But in the end, Zhu Ran still sat up from the bed and sent the edited photos to the group chat, where they received unanimous praise from everyone. Evan sent a sarcastic emoji, but Zhu Ran ignored it.
[Lin Ziqing]: I have a video of you too. I’ll send it to you.
Zhu Ran opened it and found it was a video of him singing with Huo Junlin the night before.
This was their big outing group chat, full of all sorts of people. Zhu Ran had no intention of developing things further with Huo Junlin and felt it was a bit inappropriate for the video to be posted in the group. He was about to privately message Lin Ziqing to ask her to delete it when Huo Junlin already replied: Saved it, thanks Zi Qing jie!
Zhu Ran hesitated for a moment, then deleted his message. It had already been seen by others; asking her to retract it now would just make it seem like he cared too much. Whatever, he wouldn’t be in contact with Huo Junlin anymore anyway, so he could just ignore it.
Zhu Ran didn’t reply in the group or save the video. He only privately messaged Lin Ziqing a quick thanks.
[Lin Ziqing]: Why message me privately?
[Zhu Ran]: Afraid of misunderstandings.
[Lin Ziqing]: What, didn’t like Junlin?
[Zhu Ran]: Biao jie, I’m a guy…
[Lin Ziqing]: Hahaha, what era is this? Guys with guys, what’s wrong with that? One of my good friends is a lesbian.
[Zhu Ran]: Biao jie, don’t tease me. Huo Junlin and I are just friends.
[Lin Ziqing]: Really?
[Zhu Ran]: Yeah.
[Lin Ziqing]: Sorry, didn’t know you were against it. I won’t meddle then.
[Zhu Ran]: Thanks for understanding.
Zhu Ran could sense his cousin’s subtle matchmaking, especially with posting the video publicly in the group, so he made a point to explain more. Fortunately, she was reasonable and respected his wishes. With that cleared up, Zhu Ran thought the matter was settled, but ten minutes later, he suddenly received a call from his mom.
Seeing those two words on the screen made Zhu Ran’s heart race. He stared at it intently until the fourth ring before finally answering.
“Mom,” Zhu Ran stared at the light spot on the wall, controlling his breathing, “how’s your health lately? You doing okay?”
Wang Ruyun: “I’d be fine if you behaved.”
“…”
Zhu Ran’s tone cooled. “Is there something you need? If not, I’m hanging up.”
“You… what’s going on with you and that boy?” Wang Ruyun’s anxious voice rang out. “Holding hands and hugging in front of so many people—you’re both guys! How can you do that?”
Zhu Ran’s breath hitched as he stammered an explanation. “Mom, you saw wrong. That’s not a guy.”
“Huh? A girl?” Wang Ruyun’s voice was full of surprise. “But doesn’t look like one.”
Zhu Ran: “He does sports, so he just looks boyish.”
“Really?” Wang Ruyun sounded less frantic, but still worried. “You haven’t been secretly hanging out with guys behind your dad and me’s backs, right?”
Zhu Ran: “No.”
Wang Ruyun finally relented, then suddenly had a whimsical idea. “You’re not used to being out alone, right? I’m feeling better, so how about I fly over to keep you company?”
Zhu Ran: “What about Dad if you leave?”
Wang Ruyun fell silent for a few seconds before compromising. “Then you be good on your own and don’t worry Mom.”
“Yeah, got it.” Zhu Ran didn’t give her a chance to speak again. “Someone’s calling me, gotta go.”
Zhu Ran hung up, and the room fell eerily quiet—he could even hear his own uneven breathing.
Sunlight streamed in from the semi-open bathroom, turning the white wall into a blinding mirror. The reflected light shone on Zhu Ran, leaving no secrets hidden.
The sun was too bright; after staring for a bit, Zhu Ran’s eyes stung, so he closed them.
Zhu Ran had dry eye syndrome and had forgotten his eye drops this trip. He tried to lubricate his eyes with tears, but they remained dry and gritty, producing no moisture. Only after splashing water on his face in the bathroom did he feel some relief.
When he came out, the phone on the bedside table vibrated again—the caller ID read “Dad.” Zhu Ran muted it and didn’t answer.
He frowned in confusion. He hadn’t posted anything on his Moments these days—how did his parents still know about his activities?
Zi Qing jie had just promised him, so it shouldn’t be her. Zhu Ran refreshed his Moments and saw that Lin Zilang had posted an auto-generated iPhone photo album video, which happened to include two photos of him holding hands and hugging Huo Junlin.
The video had only been up for a dozen minutes—how did his parents already know?
Did his little aunt forward it? Or did his family have his cousins’ WeChat too?
Zhu Ran tossed the phone aside, suddenly feeling a chill down his spine.
The phone vibrated again on the bed. Growing irritated, Zhu Ran simply turned it off.
He smothered his face with a pillow, and in that mild suffocation, he once again wished to vanish from the world, to go somewhere no one could find him, away from everyone. Of course, it was just a thought.
At dinner, Zhu Ran didn’t bring his phone, so Lin Ziqing came to find him herself. “Zhu Ran, tomorrow we’re going whale-watching by boat. Details are in the group—check when you get back.”
Zhu Ran: “Okay, got it.”
Lin Ziqing opened her mouth as if to say something but seemed to hold back. She just patted his shoulder. “Alright, I’m off then. If you need anything, tell me—don’t stand on ceremony.”
“Biao jie.” Zhu Ran suddenly spoke up.
Lin Ziqing: “Yeah?”
Zhu Ran asked, “When are you all heading back?”
