willing to be a model, tell me, and I’ll ask Mr. Tô to promote you for a few months, and I guarantee you’ll be at the top of the magazine industry.”
I blurted out, “Is Mr. Tô really that formidable?”
She didn’t pay much attention, only saying, “He’s powerful, not formidable. A male model chosen by Mr. Tô to promote will definitely have a solid career. It’s a pity you’re not a model; think about it carefully!”
Looking more closely now, I realized that not only Trường An, but everyone who met Mr. Tô had to show him a certain degree of respect. But perhaps I was too “old-fashioned” to dream of becoming a model and getting promoted, because I knew perfectly well that nothing in this world is given for free.
At this point, Mr. Tô stepped onto the stage to speak: “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to attend tonight’s party. As you all know, we all recently had the opportunity to collaborate with The Boys magazine to bring our publications to the international market.” I am honored to be the link between The Boys magazine and local producers. And without further ado, I would like to share our initial success.
The Boys magazine has responded very positively to the publications you have submitted, and they have also responded by sending back a set of photos to describe their wishes and to guide our future image direction. Please turn your attention to the screen…”
Everyone focused their attention on the giant screen on the stage. Mr. To stood to one side, signaling to the backstage crew to prepare to project the images.
But the moment the images were displayed, I was instantly speechless. My eyes widened in disbelief at the images everyone was seeing.
That”These are the sample photos I had taken the other day.”
A murmur of admiration filled the room, making my ears ring as my heart pounded as if it were about to burst out of my chest. I never imagined those images would be shown right here, and that I would even be in the audience.
Chang An had been looking at me for a while, and he quickly came closer. I asked, “What’s going on?”
Chang An shook his head: “I don’t know. Maybe the photographer secretly sold this set to the other side.”
It turned out that a few days ago, the magazine had wanted to buy this set for ten times the price, but Chang An had clearly stated in the car that he wouldn’t sell it.
Perhaps the photographer did secretly sell the set; no wonder Chang An couldn’t find him anywhere today.
The screen showed the final photos, and Mr. Su spoke again: “This is the photo set from producer David Chang An. Could you please give David Chang An a round of applause?” The entire auditorium erupted in thunderous applause, followed by a flurry of eyes turning towards Trường An. Unfortunately, Mr. Tô spotted me and immediately exclaimed, “So, David Trường An is here with the model from this photoshoot! I invite David Trường An and the model to come up to the stage!”
Unable to refuse, Trường An led me onto the stage. He reassured me, “Don’t be afraid, just stand next to me.”
I trembled uncontrollably. I had never stood before such a large crowd before, and certainly not to promote a revealing photoshoot of myself.
The crowd below cheered, many taking out their phones to take pictures as souvenirs. Mr. Tô asked, “First, may I ask what the model’s stage name is?”
He offered the microphone to me, but Trường An quickly grabbed it: “Let me introduce to everyone, this is Phúc Lê.”
Mr. Tô exclaimed, “He’s truly a rare talent. I wonder where David Trường An found model Phúc Lê? Could you share the details?”
Trường An replied, “Phúc Lê used to be my assistant, but I saw his potential as a model and decided to train him myself.”
Amidst enthusiastic applause, Mr. Tô continued, “Manager David Trường An is indeed a young man of exceptional talent, as the rumors say. The theme of this photoshoot was highly praised by The Boys magazine. What inspired David Trường An to come up with this theme?”
Everyone listened attentively, trying to remember the valuable advice from an experienced veteran. Trường An replied, “Actually, Phúc Lê came up with the theme; I just refined it. The secret here is that the producer shouldn’t be too rigid or formulaic. Occasionally, we need to consider the creativity of the models themselves, which gives the publication its soul.”
The applause below grew even more enthusiastic. Mr. Tô was about to ask something more when Trường An was quicker. He raised the microphone to his mouth: “I would like to thank you all for your appreciation of this photo series titled ‘Country Boy.’ And to avoid wasting any more of your precious time, I would like to yield the stage to other content. Thank you very much!”
Amidst the applause, Trường An led me down the stage. Mr. Tô wanted to stop us but didn’t know how. But if the stage was an obstacle for me, then once I stepped down, I encountered another.
Everyone crowded around Trường An and me, partly to offer celebratory drinks, partly to ask about our experiences. More bottles of wine were opened, and each time a producer approached Trường An and me, we had to drink another glass.
Among them was a girl dressed like a French aristocrat. She wore a small hat with a veil draped over her hair. On her high heels was a daring black dress with a high slit that went all the way up to her thigh. Her figure was full of alluring curves, shimmering with countless gemstones, both attached and worn.
She greeted him in a gentle, cloud-like voice: “Congratulations! I hope you’ll share your experience with us so that we can have a better chance to go abroad!”
Trường An handed his glass to the waiter, and the girl then offered him one of her two glasses, saying, “This glass is yours, you left it on my table earlier! You said you’d drink this with me, but you had to rush onto the stage before you could, remember?”
It wasn’t a big deal, so Trường An accepted the glass and happily clinked glasses. After chatting for a while longer, melodious music began, and the stage was filled with a performance by the extremely famous singer Mộng Trà.
Seeing that the guests had relaxed and were focused on listening to the music, Truong An said, “Wait here for me. Wait until I finish using the restroom, then we’ll go home.”
I nodded perfunctorily and then listened intently to the melodies that were like honey poured into my ears. Before, I had only listened to music on the radio, the sound was crackly because my hometown was far from the radio station, so the signal was never clear. Today, hearing the gentle lyrics sung by a golden voice, I finally understood what art truly was.
Singer Mong Tra sang one song after another, but I still hadn’t seen Truong An come out. I secretly wondered if he had gone to the restroom? But that wouldn’t do. That makes perfect sense. Because I haven’t seen Trường An eat anything since the beginning of the evening.
Having a feeling something was wrong, I ran straight to the restroom following the waiter’s instructions. Inside, I saw only one stall with the door closed. It turned out he really did need to relieve himself, which had startled me.
I was about to turn and leave when I heard a faint sound from inside…
“Boss, everything’s ready. He’s under the influence of a mild anesthetic; I’ve given him the antidote. He’ll wake up in a few minutes. Then the high-dose aphrodisiac will take effect. Just relax and enjoy yourself!”
“Room 405, boss. I’ve locked the door carefully; he won’t escape even if he grows wings! Just go to the reception desk, say the code ‘Wine,’ and when the receptionist asks again, just say ‘Wine’ until you get the key…”
A chill ran down my spine. Clearly, the person inside wasn’t Trường An. But when I went in, the entrance was empty; Chang’an seemed to have vanished from the party.
I took a chance and ran to the reception desk, reciting the code: “Wine!”
The receptionist asked, “What can I do for you?”
I persistently replied, “Wine!”
She looked confused: “Please go inside the banquet area; a waiter will bring you your wine. Let me escort you inside, okay?”
I shook my head and replied, “Wine!”
Only then did she nod, a sly expression appearing on her face, and ask, “White wine or dark wine?”
I simply replied, “Wine!”
At this point, she seemed to understand, and immediately pulled a key from a drawer. The key was engraved with room number 405.
I ran up the stairs like a madwoman, gripping the railing so tightly I forgot to breathe. When I reached the fourth floor, I only dared to take a breath before running headlong to room 405.
I inserted the key into the lock and, without thinking, rushed straight inside. On the bed, Truong An was bound hand and foot, his mouth taped shut, lying there in a dazed state, but continuously making meaningless moaning sounds…
I intended to take Truong An away immediately, but as I stepped out of the room, I heard hurried footsteps coming up the stairs. Perhaps Mr. To had discovered that I had taken the key and left earlier; if I went down now, we might both be caught.
I searched every nook and cranny, but the only thing I found was an empty wardrobe. I stuffed Truong An inside, left the door open, and crawled in with him. I whispered in his ear, “I beg you, if you can hear me, please be quiet. If you keep moaning, we’re both dead…” I don’t know if Truong An heard me, but the moaning sounds indeed stopped. My guess was correct; someone had come. But to my surprise, it was Mr. Tô who arrived. Seeing the room door wide open and nothing on the bed, he flew into a rage and made a phone call.
He cursed, “Damn idiot! Who took him away?!”
Just a minute later, another person appeared in the room. He said, “Boss, I don’t know. I locked the door carefully earlier. When I went to the bathroom to call you, I saw the model standing outside listening to music…”
Mr. Tô snarled, “You son of a bitch, I don’t care! If you don’t find him and bring him back, you know what your fate will be!”
The other man panicked, “I beg you, boss, please forgive me. I’ll go find him, I’ll go find him and bring him back for you!”
Mr. Tô then received another phone call. He picked it up, his tone completely different from before: “Ah, I went to the bathroom. Oh my god, how early. Wait a minute, I’ll be right out!”
After saying that, he hurriedly left, so disappointed that I didn’t even hear him close the door. I quietly took out my phone, found Tài’s number, and called for help: “Tài, is that you? Come up to room 405. Hurry, An is in trouble!”
Tài was always on standby downstairs, so he should be here soon. Trường An started making groaning sounds again. I pleaded, not knowing if he could hear me: “Be quiet, he’ll be back soon!”
But Trường An refused to be quiet, even wriggling so much that the wardrobe shook. I had no choice but to open the door and put him back on the bed, not forgetting to lock the door and remove the key in case I needed to defend myself inside.
I untied Trường An’s hands and feet and peeled off the tape from his mouth. As soon as I removed it, Trường An growled like a hungry tiger; no matter what I said, I couldn’t get him to fall silent again.
Suddenly, he pinned me down on the bed, aggressively tearing off my shirt, so hastily that almost all the buttons came undone. Then, Chang An rubbed his face against my body, his breath hot as fire.
Oh no, I forgot… Besides the anesthetic, he was also given an aphrodisiac!
By the time I realized it, Chang An was completely under the influence of the drug. He hastily undressed himself, then pulled my head towards his crotch to do something that anyone can imagine.
But his movements were anything but gentle, mostly due to the drug. Chang An moaned like the singer Meng Cha singing a high note; I wanted to cover his mouth like I was sucking on his penis, but I couldn’t reach it.
Chang An’s penis was very hard, probably because of the drug, the veins were clearly visible. He kept thrusting his penis deep into my mouth, regardless of how much I was gagging. I just needed to know he was being intensely aroused.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. I knew it was Tai coming up here. I ran off the bed to say a few words, but a pair of strong hands grabbed my arm and held me back. Truong An had already had his fill of oral sex, but his lust hadn’t subsided at all. He turned me around, rubbing the head of his penis against my anus. I knew exactly what was about to happen.
I used all my strength to reach the drawer on the bedside table and took out a condom. I had to use all my strength to put it on Truong An’s penis. As soon as I put it on, he thrust his penis into my anus without a second’s delay.
There was no going from strong to gentle; every thrust from Truong An was powerful. I trembled as his penis continuously reached the deepest point inside me. At this moment, Tai, impatient, called me. I picked up the phone, unable to speak normally anymore: “Wait… um… wait outside… outside… um… Wait a moment… Don’t… Don’t go anywhere… um… go anywhere, okay?”
After saying that, I hung up quickly, because Trường An kept thrusting into my butt from behind, making it impossible for me to speak clearly. If Tài had pressed his ear against the door, I’m pretty sure he could have heard Trường An’s moans echoing inside.
Tired of the back position, Trường An flipped me onto my back so he could play in the traditional position. He even pulled my head in to kiss me, only then did the moans stop reverberating throughout the room. My mind was numb with pleasure; at this point, Uncle Trung’s advice was just wind blowing past my ears. What could I do? Love is a matter of the heart.
Perhaps he didn’t know I was in love with him, because no matter how rough he was, I didn’t feel any pain. Only the overwhelming pleasure made me feel like I couldn’t control myself any longer. After more than twenty minutes of intense activity, Trường An finally gave in, thrusting deeply, groaning loudly and releasing an astonishing amount of semen. At that moment, I also climaxed, not just physically, but because my emotions had reached an overwhelming peak.
Although this situation was somewhat ironic, it was something I had dreamed about for many nights. What dream, when it comes true, doesn’t bring overwhelming happiness?
Trường An collapsed on top of me, his nostrils inhaling and exhaling heavily like a ventilation pipe. I lay still, motionless, because the event had happened so unexpectedly; at this moment, I didn’t know what to do next.
Outside, there were voices: “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
I pushed Trường An aside. Although he had released his lust, he was still drunk. I dressed myself, then dressed him. I covered his shirt, which had almost all its buttons missing, with my vest.
Outside, a louder voice shouted, “Who are you? What are you doing standing here? Are you deaf?”
I carried Truong An out the door and looked him straight in the eye, saying, “I should be asking you who you are!”
Seeing that he’d been caught red-handed, he panicked and ran down the stairs. Tai and I hurriedly helped Truong An down the stairs, took him home first, and we’d figure things out later.