Yue Chuan climbed out of bed to drink water. He was not used to the central heating and was literally woken up by thirst. He glanced at the clock on the classroom wall and saw it was only five o’clock, for fuck’s sake. The sky was not even light yet. In a daze, he suddenly heard the sound of running water coming from Bai Qinglin’s unclosed bedroom.
“Why is he showering so early in the morning…” Yue Chuan downed a glass of water, preparing to go back to sleep.
Just then, Bai Qinglin walked out wearing a gray T-shirt. The ends of his hair were damp, and faint purple veins ran along the back of his hand. His long, slender fingers were covered by a towel. He seemed to have not noticed Yue Chuan at all.
The two of them brushed past each other.
Yue Chuan was bewildered, “Am I air?”
Bai Qinglin gave a perfunctory “mm”.
Yue Chuan was already disoriented to begin with, so he actually believed it. He followed Bai Qinglin out to the balcony.
Bai Qinglin’s skin was very fair. It would only turn slightly red during exercise or when he was emotionally agitated. There were dumbbells and a treadmill on the balcony. The snowy weather made the roads slippery and unsuitable for a morning run, so he might as well do it at home.
After running for half an hour, Bai Qinglin went back to shower again. After showering, he then tossed a strange coat into the washing machine.
Yue Chuan, half asleep and half awake, groggily returned to his room. Therefore, he did not see what Bai Qinglin did by the washing machine.
He threw it in, yet he picked it up again.
Bai Qinglin had a high-bridged nose and a deep-set eye contour with slightly narrow eyelids. He was clearly expressionless, yet at this moment, his body acted on its own accord. His fingertips caressed it for a long time. He buried his head and lightly sniffed the coat. His lips also touched the fabric. The residual scent was still there.
When he realized what he was doing, his arm tensed up abruptly, and he quickly threw the clothes in.
After closing the washing machine, Bai Qinglin lit a cigarette. His neck was stiff. His Adam’s apple rolled in a swallowing motion. In the quiet room, only the ticking sound of the clock could be heard.
After daybreak, Zhu Jingru went for coffee again as if nothing had happened. He liked the way Bai Qinglin looked when he was annoyed, wanting to say something but unable to tell him not to come. It was less icy and had more human warmth. Occasionally, their eyes would meet across the distance. Zhu Jingru was still the one whose ears turned red, but that did not matter.
At night, Zhu Jingru gave all the flowers in the small garden to the bartender who had successfully proposed. He looked at the empty garden and felt a sense of novelty. His watch displayed the time. As expected, the coffee shop across the street had already closed.
Zhu Jingru ran out, hot breath puffing from his lips. He gazed at the long ginkgo avenue. The slender figure in the distance was so familiar.
There was nothing to hesitate about. He called out, “Brother Bai—”
When Bai Qinglin turned his head, Zhu Jingru smiled and waved.
The next day, he continued to time it for when the coffee shop closed and would call out just the same. Although he was completely ignored, Zhu Jingru was still tireless in his efforts. He was truly happy, so happy he could die, as if he had glimpsed a unique secret.
Because he knew Bai Qinglin would turn his head to glance at him.
He just knew.
The third and fourth days passed in a flash. Zhu Jingru used various tricks to make his presence known. Sometimes he would be lying on the third-floor balcony, sometimes he would appear by the riverside that Bai Qinglin frequented, although they never exchanged more than a few words.
Until the fifth day, after the coffee shop closed, Bai Qinglin walked to the middle of the ginkgo avenue before turning his head to look behind him.
This time, there was no one.
Bai Qinglin stood motionless on the spot for a while. His glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, his expression hard to make out. Then he continued walking forward, forcefully throwing the pink rose, which was enclosed in a plastic-sealed bag, into the trash can by the road. It had withered anyway.
Before entering his home, Bai Qinglin used the wrong finger on the fingerprint lock. He was clearly taken aback for a moment. Just then, a sound came from the elevator, accompanied by the opening of a door. Those footsteps also stopped beside him.
The familiar scent of vodka wafted over, faint but impossible to ignore.
Bai Qinglin instantly relaxed his clenched fist. He turned his head, his expression cold. “Go downstairs, go back.”
“I almost didn’t get to see you today.” Zhu Jingru tilted his head and looked at him with pleading eyes. Every part of his features was beautiful. Because he had rushed to catch up, his hair was slightly messy and the tip of his nose was red. The silver hoop on his ear swayed lightly.
Bai Qinglin averted his gaze and immediately intended to close the door. However, Zhu Jingru’s hand happened to be gripping the edge of the door. Closing it would definitely crush it.
“Zhu Jingru.” Bai Qinglin was at his wit’s end. This was the first time he had said this name to his face.
“Hm?”
“Go back to where you should be.” Bai Qinglin simply turned around, leaving the door ajar.
If it were anyone else, they would probably have taken the hint and left, but Zhu Jingru’s curiosity got the better of him. He simply leaned his back against the doorframe and surveyed the living room. The messiness of a bachelor was completely at odds with Bai Qinglin, who was so fond of cleanliness he bordered on having mysophobia.
Many books were placed under the television. The traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls were also very beautiful. In comparison to Zhu Jingru’s own handwriting, which was not fit for refined company, he recalled Bai Qinglin’s polite compliment that day. It was truly a case of a novice meeting a master.
Bai Qinglin was a cultured man who hid his talents, while Zhu Jingru was a vulgar to the point of being obscene scoundrel.
Liking and lust were inextricably linked. He suddenly had a strong desire to have someone personally teach him how to write and paint. Both light and dark ink could be written on his body, until it traced down his chest to the inside of his thighs.
His thoughts were extremely wanton, but alas, reality was much harsher.
Zhu Jingru only dared to be this audacious. Because Bai Qinglin’s sense of territory was extremely strong. He was currently standing by the sofa pouring hot water without a word, his expression already showing impatience. If he were provoked any further, he might really be pushed to curse.
Zhu Jingru suppressed his eagerness to test the limits. After all, cursing in bed would sound more pleasant. He changed the subject in a soft and gentle voice to lower Bai Qinglin’s guard. “Brother Bai, when are you returning my coat?”
Bai Qinglin’s expression did not change. Only when he turned his head did his expression appear slightly unnatural. The coat, which had dried on the balcony, had been ironed until it was smooth. The wrinkles were gone, and what he had done before would not be discovered. But the palm of his hand still could not help but feel hot.
He did not answer.
Zhu Jingru continued to speak: “It will have to stay at your place for a few more days. I have to go to another province for a trip. I’ll be back in a while.”
As soon as the words fell, he turned to leave, always coming and going as he pleased.
Bai Qinglin was reaching out his hand to close the door, but he never expected it to be pushed open by an external force.
Someone had turned back. The air itself seemed to dance, wafting with the clear scent of vodka. Those few seconds became incredibly slow. The red mole at the corner of Zhu Jingru’s eye became clearer. The distance between them was as close as it could possibly be, their two breaths intertwining with each other.
Zhu Jingru took advantage of Bai Qinglin’s lack of reaction and, like a dragonfly skimming the water, lightly kissed his glasses lens. It was not like flirting, but more like a magnanimous declaration of love, unrelated to desire, done openly and frankly. His chin brushed faintly against the man’s nose. The words he spoke were both ambiguous and serious.
“I happened to see you throw away that bouquet of roses.”
“It’s okay, I’ll give you more next time.”
