The record player switched from jazz to rock, then to classical music, changing songs on a whim. Zhu Jingru was lying on the floor, drawing the image of Bai Qinglin’s back.
What else could he do, when their current relationship couldn’t even be considered friendship? At best, it was a temporary peaceful coexistence between a “pursuer” and “the pursued.”
His strokes could no longer be so nakedly direct; he should change tactics and play hard to get.
Zhu Jingru blew the fine dust from his charcoal pencil. Adhering to the good virtue of always following through on his word, when he said he wouldn’t seek out Bai Qinglin for the time being, he really didn’t. It’s just that his daily texting became exceptionally diligent.
He’d take a picture of a newly finished painting and send it over.
In the past few days, if he saw a bouquet of flowers, a cloud, or even a bird’s nest that had fallen to the ground, he had to tell Bai Qinglin about it. He stopped just short of sharing every detail of his eating, bathing, and sleeping habits.
There were hundreds of messages and pictures alone.
“Brother Bai, Central Park has replaced a batch of its trees. The transplanted variety isn’t good; they definitely won’t grow tall. Years ago, I really liked the poplar forests in the great northwest, so I just went to Gansu and planted trees for two years. Learned a lot of cultivation techniques.”
“Just got back from an urban village. The traditional Chinese doctor there is an old buddy of mine. His vegetable shed collapsed under the snow, and the courtyard wall was smashed by some little bastard who was drunk driving. I just borrowed an excavator and helped him level it. I’ll go back in a few days to pour the cement and help him rebuild the foundation.”
“Actually, the stars above the city aren’t that pretty. The ones in the Himalayas are what you’d call bright. Brother Bai, if I have the chance, I want to take you to see the Milky Way.”
“I went to get my guitar repaired halfway through and happened to pass by a clothing store. I bought several new outfits. I’ll wear them for you next time.”
“Whoops, I was so focused on texting that I forgot I left the stove on. I almost burned down Tang Chen’s kitchen.”
…
Bai Qinglin ignored the vibrating alerts from the texts and continued with his own business. Although he read every single one, he never replied. He focused on grinding coffee, reading and smoking in his spare time. After closing the shop, he would go home, listen to the replay of the evening news, and go to bed on schedule.
His only recreation was fishing. He repeated this day after day.
This was the life he had planned for himself long ago.
Marriage and romance were not part of the plan, because they were unnecessary.
Zhu Jingru’s intrusion shattered everything. His physiological desires had intensified in the past few days; articles of clothing were no longer enough to satisfy them.
Late-night insomnia and a strange emptiness made Bai Qinglin habitually check the texts from Zhu Jingru. Vivid, lively, life-filled emotions were constantly transmitted through the words, stirring ripples in the stagnant water of his heart.
Bai Qinglin closed his eyes in the darkness. He thought that he was indeed quite sick.
Time flew by in a flash. On the morning of the thirty-first, Zhu Jingru chose to call Yue Chuan.
“Is Teacher Yue awake?”
Yue Chuan’s voice was as faint as a gossamer thread. “Not awake. It’s five in the morning right now. Only Old Bai is awake. You’re looking for him, right…”
“No, I’m looking for you.”
“Huh??”
Zhu Jingru said, “Is it convenient for you to tell me Brother Bai’s ID number?”
“What do you need that for… To get a room, all you need is yourself…”
Zhu Jingru said, “I have a British model friend who’s coming to Nanhai next week. I can introduce him to you, Teacher Yue.”
Yue Chuan sat up, a hundred times more energetic. “I’ll send it to you right away.”
At that moment, just through a door, the coat and white T-shirt hanging on the balcony outside swayed gently. Bai Qinglin, a beat too late, closed the window. The winters in Nanhai were long; the land was white and desolate.
After finishing his cigarette, Bai Qinglin habitually opened his phone. Today’s text had arrived early.
[Brother Bai, it’s snowing so heavily. It’s a lot like when I used to ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh, running through the forest like Santa Claus.]
[The snowman I built last night was too small. I lost to the kids. But it doesn’t matter, losing was fun too.]
When Bai Qinglin came back to his senses, he realized that time was passing quickly. He was still facing the same street, the same scenery, the same cars coming and going.
Only the person named Zhu Jingru was different.
Another night fell. Closing up the shop was the same as always. Bai Qinglin had been busy the entire day, a hint of exhaustion seeping into his demeanor. He exhaled a smoke ring as he walked down the steps.
He had never taken Zhu Jingru’s New Year’s Eve invitation seriously, and so he had no expectations.
But when that flashy silver car pulled up beside him and casually honked its horn, Bai Qinglin stopped in his tracks. Once again, he saw that hand with the silver ring resting on the edge of the car window.
Zhu Jingru was leaning on the car window, his smile the same as ever. His face didn’t look like that of a man in his thirties at all. His eyes were clear, too sincere and ardent. Every word he conveyed to every person was genuine, and he would take action on anything he wanted to do.
“The plum blossoms in Wennan are going to bloom tonight. They’re a bit different from other places. Brother Bai, want to go see them with me?”
Bai Qinglin finished his cigarette, his brow slightly furrowed. Clumps of ash fell to the ground. He stood silently by the car, while Zhu Jingru waited inside with expectant eyes.
After a long time without a response, Zhu Jingru’s disappointment was visible.
Bai Qinglin slowly looked him over. He inexplicably felt the tiresome things being dispelled, and a sense of pleasure gradually spread. He gently tossed the cigarette butt into the nearby trash can.
In the snow, he answered Zhu Jingru, “Let’s go.”
Because they wanted to see the flowers, they set off immediately.
This was the first “meaningless” thing Bai Qinglin had ever been led by Zhu Jingru to do in his life—unconventional and absurd. Zhu Jingru couldn’t care less about such things. He casually tossed the scarf from his own neck onto the passenger seat.
The scarf, still holding some body heat, lay across Bai Qinglin’s legs. His palm couldn’t stop stroking it. He looked straight ahead, the tightness that had been blocking his chest completely gone.
They crossed the sea-spanning bridge, then got on the highway. In just three short hours, they had driven out of Nanhai and arrived at the foot of the mountain in Wennan.
Zhu Jingru was wearing a windbreaker, and the trunk was fully equipped. After getting out of the car, he handed a hiking pole to Bai Qinglin. “The path will be slippery later.”
Bai Qinglin looked down at Zhu Jingru’s slightly upturned hair, the pads of his fingers itching. “Hold it yourself.”
Zhu Jingru: “I have one too.”
Bai Qinglin still couldn’t resist. He reached out and pressed down Zhu Jingru’s hair, then turned and started walking along the mountain pass.
Zhu Jingru froze on the spot, not reacting. When he caught up, he asked, “Brother Bai, where were you just touching?”
“Your head.” Bai Qinglin’s tone was flat as he asked in return, “Can’t I touch it?”
When it came to being a rogue, Zhu Jingru couldn’t lose. The flirty words came easily, “You can. Touch it however you want.”
Bai Qinglin let out a “mn.”
Zhu Jingru’s ears were terribly red. He cursed himself for being so pathetic.
On the way up the mountain, they passed towering ancient trees, winding vines, strange plants, fleeing squirrels, and moss-covered ground… Zhu Jingru talked about each one with Bai Qinglin as if they were family treasures. His curiosity was immense. In a flash, he would run off to dig up a dozen mushrooms, then tie them into a bouquet with wild grass.
Bai Qinglin could still tolerate it at first, but when he saw the man climb onto a tree branch and make a face, he simply turned off his flashlight. His voice was calm and without inflection, “Come down.”
Zhu Jingru immediately obeyed.
Bai Qinglin took a handkerchief from his pocket and said nothing.
Zhu Jingru obediently wiped off the mud and held out his hand for inspection. “Look, Brother Bai, it’s clean.”
“Hold it tight. Don’t let go.” After leaving those six words, Bai Qinglin continued walking. The hiking pole became his tool to restrain Zhu Jingru from running around wildly. One held the front end, the other held the back end.
They soon reached the summit, and as luck would have it, the weather was perfect.
The mountainside was covered in wintersweet plum blossoms that had bloomed overnight. It was their first bloom of the year, and the fragrance was intoxicating.
Zhu Jingru led Bai Qinglin through them, following the path. The wind answered their arrival, rustling the branches.
“Is it beautiful?” Zhu Jingru asked, turning his head to Bai Qinglin, a petal caught in his hair.
Bai Qinglin couldn’t help but reach out and brush away those flowers. Then he deliberately walked ahead of Zhu Jingru, as if too lazy to pay him any mind. But in reality, as they brushed past each other, he caught the petal that fell from Zhu Jingru’s shoulder.
It was very light, very soft, and very fragrant.
The mountaintop was steep, so they couldn’t stay for long. On the way down, they happened upon a large tree halfway up the slope. It was covered with red ribbons—countless prayer ribbons for marriage and peace, fluttering in the wind.
The countdown on Zhu Jingru’s watch began. Three—two—
One.
The past is cleared, all things are renewed.
In that instant, a grand fireworks display lit up the city sky. It was utterly magnificent. The light illuminated Bai Qinglin’s and Zhu Jingru’s faces, their pupils filled with a golden glow. They stood under the tree, crossing from the last year into the new one together.
After a while, Zhu Jingru naturally took Bai Qinglin’s slightly hot hand, his features slowly relaxing. “Brother Bai, it’s so cold.”
Bai Qinglin’s entire body went stiff. He didn’t have time to shake him off, dazedly feeling the cool, soft touch.
What made it even worse was that those fingertips were still lightly tracing the lines on his palm.
The Fisherman: I’m hard.
