Huo Junnian, of course, could not agree to his unreasonable demands, and in the end, their negotiations fell through. That was why he had said such hurtful things at the very end.
“Huo Junnian, I hate you!”
“Let’s end our friendship! I never want to see you again!”
The emotions of children shift in an instant; love and hate are but a moment apart. The second those words were uttered, a period was drawn on their relationship. Overwhelmed by grief and acting on impulse, he went home and threw away everything related to Huo Junnian, including his contact information.
As time passed and he grew up, he thought he had long since forgotten the other man. Yet, to his surprise, on a restless night of youth years later, he suddenly dreamed of him. To be precise, he dreamed he was kissing a man.
Before he even had time to be shocked by the realization of his own sexual orientation, the blank face of the man in the dream began to fill in. Features formed, flesh grew, and it gradually pieced together a face he should have long since forgotten.
It was only at that moment that he realized he had not forgotten him at all; he had merely tucked him away in a box within his memory. When the time was ripe, the box suddenly burst open, and all the memories of the man came rushing back.
He was not sure if he liked men in general, or if he just liked Huo Junnian.
The period when his sexual orientation first awakened was his most difficult and agonizing time. As if trying to verify his feelings, he asked his friends for many of the latest Japanese “action movies,” the kind any man was supposed to like. After forcing himself to watch over a dozen of them without any reaction, he finally reached a conclusion.
Perhaps he liked men. But as for whether he liked Huo Junnian, he was not certain.
However, that conclusion was soon validated.
At the thought of this, Jiang Ling’s brows furrowed slightly. Now that he was mentally mature, looking back at what had happened, he realized how unreasonable he had been. So much time had passed, and he had deleted all contact information back then. Even if he wanted to apologize, there was no way to do so.
When he came to City A this time, Jiang Ling truly had not expected the two of them to meet again. Even the scene of their meeting was a coincidence; just like their first encounter, the other man had rescued him from the water. It felt like an arrangement of fate.
And now, the man was single, had been in a “window period” for a year, and had no one he liked.
After taking a hot shower, Jiang Ling returned to bed and closed his eyes, drifting back into sleep. Perhaps because he was in a good mood, he slept straight through until dawn.
The next day, he woke up early. While packing his things, he felt something hard in his bag. When he pulled it out, he realized it was the red envelope Grandpa Bai had given him yesterday. He tucked the envelope away carefully, not intending to spend the money. This was the first red envelope his grandfather had given him since he became an adult; he could not bear to use it.
As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw his grandfather coming to wake him up. He quickly ran over to support him.
“Grandpa! Slow down, let me help you.”
“Ah Ling, why are you up so early today?” Elder Bai asked with a smile.
Jiang Ling scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Yesterday I was just getting used to the bed. I usually do not sleep in.”
“Ah Ling, you are much better than that cousin of yours. He usually cannot get out of bed until the sun is hitting his backside at noon,” Elder Bai said, pointedly thumping his cane on the floor twice.
No sooner had he spoken, and before the grandfather and grandson had even walked far, the door behind them was pushed open with a loud thud. A vigorous voice rang out from inside.
“Who says I only get up at noon!”
Bai Zhao poked half his head out of the room, his hair looking like a bird’s nest, and spoke huffily, “Grandpa, you are biased! Ever since Jiang Ling arrived, you haven’t praised me once. You belittle me at every turn; it is not fair!”
“I hear you talking about how good Ah Ling is every single day until my ears have grown calluses. Have you never considered that his ‘well-behaved and gentle’ act is just a facade? He is not nearly as good as you think he is.”
Just as Jiang Ling was about to speak, Elder Bai shielded him behind his back.
“Ah Ling, this has nothing to do with you. I will deal with him.”
Elder Bai knew that Bai Zhao had been feeling a bit unbalanced lately because of Ah Ling. “You grew up by my side, while Ah Ling has not been with me for all these years. He has only stayed with me for two days, and you are already complaining about favoritism. If we are talking about bias, am I not more biased toward you?”
“As for fairness, I have always treated you and Ah Ling equally. You both have tutoring together; why didn’t you call that unfair then?”
“And regarding the faults I mentioned, did I say anything wrong?”
“As for you saying Ah Ling is faking it, if you are so capable, why don’t you try faking it for me? Even if Ah Ling is not that good, so what? He is still my dear grandson. Look at yourself, causing trouble outside every day, as mischievous as a monkey. Have I ever kicked you out of the Bai family gates?”
“Look at how much face you’ve lost for me since you were a kid, and now you have the nerve to say all this to me.”
“Bai Zhao, you have simply disappointed me too much!”
Elder Bai grew angrier as he spoke. His face darkened, and his sharp gaze made Bai Zhao almost unable to lift his head.
“Ah Ling is indeed better than you in this regard. Is it not right for me to like him?”
“If you want to hear me praise you, you have to do better than him. Today’s transcriptions are increased by twenty more times!”
Hearing this, Bai Zhao let out a wail of misery. “Grandpa, I was wrong! I won’t dare do it again!”
However, no matter how much he regretted it now, it was too late.
Meanwhile, after hearing Elder Bai’s flurry of praise, Jiang Ling fell into deep thought. Was he really as good as Grandpa said? The more he thought about it, the more determined he became. He had to perform well these next few days and not let the old man down. At the very least, he had to be better than that idiot Bai Zhao.
Supporting his grandfather, Jiang Ling turned his head and shot a provocative glance at Bai Zhao. He raised his middle finger and silently mouthed the words, “You are still far beneath me.”
Fuck! How shameless!
Bai Zhao was so angry he felt like he was going to spit blood. He stared at Jiang Ling’s retreating back and said through gritted teeth, “Jiang Ling, you just wait. We have a long time ahead of us; I will settle the score with you sooner or later!”
That day, Jiang Ling clicked on his chat window several times, but no messages popped up. He could not help but frown. So, was no one really going to ask him out today?
Sitting in the study memorizing his lessons, Jiang Ling grew increasingly irritable.
“Turn the pages more quietly; you are bothering me.”
In the same study, occupying the other half of the space, Bai Zhao was buried in his punishment transcriptions. He looked up, saw Jiang Ling’s frustrated expression, and raised an eyebrow in mockery. “Waiting for a message? From your girlfriend?”
It was meant to be a sarcastic remark, but it unexpectedly hit a certain sweet spot for Jiang Ling. To Bai Zhao’s surprise, Jiang Ling did not get angry.
Bai Zhao, who was waiting for a retort, waited for a long time without a counterattack. Only then did he belatedly start to process the reaction. It really is a girlfriend?
Tsk. He found it hard to believe. Someone like him actually has a girlfriend? He figured Jiang Ling must be playing the “good boy” act so well that he managed to trick someone.
Just as Bai Zhao was about to mock him further, Elder Bai suddenly appeared before them. “How is your revision going? The tutor I hired for you will be here in two days.” He had come to check on their progress, but mostly to see if they had started fighting.
At that moment, Jiang Ling suddenly raised his hand. “Grandpa, I want to go out for some fresh air.”
“Go ahead, Ah Ling.”
“Grandpa, I want to go too!” Bai Zhao followed up immediately.
Elder Bai glared at Bai Zhao. “Not you.”
Bai Zhao was indignant. “Why can he go and I cannot?”
“Because Ah Ling just finished memorizing a Classical Chinese text for me. If you can memorize it too, you will not need to copy books and you can go out to play.”
Bai Zhao instantly withered.
Jiang Ling had already bolted out of the study. Hearing Elder Bai’s roar behind him, he could not help but laugh out loud. He had run out because his phone had just vibrated. He saw a familiar account with a small red notification dot.
He opened his phone; it was a message from Huo Junnian, asking if he was free the day after tomorrow.
The day after tomorrow… when was that? It was the weekend. Was that not a redundant question? He was obviously free.
However, would answering directly make him seem too eager? Now that he had tasted the sweetness of being a “good boy,” he was not as resistant to it as before. Not only was he not resistant, but he was also getting more skilled at the act. He realized that older people liked those who were well-behaved and sensible.
His dad liked him to be well-behaved. His grandfather liked it too.
What about Huo Junnian?
Recalling their interactions from the past two days, he thought he could perhaps act even more “good” to change his image in the man’s heart.
“The day after tomorrow?” “I do not know, I have to ask my grandfather.” “Uncle, have you thought of a place to take me?” “If it is not fun, I am not going.”
Jiang Ling’s fingertips suddenly paused. He switched screens and quickly searched for a set of cute emojis he had previously despised.
“[Puppy sticking its tongue out.jpg]”
This should work, right?
Jiang Ling waited for Huo Junnian’s reply. He stared at the profile picture of a winding stream for a few seconds, and soon a new message arrived.
“I have already decided. It just depends on whether you want to know in advance or keep a bit of mystery? I think you will like it.”
That phrase again. Jiang Ling raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth curling up involuntarily.
“Since you put it that way, I will wait two more days then.”
Huo Junnian: “Alright, I will pick you up the day after tomorrow.”
After replying, Jiang Ling returned to the study in high spirits. Seeing Jiang Ling’s beaming face, Bai Zhao could not help but say, “Yo, finished chatting with the girlfriend?”
Jiang Ling did not deny it, admitting it quite openly, “Yeah, what of it? You do not have one, so you are jealous? Why so sour?”
“Who the hell says I do not have one?” Bai Zhao said, refusing to lose. “Of course I do.”
Jiang Ling gave a light scoff. “If you have one, you have one. Why talk so loud? It is not like I care.” He was in a good mood today, so he would not bicker with him.
Soon, it was time for dinner. A new person had suddenly appeared at the table. Jiang Ling stared at him curiously. It was a young boy, small and thin, with a face the size of a palm, looking as well-behaved as a kitten. He even ate like one, getting full after just a few bites.
After dinner, Jiang Ling learned the boy’s name was Bai Mo. He was his younger uncle’s child, ten years old, and physically frail. He had been hospitalized recently and only returned today.
Not only did Bai Mo eat like a cat, but his personality was similar too. He had been peeking at Jiang Ling from the doorway, wanting to say hello but feeling too shy. Jiang Ling thought the kid was quite fun, so he beckoned to him.
“Come here. I have something for you.”
Hearing Jiang Ling call him, Bai Mo hesitated at the door for a moment before cautiously walking over. His eyes were timid as he asked, “Are you Cousin Ah Ling?”
“I am.” Jiang Ling tilted his chin toward the boy. “Bai Mo, hold out your hand.”
Although Bai Mo did not know what Jiang Ling was going to give him, he obediently reached out. “Cousin Ah Ling, what are you giving me?”
Looking at the boy’s round eyes, filled with innocence, Jiang Ling could not help but reach out and pat his head. As the soft hair brushed against his fingertips, he thought that this is what a real “good boy” looks like. A fake like him could not possibly pull off such pure cuteness.
The kid was very obedient; he held out his hand when told and did not ask questions. He let Jiang Ling pat his head and even nudged his palm slightly, calling him “Brother” in a small voice.
“Good boy. Here, have a candy.”
The candy was one his grandfather had given him earlier. He did not like sweets but had not wanted to turn down the old man’s kindness, so he had saved it.
Bai Mo’s eyes lit up when he saw the candy. Because his parents were strict, his daily sugar intake was limited. He gave Jiang Ling a sweet smile.
“Thank you, Cousin Ah Ling.”
“You are welcome. If you want to eat or play with anything else, just tell me. I will buy it for you.”
Jiang Ling’s generous words made Bai Mo jump with joy. “Brother Ah Ling, you are so nice.”
Nearby, Bai Zhao witnessed this scene of brotherly love and let out a cold laugh. “Heh, Bai Mo, you are really something. You let someone buy you off with a single piece of candy. I treated you so well before, and now you won’t even call me ‘Brother’ when you see me?”
Bai Mo was timid, and being intimidated by Bai Zhao like that, he instantly hid behind Jiang Ling.
“Don’t be afraid, Mo Mo. Hide behind me. I will protect you. What can he possibly do to you?” Jiang Ling shielded Bai Mo directly.
“Am I really that scary?” Bai Zhao’s face turned black with rage. He stared at Bai Mo and said exasperatedly, “Be reasonable, okay? I didn’t do anything. How did I become the bad guy?”
“Can’t you lower your voice? Don’t scare Mo Mo. He just got out of the hospital; he is very timid.”
Bai Zhao’s eyes widened and he clenched his fists, looking fit to burst. His voice came through gritted teeth, “My voice is naturally this loud! How much quieter do you want me to be? Is this volume okay now?”
“Lower. And soften your expression. Who are you trying to scare with that ferocious look on your face?”
Earlier, while they three were arguing, the rest of the Bai family had rushed over, secretly observing from the side. It seemed that if things went wrong, they would charge in immediately. They were mainly worried that Bai Zhao and Jiang Ling would fight. These two cousins had not gotten along since they first met. It did not matter if they fought, but they were afraid they might hurt Bai Mo, who had just been discharged.
Elder Bai watched the bickering brothers for a moment before ushering everyone back. “Alright, leave them be. They will not actually fight. It is all bark and no bite; if they were going to fight, they would have done it long ago. Listen to how loud Xiao Zhao’s voice is, how lively!”
“Before, only Xiao Zhao was a ‘nest-tyrant.’ Now that there’s someone who can suppress his arrogance, even his handwriting for his transcriptions has improved a lot lately.”
On Saturday night, as Jiang Ling was about to return to his room, he passed by the room next door and saw Bai Zhao wearing new clothes, sneakily spraying perfume on himself.
Jiang Ling leaned against the doorframe curiously. “Hey, what are you doing?”
Bai Zhao was startled. He turned around to glare at Jiang Ling. “What are you doing in my room?”
“Your door is not closed. I am just seeing what you are up to. Even using a face mask?” Jiang Ling teased. “What, planning to sneak out in the middle of the night?”
Bai Zhao, mask on, stepped forward to push Jiang Ling away from the door. “Nonsense!” He then thought of something. “Hey, wait. Do me a favor?”
“What favor?”
“Aren’t you going out tomorrow? I need to go out too. Go ask Grandpa for me. He really likes you lately; if you ask, he will definitely agree.”
Jiang Ling raised an eyebrow. “Why should I help you? Going to see your girlfriend?”
Bai Zhao’s cheeks turned red, and he did not deny it. Jiang Ling looked at Bai Zhao’s shy expression; he had not expected the kid actually had a girlfriend.
Jiang Ling said, “Sure, I can agree, but it depends on my mood tomorrow.”
“Hey, you with the surname Jiang, don’t take it too far!” Bai Zhao was embarrassed and angry, trying to kick him out. “Get out of my room now.”
However, as he approached, Jiang Ling frowned at the heavy scent of perfume. “So stinky. Why are you spraying so much perfume at night?”
Bai Zhao looked at Jiang Ling’s disgusted face and retorted, “What do you know?” He rolled his eyes and said, “It smells strong now, but by tomorrow morning it will have faded. It will become a scent that seems to emanate from the body from the inside out. Do you know what that is called? It is called ‘body fragrance’!”
“Your girlfriend must find it very boring to be with a ‘straight man’ like you. Girls nowadays like guys who smell good.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ling nodded thoughtfully. “I think you have a point.”
The next day, early in the morning, Jiang Ling headed out. He was much more enthusiastic about this date than the last one.
“Uncle Huo, good morning.”
When Huo Junnian saw the young man, he clearly felt that the boy had changed a lot; he seemed much more cheerful. The moment the boy got into the car, Huo Junnian caught a faint scent. It drifted in with a breeze and disappeared just as quickly. He instinctively leaned forward, trying to catch that wisp of fragrance.
Noticing his movement, Jiang Ling asked in surprise, “What is wrong?”
“I thought I smelled a fragrance.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ling unconsciously straightened his back and leaned closer to the side, sniffing himself. “I do not smell anything?” As he spoke, he held his hand out in front of Huo Junnian, looking confused. “What smell? Why didn’t I notice it?”
As the boy swayed slightly, the scent in the air grew stronger. A flash of cool white skin appeared as Jiang Ling thrust the back of his hand toward him. Huo Junnian instinctively leaned back. “It really is a scent on you. Ah Ling, did you use perfume?”
“No.” Jiang Ling frowned, thought for a moment, and said, “That is strange. Could it really be my own natural body scent?”
Huo Junnian did not want to dwell on the topic and changed the subject. “You seem to be in a good mood today, Ah Ling.”
Jiang Ling turned toward the handsome man beside him. He nodded and pursed his lips into a reserved smile. “Isn’t Uncle taking me out today? I have been looking forward to it for days.”
“It seems you are impatient then. Let’s go.”
Jiang Ling was full of anticipation throughout the drive. However, when they arrived at their destination, he was stunned.
Art exhibition?
The smile on Jiang Ling’s face instantly froze. He turned his head to look at the man beside him. He truly had no artistic bones in his body!
“Don’t you like it?” Huo Junnian asked. “Last time, didn’t you say you like art now?”
Did I ever say that?
Jiang Ling froze on the spot. Then, he remembered. He really had said that. Last time, after they finished the racing experience, Huo Junnian had asked him what he liked now. He had just answered randomly at the time.
He never expected to shoot himself in the foot like this.