The sound of a car horn covered up his accelerating heartbeat. Zhu Jingru couldn’t help but let his mind wander, as if pondering why. He let his cheek brush against the coarse wall, turning his head to look at Bai Qinglin. A bead of water from a melted snowflake was on his chin, slowly sliding down his jawline, and happened to drip right onto Bai Qinglin’s fingertip.
A single drip. If ambiguity had a sound, it would surely be deafening.
“I will,” was Zhu Jingru’s answer.
The words that came out of Bai Qinglin’s mouth were still merciless. “One last time, stay away from me.”
The two silver hoops on Zhu Jingru’s earlobe trembled slightly. “We are very far apart right now.”
“…” Bai Qinglin was silent for more than ten seconds before slowly releasing his hand. He lowered his head and put the cigarette butt in his mouth. The lighter sparked to life. The agitation gnawed at his reason like an ant, and he could only rely on nicotine for temporary relief.
As he turned to leave, the Su brand cigarette held between his fingers was suddenly taken by Zhu Jingru’s outstretched hand. The damp cigarette butt instantly changed owners.
“That day we went fishing, Brother Bai owed me a cigarette.” Zhu Jingru’s tone was so relaxed and natural that it was impossible for one to feel any aversion.
Bai Qinglin’s fingers curved slightly. His brows furrowed with growing annoyance. He had no way of guessing what outrageous thing Zhu Jingru would do next. The methods that worked on other pursuers were all useless. He could only resort to the cold treatment, choosing to ignore him and continue walking forward.
Zhu Jingru did not foolishly follow him right away. He lowered his head and coughed, silently counting to ten in his mind.
Sure enough, after a short while, Bai Qinglin stood motionless at the traffic light intersection ahead.
The street was very long. Ginkgo leaves scattered with the wind. Amidst the sounds of several car horns, it was Bai Qinglin who took the initiative to turn back and walk toward Zhu Jingru.
He handed out the smoke-gray scarf. Inadvertently, he saw that the marks from the previous scraping therapy had already faded from his Adam’s apple. The remaining red marks were likely caused by the wind. After his gaze swept over, Bai Qinglin left without a word.
Zhu Jingru stared at Bai Qinglin’s back. The colder a person was, the more gentle and meticulous they were. He held back a laugh, like a cat that had just been placated, and slowly followed along.
Licking honey from a knife’s edge, the thrill was what he licked.
Arriving downstairs at the apartment building, Bai Qinglin’s mouth, which had been stubbornly shut the entire way, finally opened again. His Adam’s apple, exposed to the air, trembled slightly as he uttered two simple words, “Go back.”
The long cigarette they had shared had gone out midway. It was held between Zhu Jingru’s fingers. He rested his chin on the scarf and asked, “You’re not planning to let me return this to you?”
“…”
Zhu Jingru pulled off the scarf and postured as if to hand it back.
Bai Qinglin turned to the side, and Zhu Jingru’s reflection was clearly visible in his dark pupils. “I don’t want it anymore.”
Zhu Jingru, satisfied, wrapped the scarf around his neck. Then, he smoothly took off his own coat and threw it to Bai Qinglin, the movements so fluid it seemed as if everything was perfectly logical. “It’s a matter of courtesy. Brother Bai, you gave me a scarf, so I can only give you this.”
Bai Qinglin froze on the spot. He was swept up by the refreshing scent of cologne that rushed to his nose. His expression suddenly stiffened. The residual body heat was still there, very soft, very fragrant. He wanted to throw it away immediately, but that strange sense of satisfaction reappeared in his heart, like greedy ants silently gnawing away.
The blue veins on the back of his hand bulged prominently. He clutched the coat, unable to let go for a moment.
Zhu Jingru walked away dashingly without looking back. Once outside, the wind blew, and he felt cold to his bones. But what kind of person was he? He had already parked his car nearby.
At ten o’clock at night, Zhu Jingru sat on the edge of his bed with his upper body bare, the red cord around his waist conspicuous. The unfinished cigarette was lit again and held between his lips. He couldn’t help but lower his eyes and smile.
It counted as an indirect kiss with another person. Tsk, what a pervert.
When he sent a message to harass him before bed, he surprisingly had not been blocked. Zhu Jingru marveled at this unexpected delight. He did not think too much about it, closed his eyes, and fell into a peaceful sleep, completely unaware that the coat he had intentionally thrown to the other man had a tortuous fate.
It was originally hanging on the balcony of Bai Qinglin’s home.
At two in the morning, along with the flickering ember of a cigarette butt, it disappeared for several hours.
The next day, it was hanging on the balcony again.
Many wrinkled marks had appeared on the coat, as if it had been tightly clutched in someone’s hand, heavily caressed and ravaged.
