Chapter 28
Zhang Lingzhi was clearly very happy to run into Jiang Chaochao. After ordering his barley soup, he started chatting away.
Saying he hadn’t been to Fuzhong in years, saying the school had really changed a lot, saying he didn’t expect the security guard to still recognize him, saying it was a pity he didn’t run into any of his former teachers tonight, saying the north gate had also been demolished and rebuilt.
He also said, “Jiang Chaochao, do you remember the tree we used to practice under?”
Jiang Chaochao was busy eating cake, and didn’t react for a moment: “What tree?”
Just like he said earlier, the scene he had envisioned for tonight was just him and Xiang Ye. Even if it was his friend who appeared, it made no difference, he would find a way to get rid of him.
If he couldn’t get rid of him, he would leave himself.
“You know, to avoid disturbing others, we found a spot behind the information building, there was a big tree there,” Zhang Lingzhi said. “There was also a monkey sculpture next to the tree, about as tall as a person, it scared you a few times.”
Jiang Chaochao finished his last bite of cake, and also remembered the monkey, “The information building? I remember.”
Zhang Lingzhi laughed because Jiang Chaochao remembered: “There’s a tree there. They’ve removed the monkey and built a sundial next to the tree now, very impressive.”
Jiang Chaochao gave an “ah” and nodded.
Zhang Lingzhi said again, “That monkey should have been removed. Not just you, many people were scared by it. I guess there must have been a lot of student complaints.”
Jiang Chaochao continued nodding: “It was quite scary.”
Zhang Lingzhi seemed to want to say something else, but his barley soup arrived.
Jiang Chaochao had finished his cake and soup. Xiang Ye also finished his last sip. After exchanging a look…
“Take your time,” Jiang Chaochao stood up, “We’re leaving.”
Zhang Lingzhi swallowed a mouthful of soup: “Hey, leaving already?”
Jiang Chaochao nodded: “Yes, I’ll contact you again.”
Zhang Lingzhi: “Okay.”
Zhang Lingzhi also exchanged a glance with Xiang Ye, and the two nodded amicably. Jiang Chaochao and Xiang Ye stood up and left.
It was still raining outside. At the entrance, Xiang Ye opened the black umbrella from the container.
With a snap of the umbrella, Xiang Ye asked Jiang Chaochao, “Are you two not close?”
Jiang Chaochao was puzzled: “Who? Me and Zhang Lingzhi?”
Xiang Ye looked ahead: “Mm-hmm.”
Just as Jiang Chaochao was about to speak, Xiang Ye suddenly reached out and pulled him closer, into his arms.
Jiang Chaochao froze.
What was he talking about just now?
Oh.
“No,” Jiang Chaochao said. “Why would we not be close?”
They had also shared an umbrella when they came, but they were walking separately then.
“You seemed eager to leave,” Xiang Ye said.
Jiang Chaochao gave an “ah”: “You were there.”
Unlike now, where he was being held very close.
Xiang Ye: “What’s wrong with me being there?”
Jiang Chaochao: “You don’t know him, I was afraid you would feel uncomfortable.”
He didn’t mention the other reason.
“I went to visit my teacher today,” Jiang Chaochao added, “He was with me, we’re very close. We were partners in high school.”
Xiang Ye gave an “mm-hmm”: “I misunderstood.”
There was a puddle on the ground. Jiang Chaochao felt Xiang Ye’s hand tighten suddenly, pulling him closer, avoiding the puddle.
“Did you two often practice together before?” Xiang Ye asked.
Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment: “We participated in a competition together at the time, and often practiced together before the competition.”
“And then had dessert together after practicing?” Xiang Ye asked.
Jiang Chaochao thought again: “Probably, I don’t really remember.”
Xiang Ye: “He also likes barley soup.”
Jiang Chaochao: “How do you know?”
Xiang Ye: “He just ordered it.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Really? I didn’t notice.”
Xiang Ye suddenly laughed.
One question after another, Jiang Chaochao became curious.
Jiang Chaochao asked Xiang Ye: “Do you know him?”
Xiang Ye: “No.”
Jiang Chaochao felt puzzled.
When Zhang Lingzhi entered, Xiang Ye was clearly the first to look over, he must have given some kind of signal, otherwise why would Jiang Chaochao have mistaken him for Xiang Ye’s friend?
But then he thought, maybe Xiang Ye simply looked up because a new customer had arrived and caught his attention, and at that time, Jiang Chaochao was a bit sensitive because he was worried about Xiang Ye’s friends suddenly appearing.
So this question was resolved in Jiang Chaochao’s mind.
This wasn’t important now, what was important was that Xiang Ye’s chest was so warm.
Hee hee.
It was a pity that Xiang Ye’s car was parked right at the entrance of the alley, just a few steps away.
The alley was a bit muddy, so they were careful as they walked.
Just as they exited the alley, a light suddenly flashed on them. Jiang Chaochao squinted, looking towards the car lights.
It was a car parked next to Xiang Ye’s. The lights stopped flashing, and Xiang Ye said, “My friend.”
Jiang Chaochao gave an “oh.”
He said “my friend,” but he acted like he didn’t know the person, walking towards his car.
The two got into their respective cars. Just as they started the engines, someone knocked on Xiang Ye’s window.
Xiang Ye lowered the window.
“Good evening, you two,” a stranger placed his hand on the car window.
Jiang Chaochao smiled politely at him, “Good evening.”
Xiang Ye asked his friend, “How much have you had to drink?”
The friend stepped back a bit, “What, do I smell?”
Xiang Ye pushed his friend’s head out of the window.
The friend laughed: “I did have some baijiu (Chinese liquor) tonight.”
As they were talking, another friend came over and put his arm around the first friend’s shoulder: “Good evening, you two.”
After he said this, the three of them started chatting by the car window. Jiang Chaochao couldn’t understand what they were saying, only hearing Xiang Ye’s last sentence, “Seen enough?”
The two friends laughed: “Enough, enough.”
Jiang Chaochao looked down at his phone, which had no new notifications.
It wasn’t difficult to fill in the blanks this time either.
“Okay, then bye,” the friend who had been drinking suddenly said loudly, looking at Jiang Chaochao, “Let’s have dinner together sometime.”
Jiang Chaochao continued to smile politely, “Sure.”
Xiang Ye also said goodbye to them, then drove away.
Not long after they left, Xiang Ye’s phone rang.
Xiang Ye answered the call directly through the car’s system.
“Oh! Just forgot to ask,” it was the baijiu friend from earlier. “When are you giving me that bottle of alcohol?”
Xiang Ye: “Next time we meet.”
Baijiu friend: “Can’t wait, I’m going to your house tomorrow to get it, I’m craving it so much.”
Xiang Ye said helplessly, “You should drink less.”
Baijiu friend: “I know, I know, I got it.”
The bingting was really close to Jiang Chaochao’s place. Even though this call was short, it still took up a significant portion of their drive.
Even playing music felt unnecessary, so after the call ended, the car remained quiet for a long time.
Left at eleven, home by eleven thirty-five.
What a man!
“What to do?”
When they were only one street away, Xiang Ye suddenly spoke.
Jiang Chaochao’s chest had been feeling a bit tight, and Xiang Ye’s words made his heart skip a beat.
“What to do about what?”
Xiang Ye asked, “Anything on tomorrow?”
Jiang Chaochao shook his head: “Taking the high-speed train to C City tomorrow afternoon.”
Xiang Ye asked: “What for?”
Jiang Chaochao: “The group of kids I’m teaching have a music exchange event the day after tomorrow. We plan to go in the afternoon.”
Xiang Ye: “Jiang laoshi is so awesome.”
How could Jiang Chaochao not know what Xiang Ye meant: “Shhh.”
Xiang Ye asked again: “What time is your train?”
Jiang Chaochao said, “Around three.”
Xiang Ye: “So you’re free tomorrow morning.”
Jiang Chaochao: “I’m free tomorrow morning.”
Xiang Ye didn’t speak.
Xiang Ye actually didn’t speak.
Then Jiang Chaochao also didn’t speak.
“Not asking?” After a few seconds, Xiang Ye spoke first.
Jiang Chaochao couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
But what he said was, “We’re almost at my place.”
Xiang Ye turned to look at Jiang Chaochao, then turned back.
A few seconds later…
“Want a drink?”
“Okay.”
Someone asked quickly.
Someone answered quickly.
Then, in the next second, Jiang Chaochao felt a distinct centrifugal force. Xiang Ye had made a U-turn.
Jiang Chaochao’s heart beat even faster, perhaps because of the sudden acceleration, perhaps because of something else.
And the tightness in his chest completely disappeared.
Jiang Chaochao’s complex was now behind Xiang Ye’s car, and getting further and further away. The car was as steady as when he had been dropped off earlier.
“Really having a drink?” Jiang Chaochao asked when they stopped at the first red light.
Xiang Ye asked, with a hint of confusion and amusement, “You were kidding me?”
Jiang Chaochao sighed: “No, it’s just a bit sudden.”
Xiang Ye: “Not so fast, probably half an hour before we can start drinking.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Wow, not sudden at all now.”
Xiang Ye laughed: “Can you drink?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Of course I can.”
Xiang Ye gave an “ah”: “The image of someone claiming to be able to hold their liquor is still very clear in my mind.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Who? Who is this someone?”
Xiang Ye: “I don’t know.”
Jiang Chaochao asked: “How’s your alcohol tolerance?”
Xiang Ye seemed to suppress a smile before saying, “Not bad.”
Jiang Chaochao: “You won’t get me drunk, right?”
Xiang Ye chuckled: “I don’t do that kind of thing.”
Jiang Chaochao: “That’s good.”
Xiang Ye: “You have something on tomorrow, let’s just have a little tonight.”
Jiang Chaochao gave an “ah”: “A slightly tipsy kind of night.”
Xiang Ye: “Yes, Jiang laoshi.”
Xiang Ye then said, “That alcohol my friend was talking about, you should try it, it’s very good.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Huh? Aren’t you giving it to him?”
Xiang Ye: “He can wait.”
Jiang Chaochao chuckled: “How can you be like this, prioritizing… uh…”
Xiang Ye: “What?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Nothing.”
Prioritizing love over friendship.
Almost said it.
Jiang Chaochao let out a soft breath and secretly glanced at Xiang Ye.
He felt like Xiang Ye knew what he was about to say and asked on purpose.
He didn’t know how someone could feel so smug and keep replaying these not-even-remotely-ambiguous words in their head.
Jiang Chaochao was talking about himself.
How to describe his mood at this moment? He had lived a mundane life for too long, and at this moment, the dopamine released made him feel dizzy, making everything around him seem especially lovely.
Look, the leaves were dancing in the rain.
Listen, the car tires rolling over the wet road, swooshing like a melody.
Look, the little green man at the crosswalk, walking with such rhythm.
The route they were currently taking was the one Xiang Ye usually took home after dropping Jiang Chaochao off.
Jiang Chaochao had seen it on the map. It would pass by a river, go over an overpass, and then circle two sides of the park.
Seeing the familiar route in reality gave him a strange sense of wonder.
Just like that, within the estimated time given by the navigation, they arrived downstairs at Xiang Ye’s place.
The villa complex was very quiet. After Xiang Ye parked his car in the garage, the world fell silent, especially after Xiang Ye opened the door to his house and led Jiang Chaochao inside.
Jiang Chaochao felt his breathing become shallow.
“Are your parents asleep?” Jiang Chaochao whispered to Xiang Ye.
Xiang Ye also whispered: “They are.”
Jiang Chaochao: “What about Shici?”
Xiang Ye: “Probably in her room.”
Jiang Chaochao remembered what Shici said about suddenly running into Xiang Ye in the living room.
This was the legendary living room.
Since there was some distance from the entrance and a decorative wall, it was indeed possible not to hear the sound of the door closing. Jiang Chaochao imagined Shici sitting on the sofa that night, and Xiang Ye suddenly appearing.
It was indeed quite scary.
Including but not limited to Xiang Ye that day, if Shici was also on the sofa at this moment, she might be scared by these two suddenly appearing figures in black.
“Where will we,” the living room was even quieter, so Jiang Chaochao lowered his voice even further, “be drinking?”
The kitchen and dining table were right next to the living room, they wouldn’t be drinking here so openly, right? Anyone who came down could just chat with them.
Perhaps seeing Jiang Chaochao staring at the dining table, Xiang Ye smiled: “You thought it would be here?”
Jiang Chaochao had already started to convince himself that it was fine here, so hearing this, his train of thought came to a screeching halt: “Not here?”
Xiang Ye said: “My place.”
“Your place?” Jiang Chaochao processed this, “You have another place?”
Xiang Ye nodded: “My own apartment.”
Jiang Chaochao cheered inwardly: “So we’re now…”
Xiang Ye’s voice suddenly lowered, and he leaned close to Jiang Chaochao’s ear, whispering, “Stealing alcohol.”
Jiang Chaochao snorted, immediately covering his mouth, trying not to laugh.
After hearing “stealing alcohol,” Jiang Chaochao felt his steps become even lighter, the feeling of sneaking around intensified.
Xiang Ye didn’t turn on the lights. They relied on the faint light from outside to sneak into a compartment behind the dining table.
He didn’t know until he came in, and he was shocked when he did. Three glass cabinets, filled with alcohol.
Jiang Chaochao suppressed a “wow,” it seemed Xiang Ye’s father really liked to drink.
They couldn’t not turn on the lights here; in the darkness, many of the bottles looked the same.
Xiang Ye touched the wall, and the display lights inside the glass cabinets came on.
Jiang Chaochao once again marveled at how much his father loved alcohol. This display cabinet and lights were so beautiful; he must have put a lot of thought into it.
Soon, Xiang Ye found the bottle his friend wanted.
Then he asked Jiang Chaochao, “Any that you like? Take a bottle too.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Wouldn’t that be bad?”
Xiang Ye tilted his head: “Someone’s eyes are already wandering.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled, glancing at Xiang Ye.
He didn’t have any particular preference, just looking for something that caught his eye.
He’d take a look.
Jiang Chaochao’s gaze wandered up and down the first cabinet, then to the second cabinet.
Then, up and down the second cabinet, his gaze landed on Xiang Ye.
Under the lights, Xiang Ye was leaning against the cabinet, arms crossed, holding a bottle of alcohol in one hand. He didn’t speak, just watched Jiang Chaochao, waiting for him to choose.
Too much, how could this man be so handsome?
But Jiang Chaochao only looked at Xiang Ye for less than a second before returning his attention to the alcohol cabinet.
Then he subtly, seemingly choosing alcohol, slowly walked, and walked.
Walked to Xiang Ye’s side.
“What kind of alcohol is this?” Jiang Chaochao bent down slightly, pointing to a bottle with a foreign label inside the cabinet.
The advantage of the dim lighting was that it wasn’t clear enough, so Xiang Ye turned around and leaned down as well.
“Ah.”
Jiang Chaochao understood the English label. He grabbed Xiang Ye’s arm, indicating that he didn’t need an answer, “Vodka.”
Xiang Ye asked, “Want this one?”
Jiang Chaochao: “No, I don’t like vodka.”
Jiang Chaochao didn’t let go of his arm and, as if continuing the game, casually pointed to another bottle on his other side, seemingly labeled in German: “What’s this?”
Xiang Ye leaned in to look, and Jiang Chaochao felt a flush of heat.
“This is red…” Xiang Ye’s voice noticeably paused.
Because Jiang Chaochao had turned his head.
“Wine.”
Jiang Chaochao felt like he had gone a bit too far.
So close.
They were so close.
Jiang Chaochao’s breathing became even shallower. Under the cabinet lights, Xiang Ye’s nose was incredibly prominent, his eyelashes long and dark, fluttering like fans, each flutter taking Jiang Chaochao’s breath away.
What made him even crazier was that Xiang Ye’s gaze moved downwards.
So, uncontrollably, Jiang Chaochao licked his lips.
