“Love Brain / Brain-Rot Over Love”
The moment the two of them walked out of the airport, a pattering light rain began to fall outside.
Jiang Zhi leaned against the car window. Recalling these years when he was abroad, every time it rained he would miss home; since recently returning, he already hadn’t had this kind of feeling for a very long time.
“It will still take a while to arrive at the hotel. Are you sleepy?”
Jiang Zhi shook his head, staring blankly at the man’s reflection on the window.
He had never been of a character that would harbor ungrounded anxieties, yet recently he always felt his brain wasn’t enough to use, and additionally was always carrying an inexplicable sense of guilt.
Fu Yunting stopped the car before a red light, cast a glance at the little thing clinging to the window, took out a small brown bottle from within his jacket, and placed it on the cup holder between the two of them.
“Eat one, replenish energy.”
Jiang Zhi turned his head to look over, “Chocolate beans?”
“Like it?” Fu Yunting’s emotion didn’t have much change, as if his taking it out at this time was completely and utterly a coincidence.
“Yes, ah.” Jiang Zhi nodded cheerfully. “Other brands are either too sweet or too bitter; this brand of yours is okay, the sweetness is just right.”
He already hadn’t seen this brand for a very long time. Being abroad for four years he had no opportunity to buy it, and not eating it, he then got used to it; he hadn’t expected to meet it at this time point.
“Intake sugar appropriately,” Fu Yunting reminded him.
Jiang Zhi, having just thrown one bean into his mouth, heard this sentence and was extremely speechless. “This thing was taken out from your pocket, though.”
“Eating two beans a day is best,” Fu Yunting continued.
“You are truly double-standard.” After finishing speaking, he stuffed another one in, saying willfully, “I just want to eat, tonight I will eat them all clean for you.”
Fu Yunting, “……”
Fortunately, Jiang Zhi was also not completely without conscience. Seeing the man not speaking, he fished out one bean from within the bottle and handed it to the front of the man.
“Here, this is yours.”
Fu Yunting cast a glance at the road situation, starting the car. “Not convenient, you eat it.”
Jiang Zhi simply and directly poked the bean right at the man’s mouth edge, his finger seemingly appearing yet not appearing to brush against his lip corner.
This was an action that would make any clean-freak find it hard to endure. He fixedly stared at Fu Yunting’s expression; the man’s body indeed stiffened for an instant.
Just when Jiang Zhi thought Fu Yunting was going to flare up, he only saw the other party’s two lips open slightly, naturally and as a matter of course taking the thing on Jiang Zhi’s fingertip into his mouth; he could even feel his own finger pad being grazed by a soft thing.
Startled, Jiang Zhi hurriedly drew his hand back, no longer daring to easily provoke him.
…
The hotel was booked by Jiang Zhi—it was exactly the flat-rate hotel with the most good reviews booked on an app. Of course, it definitely could not compare with the star tier that Fu Yunting usually stayed at.
From the time they got out of the car, Jiang Zhi’s gaze had been on Fu Yunting all along; the other party still had that faint expression, almost without fluctuation.
Until entering the room, only then did he look seriously toward Jiang Zhi.
Jiang Zhi not only had only booked one room, but inside there was additionally only one bed.
Jiang Zhi’s face didn’t turn red and his heart didn’t leap, having already made a psychological pre-set for himself long ago. “Right now is the peak tourism season, rooms are not easy to book. We are going to get married anyway, do you perhaps not like…”
“No dislike,” Fu Yunting put down the luggage of the two of them, interrupting him.
“Is that so?” Jiang Zhi curled his lips slightly. “Then it means you like it, lo? I just said, after so many years I still haven’t seen a man who dislikes it.”
Fu Yunting raised his eyes to look at him, minutely pondering this sentence, “So-many-years? You are very experienced?”
Jiang Zhi spent two seconds understanding the man’s meaning, “……At this age, making a friend is not very normal? At the first meeting I seemed to have said to you, my exes… are actually quite numerous.”
“I see.” Fu Yunting didn’t look at him again, opening the suitcase to pack all the things out. “You go wash up, I will handle an email.”
“Oh…” Jiang Zhi looked at the man with a conflicted glance, and also couldn’t tell whether this person after all got angry or not; he could only turn around and enter the bathroom.
The moment the bathroom door closed, the action on Fu Yunting’s hands stopped in response to the sound.
Whether Jiang Zhi had exes or how his private life was, how could he not know. But why did he say it like this, and why did he do it like this…
The man’s expression dimmed for an instant, but very quickly adjusted back. He packed all the things in the suitcase out, and carrying a transparent waterproof bag, knocked on the bathroom door.
Jiang Zhi poked his head out, “Mm?”
“Toiletries, they are all very mild,” Fu Yunting said.
He hesitated for an instant, “These are all inside the bathroom.”
“Skin can be sensitive, use this then,” Fu Yunting said, then went back to handle the email.
Jiang Zhi squeezed the bag, opened it to cast a glance—facial cleanser, body wash, face cream, body lotion, toothpaste… there was an end to everything.
The brand was the exact one he had only recently started using.
Jiang Zhi admitted he indeed was a bit of an “affair-mom” [fussy/high-maintenance person]—his stomach and intestines were fragile, his skin was tender, and going to an unfamiliar place there would always be different degrees of allergies. But this kind of matter, aside from people close to him, very few people knew.
He sat on the toilet lid for a good long while without moving. A person like Fu Yunting was truly hard to make someone get to hate him.
…
When Jiang Zhi came out after washing up, Fu Yunting happened to be sitting by the window making a phone call, and in front of him was additionally placed a laptop computer; looking at it, it should be that some urgent matter came up.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Zhi poked his head to peek a bit at the man’s screen.
Yet he hadn’t expected that on top was Old Master Fu who hadn’t slept yet. Jiang Zhi reflexively shrunk his head back, asking in a small voice, “Why hasn’t Grandfather slept yet at this hour?”
Noticing his action, Fu Yunting turned the computer over to face straight toward Jiang Zhi, “Accompany Grandfather to speak for a bit, I’ll take a phone call.” After finishing speaking, he took the mobile phone and went to the balcony.
Jiang Zhi, “……”
A few seconds later, he smiled awkwardly toward the lens. “Grandfather, it’s already the early hours, why haven’t you slept yet?”
At this point, it was already past one o’clock domestically; Jiang Zhi again felt a bit worried.
“I am someone who woke up from taking a sleep, and in passing asked whether you and Yunting arrived or not.” The old master looked with eyes narrowed into smiles at Jiang Zhi who had a head of wet hair, looking in quite a good mood.
“It’s only what hour and you already can’t sleep; is the butler by your side?”
“Here, the two of us old fellows are advanced in age and have little sleep, no need to worry.” After Fu Yunting finished speaking, he pinched his reading glasses to stick close to the screen, catching sight of the big bed behind Jiang Zhi at one glance. “You two are staying in one room, ah…”
Jiang Zhi cast a glance toward the back. Regarding the marriage covenant of the two of them, the one he was most afraid of hurting was the elderly person. Seeing the old master so glad to see it succeed, his heart felt a bit bad.
“Tourism peak season here, rooms are not good to book, just… huddle through together a bit.”
“Just huddling through?” The old master’s smile was still benevolent, his tone carrying the teasing of an elder. “Then you guys huddle through well, Grandfather won’t disturb then.”
“……” Jiang Zhi was helpless. “Grandfather, your baby is outside taking a phone call; aren’t you unable to sleep? I will accompany you to chat a bit more.”
…
This phone call of Fu Yunting’s lasted for the greater part of an hour. By the time he came back, Jiang Zhi had already slumped on the side closing his eyes. He put the computer to one side, pulled open the quilt, and covered Jiang Zhi with it.
Detecting the movement, Jiang Zhi moved a bit, and the moment he opened his eyes, he saw the man in front of him.
“You are truly busy.” He sleepily tumbled up from the bed, replicating the scenario that had already been practiced several times in his brain. “Give me your phone.”
Fu Yunting raised his brows, taking the phone and giving it to him.
The moment Jiang Zhi got the phone, he directly long-pressed the power button to shut it down. “Starting from now, you have no work!”
The man curled his lips slightly, “Then what about you?”
“What about me?” Jiang Zhi pretended not to understand.
“You don’t need to shut down?”
“Mm-hm.” Jiang Zhi righteously plugged his own phone in to charge. “My phone still needs to navigate and pay money, it cannot shut down.”
Fu Yunting nodded his head in an at-leisure manner. “So it’s like that…”
“What? You think I am making trouble out of nothing?” Jiang Zhi tilted his chin up, his action like a little rooster that would explode its feathers at any time.
“No, not making trouble out of nothing at all.” The man patted his head. “Sleep, I’ll go wash up.”
Watching Fu Yunting enter the bathroom, Jiang Zhi blinked his eyes.
Just like this?
Just like this?!
Jiang Zhi gloomily tapped someone’s phone, gloomily hugging himself into the quilt. Could this villain perhaps still be of a masochistic [M] constitution?
He held a throw pillow and rubbed against it, suddenly tired.
…
When Fu Yunting came out, Jiang Zhi was currently nesting inside the quilt doubting life. The man casually pulled his quilt down to below his head. “Expose your nose and mouth before sleeping again.”
“Oh…” After finishing speaking, Jiang Zhi suddenly propped his chin up and stared at him. “You truly aren’t angry, ah?”
“Angry over what?” The two of them didn’t bring extra clothes when coming over; Fu Yunting at this time was wearing the hotel’s bathrobe. But a hotel of this quality was destined not to have too good basic configurations; the man pulled at the collar a bit uncomfortably, and sat down on the other side.
“I didn’t let you work, and didn’t permit you to use your phone, ah!” Jiang Zhi lay prone on the pillow, his voice muffled.
“You think I would be angry?” Fu Yunting leaned against the bedhead, lowering his eyes to look at a certain little thing who was holding a stomach full of bad water [tricks].
“Don’t know, but Grandfather said you don’t like being managed by people.”
“Therefore you thought I would be angry, but still did it—is that what it means?” Fu Yunting asked him.
“……” Jiang Zhi picked at the quilt corner. “Yes… and also no.”
“What?”
“Aren’t we cultivating feelings? Rather than disguising perfectly until the day of the wedding and then being pierced through, it’s better to be real right from the beginning, don’t you say so?” Jiang Zhi clung to the pillow edge, talking nonsense smoothly. “My personality originally is very willful and casual, whatever I want to do, I do it without passing through my brain, as long as I am happy.”
Fu Yunting looked at Jiang Zhi, for a time not speaking; he understood.
“Why aren’t you speaking?” Jiang Zhi sat up embracing the quilt.
“Understand your meaning.” Fu Yunting lowered his eyes and let out a light laugh, then spoke once again, “Sorry, it’s my bad. I shouldn’t still be thinking about work when coming out to play.”
Jiang Zhi froze, staring at the man for a good long while, then with a roll, burrowed into the quilt nest and didn’t speak anymore.
Fu Yunting pulled the quilt to cover him nicely, and for a long time didn’t move again.
Feeling that the person behind him didn’t have a single bit of movement, Jiang Zhi let out a long breath of relief, also not knowing whether he was angry with Fu Yunting or angry with himself.
In the past, he hadn’t felt he was a very kind person, but now, every single time he met with Fu Yunting, a bit more guilt would appear within his heart; he always felt he shouldn’t be like this.
But if he pushed the boat along the current and truly established a stable relationship, would that be being good to him? Better than dying?
He himself wouldn’t die, but Fu Yunting would.
Jiang Zhi stared at the small nightlight in front of his eyes, managed to only fall asleep when it was almost dawn.
…
The next day the two of them woke up late, only setting out before lunch.
This handmade burger shop was a cyber-celebrity check-in place. Adding on that the guest flow at this time had reached the peak period of every year, by the time the two arrived, the line had already lined up for half a street.
Seeing this grand event, Jiang Zhi wanted to turn his head and leave, but was directly dragged back by Fu Yunting. “What are you going to do?”
“……A bit thirsty, I’ll buy a bottle of water.” Jiang Zhi helplessly withdrew his feet.
“What do you want to drink, I’ll go buy it,” Fu Yunting said.
“Drink… isn’t your phone still with me here? It’s better if I go, bar.” Jiang Zhi smiled, lifting his feet and wanting to leave again, but unluckily was pressed still by Fu Yunting once more.
“Brought a card. Rest assured, buying a set of houses here is enough.” After he finished speaking, he headed toward the convenience store behind.
Jiang Zhi, “……” He suspected Fu Yunting was intentional, but additionally had no evidence.
Fu Yunting bought a bottle of lemonade and a bottle of plain water. Jiang Zhi stood far away, his body still wearing yesterday’s outfit with the big logo printed on it—a whole body of childishness, like a high school student who hadn’t graduated yet; vaguely, that distant shadow within memory could be seen.
Jiang Zhi turned his head and saw the person standing there blankly like a fool, and couldn’t resist waving a hand toward Fu Yunting.
“Fu Yunting! Here…”
The man lifted his steps to come toward Jiang Zhi’s direction, handing the lemonade to him; inside his hand was additionally a small rice ball.
“Why didn’t you buy one for yourself? We might say no object have to line up until evening.” Jiang Zhi said, “And look, what I said wasn’t wrong, right? This shop’s popularity is so good.”
Fu Yunting opened the rice ball and handed it to him, in passing taking the lemonade over to twist it open, replying carelessly, “Hope the taste is also equally good.”
Jiang Zhi, “.” Heart stabbed.
Whether it was delicious or not, he estimated he couldn’t taste it anyway. In any case, Jiang Zhi knew this trip was definitely going to be a waste again. He simply couldn’t see through this person Fu Yunting; no matter what happened, he had a faint expression, occasionally hanging a smile, yet one couldn’t detect whether he was truly being happy.
This person’s level was too much higher than he had imagined.
…
This burger shop’s storefront was not large; only the front end of the line had ten-or-so waiting seats placed, and the back were all standing. Jiang Zhi usually was frequently praised by his teacher as being diligent, but this diligence was limited to practicing the piano.
Regarding physical stamina, he didn’t touch boundaries with it at all; in less than an hour, he was a bit unable to hold up. Fortunately, he usually stayed outside for long, and surface composure he could still barely fake a bit.
“There is a cafe on the upper floor opposite; want to go buy a cup of coffee?” Fu Yunting took Jiang Zhi’s bag over to hang on his own body, and then asked him.
Jiang Zhi followed his gaze to look over, “Do you want to drink?”
“Mm, want to drink,” the man said. “Go ahead.”
“Drink what? Latte? Americano? Or a bit sweeter?” Jiang Zhi said.
“Go see what is good to drink, you decide,” Fu Yunting said.
“Fine, then you wait for me.” After finishing speaking, Jiang Zhi headed toward the opposite side, moving his stiff body while walking.
The cafe was on the second floor. Jiang Zhi placed the order and stood by the window to look down, catching sight of that familiar person at one glance.
The other party’s figure was tall and elegant, a whole body of light coffee-colored casual convenience clothes, a bit like a fashion male model who had walked out from some runway show—casual and publicizing.
Looking from this direction, this person looked as if he fundamentally did not belong here; he was a person of upper position who should have a specialized seat wherever he went.
Eating must have a dedicated private room, using a car must have a specialized driver. Of course, airplanes must also be first class.
Thinking of those two hours when coming, Jiang Zhi smiled—it was also wronging him. But the smile very quickly dimmed down again. This person Fu Yunting was forever not arrogant and not impatient, not sounding and not making a noise, unable to be guessed through and unable to be understood clearly, yet conversely looking like he was darkly mastering everything.
He wasn’t a child who didn’t understand anything; the other party saw his boredom and fatigue, so only then did he dispatch him to come over to buy coffee. This made Jiang Zhi, amidst his uneasiness, conversely feel vaguely comforted.
After a moment, Jiang Zhi lowered his head and fished out the two mobile phones in his pocket, having a bit of a headache. He discovered that the book writing himself into that kind of brainless cannon fodder who generated hatred for love was also not completely without reason; he indeed had some potential for a love brain.