Chapter 30: The Phone Call Part 2

He’d pegged it from the start—why else would he even bother asking nicely?

“You’re in the fourth-floor home theater?”

“Yeah.” Tao Zhi nodded into the phone.

“Didn’t peg you for knowing how to work that thing. Underestimated you.”

Tao Zhi: “…”

Fu Zheng’s venomous tongue was lethal—even to himself sometimes. And Tao Zhi bore the brunt of it often.

“So, what’d you need?” Tao Zhi was fraying at the edges.

In private, Fu Zheng always ragged on him like it was nothing, but someone else was here now.

With the sound off, the home theater felt even emptier, deathly still.

Fu Zheng’s booming voice carried without speakerphone—the other guy in the room could hear every word.

Tao Zhi getting shredded over the line while Fu Siheng watched him with that teasing gaze. Mortifying.

Cheeks burning, Tao Zhi’s grip tightened on the phone as he pleaded softly, “Fu Zheng, cut it out about me.”

Fu Zheng snorted.

Ice-cold.

“You didn’t even check my messages.” Pissed.

Tao Zhi: “I was tied up just now…”

“Then spit it out—what were you tied up with?” Round and round they went.

Tao Zhi: “…”

Phone clutched tight, Tao Zhi stared blankly.

He glanced back at Fu Siheng for a few seconds, then turned away. “I was on the balcony earlier…”

It was like talking to a brick wall, looping endlessly.

“Fine, whatever.” Fu Zheng finally took pity and dropped it. “Not worth the hassle.”

“Pick up next time.”

“Got it, got it.” Tao Zhi jumped on the out.

Thank god.

He just wanted Fu Zheng to leave him alone.

“Ahem, anyway—I’m at the hotel.” Fu Zheng cleared his throat awkwardly out of nowhere. “Lunch didn’t stick; come grab a bite. I’ll pack some food for you to take back too.”

“What do you want?”

“Uh…” Oh, food run.

But he wasn’t hungry.

Tao Zhi came clean. “I already ate lunch. Not really…”

“That pass for lunch?” Fu Zheng cut in. “Those noodles? Might as well be cat food.”

“You a cat or what?”

“Nope.” Tao Zhi deadpanned.

Fu Zheng: “.”

Speechless.

“What do you want? Name it now.”

“I know your stomach better than you do.”

Fu Zheng sounded exasperated on his end; Tao Zhi scratched his head.

Sure, the noodles were skimpy, but he’d demolished a pile of snacks after. Belly was stuffed.

Tao Zhi pondered.

Drew a blank on cravings.

About to insist he was good when a hand appeared, pressing a soft, sweet chunk of bread to his lips.

Tao Zhi froze, glancing back on reflex.

Fu Siheng, holding it out.

A small torn piece, right at his mouth. Tao Zhi wavered a few seconds, then took it.

Lips grazing the bread, careful not to touch Fu Siheng’s fingers.

Barely in his mouth, and Fu Siheng’s arm snaked around his waist, yanking him close.

Tao Zhi jolted, eyes flying wide.

“Figured it out yet?” Fu Zheng prompted.

Tao Zhi slapped a hand over his mouth.

Nearly yelped.

Now parked beside Fu Siheng, he eyed him warily for several seconds. No further moves. Then: “Anything works. You pick—I’m easy.”

“No ‘anything.'” Fu Zheng griped. “Just say what you like. I’ll grab it.”

“Seriously, anything.” Fu Zheng paused. “Hotel doesn’t have it? I’ll make it happen. Whatever you want.”

“Snort.”

Fu Siheng caught every word.

The old man let out a mocking chuckle.

“!”

What the hell!

Fu Siheng’s outburst sent panic spiking through Tao Zhi. He spun to clamp a hand over the man’s mouth.

No clue why it rattled him so bad, but gut screaming: Fu Zheng can’t know Fu Siheng’s here. Total chaos.

No peace—not today, anyway.

He’d be fending off Fu Zheng nonstop. Nightmare.

Fortunately, Fu Zheng did not hear it.

The other side was quite noisy too, and the clamor of voices came through the phone’s speaker.

“Did you hear that?”

“I heard it, I heard it.” He stopped his brother and had to continue dealing with his younger brother.

Tao Zhi felt very tired.

“Then I’ll have pizza.” Tao Zhi casually picked one.

As he spoke, his hand was still pressed over Fu Siheng’s mouth. His soft fingers and the pleading look in his eyes toward Fu Siheng seemed to say, please, please don’t make a sound.

……

“What flavor?”

Fu Zheng’s voice came through the phone again.

“Anything is fine… Capricciosa pizza, I guess.” Tao Zhi changed his mind on the spot.

He was afraid Fu Zheng would tease him, so he quickly specified the flavor.

Tao Zhi had eaten this kind of pizza once before. It was not particularly delicious, but Fu Zheng liked it, and Tao Zhi had bought it for him several times in the past, so it stuck in his memory.

As soon as he said it, Fu Zheng paused for a moment.

“It’s the same as my taste.” He seemed to mutter to himself, “No, he likes eating what I like.”

“Huh?” Tao Zhi did not catch what he said.

“Never mind, it’s nothing.” Fu Zheng forced himself to stay calm. “I’m hanging up.”

“Oh.” Tao Zhi quickly said, “Goodbye, Fu Zheng.”

“Don’t talk to me so formally.” Fu Zheng had just started to think that Tao Zhi might have some strange feelings toward him, but in that instant, the notion vanished without a trace.

It felt oddly unsatisfying.

“Oh.” Tao Zhi thought Fu Zheng was really hard to please, so he tried changing his tone. “Then go buy the pizza. I’ll hang up first.”

“……”

That felt much more normal.

Tao Zhi was very polite, but that politeness felt more like courteous distance. It was fine for others, but for him… they had been roommates for half a semester at least. They were already quite familiar with each other.

That wasn’t right.

This was much better.

Fu Zheng liked it when Tao Zhi was rude to him.

His mood improved, and his attitude toward Tao Zhi softened considerably. He hummed in response and deliberately said, “I’m hanging up.”

“Okay… hang up then, hang up.” Tao Zhi changed his response.

He had finally dealt with Fu Zheng.

The moment the call ended, Tao Zhi clearly let out a sigh of relief.

At the same time, it seemed like he had muddled through the kissing incident too.

Because after the call ended, Fu Siheng did not continue holding him on his lap and kissing him.

–Though he was still holding his waist.

It was a posture full of possessiveness, but Tao Zhi, this total newbie, was completely oblivious.

“Do you still want bread?” Fu Siheng asked him.

Tao Zhi shook his head in refusal. “I’m not hungry right now. I’ll eat pizza later. If I eat more now, I’ll burst.”

“Okay.” Fu Siheng heard his answer and set the opened bread packaging aside.

After a brief rustle of plastic, the entire audiovisual room suddenly became utterly silent.

Tao Zhi found it strange and looked up at Fu Siheng.

Fu Siheng had the look of someone deep in thought.

How unusual.

It was the first time Tao Zhi had seen him like this, so he subconsciously asked, “What are you thinking about?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt like he shouldn’t have said it and wanted to take it back. But Fu Siheng answered him, “I’m thinking about Fu Zheng.”

“…Huh?” Tao Zhi’s tone hesitated for a moment.

His puzzled gaze turned toward Fu Siheng, as if asking what was up with Fu Zheng.

Fu Siheng suddenly let out a chuckle.

It was a very light, faint laugh with no discernible emotion.

What he said was strange too. “Fu Zheng is actually a lot like me in many ways.”

“Even though I don’t want to admit it, I’ve always hated him for that, and now I hate it even more.”

…Huh?

What did that mean?

Tao Zhi did not understand and stared blankly at Fu Siheng.

Fu Siheng had no intention of explaining.

His arm around Tao Zhi’s waist tightened slightly. The man suddenly leaned in and bit his cheek.

It was very sudden.

Tao Zhi instinctively squeezed his left eye shut, his expression one of shock.