Jiang Chu was thinking that since it was Qin Zui’s first day staying with him, he’d take him out for a good meal. It would also make up for Jiang Liantian feeding the kid a lunch that gave him a full-body rash.
But Qin Zui wanted to go home and cook, so Jiang Chu didn’t argue. He just turned the car around and headed back.
There was nothing to eat or drink at home, so they had to hit the supermarket. Might as well pick up some change of clothes for Qin Zui while they were at it.
“You can cook?” He commented as he drove.
After he said it, he realized there was nothing to be surprised about.
Dad’s gone, mom doesn’t care. Raised on his own in a small county town. If he didn’t have some life skills, he probably wouldn’t have survived this long.
Thinking about it that way felt a bit off, though.
Jiang Chu came from a broken home too. His parents divorced when he was in high school.
Even before the divorce, his mom was always running around, busy with business. The main way his dad, Jiang Liantian, communicated with him was basically just by sending money.
But as of now, the only dish Jiang Chu could “cook” was egg-fried rice.
Qin Zui ignored his comment and kept staring out the window, silent.
Jiang Chu thought about how Qin Zui had pinned that guy to the window, and about Qin Shuman’s attitude at lunch. Then he called out again: “Qin Zui.”
Qin Zui turned his head to look at him.
Just from that one look, Jiang Chu suddenly felt that, even though it had only been half a day, he and Qin Zui had already gotten past that awkward first-impression stage. Qin Zui had a basic level of trust in him, and he was starting to get a handle on Qin Zui’s temper.
Doesn’t like to talk, doesn’t like to socialize, not the best personality, quick to throw a punch. But whatever you say to him, he hears it, even if he doesn’t show it.
They say that men’s friendships don’t always start with a fight, but if you’ve been in a scrap together, the bond heats up fast.
Jiang Chu was about to ask if Qin Zui usually got into fights. The words were on the tip of his tongue. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t say them. He just shook his head and changed his mind. “Never mind.”
Qin Zui kept looking at him. His face was blank, but Jiang Chu knew he had to be thinking something. Probably that Jiang Chu was pretty crazy, while keeping his mouth shut.
“You don’t talk much, but I bet you’re pretty critical on the inside, huh?” Jiang Chu laughed. People who didn’t express themselves were always kinda fun to mess with.
He thought Qin Zui would just turn away without a word, but Qin Zui stared at him for a moment before finally turning his head and muttering, “Boring.”
Jiang Chu couldn’t help laughing for a long time.
A summer night at the mall was no different from the hospital. People everywhere. People wandering around, young couples watching movies, grandmothers dragging their grandkids in to freeload off the air conditioning, pretending to be asleep in the massage chairs and refusing to leave.
Jiang Chu led Qin Zui up from the parking lot, giving him a quick rundown of what was on each floor as they walked.
Qin Zui was wearing Jiang Chu’s T-shirt and baggy shorts, following about a meter behind, hands in his pockets, strolling lazily. He scratched his back every now and then.
“Let’s go upstairs first and get you some underwear?” Jiang Chu asked, turning his head. “Otherwise, buying vegetables with an armful of clothes is a little too domestic.”
“They don’t have any at the supermarket?” Qin Zui was stingy with his words.
“They have some,” Jiang Chu considered. The home goods section usually had a rack of discount underwear. Three for thirty, seven for fifty, that kind of thing. “But the quality’s bad. What if you get another allergic reaction from wearing them? Not a good look to be scratching down there all the time.”
Qin Zui’s hand, which was still scratching his back, paused. He looked at Jiang Chu, completely speechless.
“Come on, follow big bro. I won’t steer you wrong.” Jiang Chu wanted to laugh again. He reached out and put his arm around Qin Zui’s shoulder.
He clearly felt Qin Zui’s shoulder and neck go completely stiff. Don’t know what his deal is. A guy who can’t even handle being touched. He even tried to shrug Jiang Chu’s arm off.
Jiang Chu ignored it. He just locked his arm tighter and, not giving Qin Zui a chance to struggle, steered him up to the second floor.
He hadn’t thought much of it when he said it, but now that they were actually in the store, Jiang Chu realized that two guys picking out underwear together was… a bit weird.
The sales assistant was a young girl. She followed them around, a clear “I want to say something but I don’t know how” expression on her face.
At one point, Jiang Chu and Qin Zui turned their heads and caught her nodding frantically, flashing an “okay” sign at her friend at the register. When she met their eyes, she straightened up quickly, a little embarrassed.
What the hell was the “okay” for? Jiang Chu couldn’t figure it out. Qin Zui just looked annoyed beside him.
But the good thing about two guys shopping was that it was fast.
Fast and in bulk. Especially for stuff like socks and underwear that goes on the inside. Buy them wholesale, wash them when you get home, and just grab a new pair from the dresser every day.
Qin Zui didn’t need to be asked. Probably uncomfortable from being followed around, he grabbed a pack and was about to go pay.
But Jiang Chu, now paranoid from Qin Zui’s allergies, especially with his own chin still so swollen, decided to take his time and pick carefully, even though he’d originally planned to be quick.
He was about to ask Qin Zui if he preferred boxers or briefs, and what size.
The words were right on the tip of his tongue, but he was afraid the teenager would get embarrassed and just run off. So he just eyeballed it and got one pack of each, all cotton. As a little joke, he also grabbed two pairs of ice-silk leopard-print briefs, and under Qin Zui’s speechless gaze, took them to the register.
There’s no winning for the guy who doesn’t speak up, even when it comes to picking underwear.
They stored their underwear and went down to the basement-level supermarket. Jiang Chu grabbed a shopping cart, and Qin Zui took it from him without a word.
“What do you want to eat? Fruit’s over there, vegetables here. Don’t bother with the seafood section,” Jiang Chu said, gesturing vaguely. He pointed to the right. “Deli counter is there.”
Qin Zui gave a quick glance around and pushed the cart forward.
He seemed to know exactly what he wanted. He went straight for two packs of noodles, then picked out a few vegetables. He looked pretty skilled at it.
Noodles?
Jiang Chu imagined the hot soup running over the cut in his mouth and immediately lost his appetite.
He didn’t say anything, though. It was the kid’s first time showing off his cooking. He wasn’t going to make any demands. He turned around to get some fruit.
Jiang Chu was never very good at planning things like this. He just grabbed whatever he felt like eating. He only remembered to grab shampoo and toilet paper when he walked past that aisle and it jogged his memory.
Da Ben used to say Jiang Chu’s brain was only good for buying big-ticket items. The little, everyday things always slipped right through the cracks.
Jiang Chu never let it bother him. From when his parents were still together to now, living on his own, his kitchen had never really been used. He’d never lived a proper, settled life. He was used to it.
But now, watching Qin Zui push the cart and shop for ingredients with such purpose… it was actually pretty nice.
“I’m gonna go check something out over there. You want to come find me later, or come with me?” Jiang Chu tossed a box of crunchy peaches into the cart.
Qin Zui picked up one of the peaches and gave it a look. Without so much as a glance in Jiang Chu’s direction, he just hummed in agreement and pushed the cart to follow him.
Jiang Chu kept tossing things into the cart as they walked. A new cup, new towels, a new toothbrush cup, a toothbrush… No, wait. He had an electric one at home. He’d just give Qin Zui that one.
He suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, like when he’d first brought Zhou Teng home. That same feeling of being a little lost, not having prepared anything, just buying whatever he thought might be useful.
“Anything you like to eat?” As they passed the snack aisle, Jiang Chu grabbed a box of chocolates and turned to toss it into the cart.
But Qin Zui wasn’t right behind him. He was still at the corner, looking at something.
Jiang Chu had to go over with the chocolate. “What are you looking at?”
Qin Zui was holding a can, tossing it lightly. “Does it eat this?”
The question came out of nowhere, but Jiang Chu immediately understood when he saw the picture of tuna on the can.
He shook his head, a little amused. “Buying it for Zhou Teng? They have special pet food for that.”
Qin Zui looked at Jiang Chu again. “What about you?”
“If you buy it, you can eat it by yourself on a bun.” Jiang Chu said.
Something in that sentence must have struck a chord with him. Qin Zui gave a very faint smile and tossed the can into the shopping cart.
They bought two huge bags of stuff from the supermarket. Half of it was Jiang Chu’s picks.
When they got home, Jiang Chu didn’t bother putting anything away. He just threw it all in the kitchen and told Qin Zui to go take a shower. “Hurry up. You shower, then I will. I smell like hospital disinfectant all over.” He stripped off his clothes as he walked to toss them in the washing machine. “Take yours off too.”
Qin Zui was heading to the bathroom to wash his hands, but he caught a glimpse of Jiang Chu in just his underwear. He turned and went into the kitchen instead. “You go first.”
“You shower first so you can put on your medicine.” Jiang Chu nudged Zhou Teng aside with his toe and went to the living room to turn on the air conditioner. “While you’re in there, wash your new underwear out too.”
He went into the kitchen to open the pack of underwear he’d bought for Qin Zui.
“I’ll do it.” Qin Zui immediately took it from his hand and carried the underwear to the bathroom.
Two showers each in one day. What a day.
While he waited, Jiang Chu went and took his own shower. When he came out, he smelled food. The table was already set with bowls and chopsticks. It took him a second to adjust.
He went over to look. It wasn’t noodles, it was cold noodles.
A cool, clear broth with thin slices of cucumber and tomato on top. Jiang Chu had lost his appetite earlier, but he took a bite, and now he thought he could probably eat two bowls.
“Did you put the medicine on?” Jiang Chu whistled and went to the living room to turn on the TV.
Qin Zui came out of the bedroom, scratching his back. “Yeah.”
He passed by Jiang Chu and sat down at the table. Jiang Chu looked at his back. It looked a little worse than before they’d left, maybe from the hot shower.
He couldn’t smell any ointment either.
“Did you?” Jiang Chu reached out and swiped his hand down the middle of Qin Zui’s back.
Almost instantly, he felt the muscles in Qin Zui’s back tense up.
“…Can you not touch me?” Qin Zui asked, barely stopping himself from jumping. He turned his neck and stared at Jiang Chu, completely serious.
