Chapter 5: I Am a Homosexual.

【005】

The water began to turn warm.

The warm water splashed onto Yu Ting’s eyelashes. Through the dense steam, he saw Lu Jue efficiently pull on his T-shirt and shorts. As if he hadn’t just said those words, Lu Jue said, “Hurry and wash up. I’m heading out.”

Then he turned back, raising an eyebrow. “Want me to grab you a set of clothes?”

Yu Ting’s clothes were mostly soaked through, sticking to his skin uncomfortably. He pulled at the fabric clinging to his chest, lowering his eyes. “No need, there’s a set in the bathroom cabinet.”

Lu Jue then went out.

The door closed. Yu Ting scratched his hair in frustration, turned his back, and undressed.

After showering, Yu Ting dried his wet hair and glanced at the next room. It was shut tight, only light seeping from the gap under the door.

Yu Ting thought for two seconds, then decided to head to the kitchen first. He opened the fridge to get ginger. Several eggs on the door shelf were wiped perfectly clean, resting quietly in a bag.

He was still growing up. Every weekend, Zhao Rufei would go to the vegetable market to buy a batch of free-range eggs.

Yu Ting took two eggs.

Once the ginger soup was ready, the fermented rice eggs were also done. Yu Ting poured two bowls of ginger soup, put the two fermented rice eggs into just one bowl, found a tray, and silently, quickly ran back to his room.

Inside, Lu Jue was leaning by the window, looking intently at the Endless Summer hydrangeas outside.

The large blue blooms flourished increasingly in the heavy rain. Lu Jue turned his head slightly at the sound of footsteps.

Yu Ting had changed clothes—the same style as Lu Jue’s, only the color differed: a white T-shirt and white shorts. The light fell onto his soft hair tips, making him appear even paler.

The corners of Lu Jue’s eyes moved slightly, the corners of his lips curving up. His voice was very low. “Your Endless Summer is blooming much better than mine.”

He was six or seven centimeters taller than Yu Ting, and his frame was broader. The loose clothes that fit Yu Ting loosely looked like tight sportswear on him—tight everywhere.

Yu Ting walked over and set down the tray. He explained, “Hydrangeas love water. A few more heavy rains, that Endless Summer in your yard will flourish soon.”

He first handed over the fermented rice eggs. “You didn’t eat dinner. Have something before the ginger soup.”

In the creamy yellow light, two plump, round eggs nestled together in the white porcelain bowl. Fragrant fermented rice floated all around them. Brown sugar had been added to the soup, the color very pleasing. A small handful of dried osmanthus flowers was also sprinkled on top. The rich osmanthus scent mixed with the egg’s fragrance, creating a fresh, sweet aroma.

Lu Jue took the bowl. The poached eggs were cooked smooth and tender. The white porcelain bowl was thin and didn’t insulate heat well; it scalded his palms. He looked up at Yu Ting.

Yu Ting was also holding a bowl, but his contained only a pale brown liquid. Lu Jue asked, “Aren’t you eating?”

Yu Ting blew on his bowl in small puffs. “Not hungry.” He lowered his head and took a sip of ginger soup. It was both hot and spicy. He hissed softly, tongue stinging.

After drinking, he looked up. Lu Jue was still in the same posture, gazing at him deeply. This look was one Yu Ting had also worn when extremely hungry. He freed a hand and pushed the tray towards Lu Jue. “This bowl is yours.”

Lu Jue smiled, didn’t speak, and pulled back his gaze. He picked up the spoon and finished the poached eggs in a few bites, drinking the soup until the bowl was empty.

He finished the food, also drank the ginger soup. It was time to sleep.

He couldn’t sleep on the living room sofa. If Zhao Rufei got up again during the night and saw him, it would be impossible to explain.

He also couldn’t use the excuse that the bed wasn’t big enough for two. Yu Ting’s bed was one and a half meters wide. Two guys over one meter eighty tall would be a bit cramped lying together, but they could manage.

Yu Ting had thought of a reason while showering.

He turned off the overhead light, leaving on the desk lamp. He took an exam paper for the physics competition out of a drawer, pulled back his chair, sat down, and said, “You sleep first. I’ll do another set of problems.”

Lu Jue glanced over, raising an eyebrow. “You’re entering the physics competition?”

“Mm.” Yu Ting also pulled out a scratch paper notebook.

Yu Ting’s scratch paper was lemon yellow, A4 size, unbound, held together with three small silver clips. The dictionary-thick stack of scratch paper resembled printed sheets. Every page was filled with neat, graceful formulas and calculations.

Flipping to a new page of scratch paper, Yu Ting focused entirely and began solving problems.

Now, the only light source in the room illuminated Yu Ting’s face. The two fans of long, dense eyelashes cast two incredibly distinct shadows on the lower part of his face.

Lu Jue didn’t disturb him. He stood by the bedside, looking down at the simple bed.

The bed was as simple and clean as its owner. Light blue bedding, a cool bamboo mat laid over it. Four smooth bamboo poles were tied to the four bedposts, supporting a white gauze mosquito net.

The mosquito net had been lowered earlier.

Lu Jue lifted the mosquito net, again smelling Yu Ting’s scent—the sun-dried soapberry scent.

The prominent Adam’s apple in his throat bobbed up and down several times before Lu Jue lay down.

The mosquito net enclosed the bed into a square, cramped, confined space. The window was open, and it was raining heavily outside. The room was somewhat stuffy, let alone inside the mosquito net.

Halfway through solving a problem, Yu Ting suddenly remembered this. He turned to look. Through the white gauze net, Lu Jue was lying on his side, and even covered with—

A thin blanket?

That thin blanket was put there by Zhao Rufei. She always felt Yu Ting would be cold. Even though the ground temperature had broken forty degrees Celsius a few days ago, she was still worried he’d get sick from the chill.

Actually, Yu Ting hadn’t used the blanket for more than half a month.

Seeing Lu Jue wrapped airtight in the thin blanket, Yu Ting was first surprised, then quickly understood. With Lu Jue’s weak complexion and illness, could he be averse to cold?

Yu Ting gave up on bringing in the electric fan. He tightened his grip on his pen, flicked off excess ink, turned back, and continued his problems.

~

The next day, Yu Ting woke Lu Jue up.

A light rain was still falling outside, pattering down. After a night of rain, it was much cooler. Lu Jue’s eyes were bleary with sleep. Looking at Yu Ting in his blue and white school uniform jacket, his voice was the hoarse rasp of just waking. “Morning.”

“Morning.” Yu Ting said. “Breakfast is ready.”

Lu Jue lifted the blanket and got out of bed. Drowsy, he followed Yu Ting out. Only after sitting down did he remember to ask, “Your mom left?”

Yu Ting sat down opposite him. “Mm. She always leaves the house by six-thirty.”

“What’s this?” Lu Jue picked up his spoon and pointed at the thing in the bowl.

Yu Ting looked over. He was silent for two seconds before saying, “Tofu Pudding.”

He’d almost forgotten. Zhang Minhua had said all Lu Jue’s three meals were prepared by five-star chefs. He’d probably never eaten Tofu Pudding before.

He simply introduced the rest of the breakfast as well. “This is Seaweed Buns, and Egg-Stuffed Pancake.”

It truly was Lu Jue’s first time eating these. He picked up a piece of Egg-Stuffed Pancake and tried a bite. Suddenly, the sound of a key inserting into the lock came from outside. Yu Ting stood up instantly. He had just opened his mouth when Lu Jue moved first, biting down on the Pancake and swiftly flying back to Yu Ting’s room, closing the door.

The main door opened at the same time. Zhao Rufei rushed in. Seeing Yu Ting standing by the dining table, the corner of his mouth still carrying a smile, she smiled too, signing, “Forgot the shipping manifests.”

Then she asked, “What are you grinning about to yourself?”

Yu Ting pressed down on the corner of his lips. “The Egg-Stuffed Pancake is really good today.”

Zhao Rufei didn’t doubt it for a second. “Good? I didn’t think it was stuffed well today, though.”

She was in a hurry to go to the nursery. Within seconds of entering the house, she took out a small bag of invoices, walked out, and left.

Yu Ting followed her to the doorway. Only after confirming Zhao Rufei was gone did he sigh in relief and run back to his room.

His voice stopped abruptly. The room was empty. The window was open.

At the same time, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Yu Ting took it out. A text message from an unfamiliar number.

【Left already. Still raining, borrowed an umbrella. Will return it next time we meet. Also, the egg-stuffed Pancake was delicious. —Lu Jue】

Yu Ting’s lips curved upwards silently. He tapped to save the number, typing the name: Lu.

~

Yu Ting had injuries on both arms. He wore his school uniform jacket to class. Thanks to the rain all morning, it didn’t attract any classmates’ attention.

The rain stopped for a bit at noon, but by the end of the school day, it was drizzling again.

Yu Ting had no umbrella. Zhao Rufei had taken the new umbrella from yesterday, and his regular one had been taken by Lu Jue. There was another one in the warehouse, but after searching for a while, he couldn’t find it.

Lu Jue technically hadn’t borrowed any umbrella. The new one Zhao Rufei took was bought by Lu Jue, much more valuable than his old one.

In front of No. 2 High School was a long flight of stairs, fifty-five steps. The school gate was quite grand, with security booths on both sides connected by a corridor.

It had been raining since last night. Many students brought umbrellas today. Yu Ting and a few scattered students waited under the corridor for the rain to stop.

Yu Ting observed the rain. A quick downpour, it would stop soon.

Minutes later, a few uninvited guests arrived. The leader was a guy with a full head of blond hair—one of the thugs who had blocked Yu Ting yesterday.

These thugs were notorious at school. The other students taking shelter didn’t dare stay. Covering their heads with their backpacks, they scurried down the stairs and fled.

Yu Ting didn’t move. He knew the thugs’ target was him. Leaving wouldn’t avoid it.

He quietly watched the rain. Blondie opened his mouth and cursed, “Damn, Yu Ting, you fcking think you’re hot sh—”

He was cut off mid-sentence by a lilting call. “Yu Ting.”

Yu Ting’s eyelids twitched. Through the intermittent rain, that sky-blue umbrella he’d bought for a few bucks at the vegetable market drew nearer.

Raindrops like sugar granules slid down the tip of the umbrella, trickling along the blue canopy. A hand, refined like bamboo knuckles, slightly lifted the umbrella, revealing the person’s face.

Lu Jue stopped at the bottom of the steps, looking up only at Yu Ting. His eyes were smiling. “I’ve come to return the umbrella.”

The guy behind Blondie stared hard at Lu Jue for a few glances, his face changing color dramatically. He hurried forward and whispered a few words into Blondie’s ear. Blondie’s expression shifted too. He glanced at Lu Jue in surprise, then shot Yu Ting a vulgar middle finger pointing down and quickly ran off.

Lu Jue’s sudden appearance was a bit unexpected to Yu Ting. He descended, while Lu Jue ascended. Soon, that blue umbrella was covering Yu Ting’s head.

Yu Ting asked, “You know my school?”

Lu Jue raised an eyebrow slightly, pointing his chin at Yu Ting’s chest. “It’s written right there. Lingjiang No. 2 High School.”

Yu Ting, “…”

He looked half-asleep this morning, but his eyes had been working fine.

Yu Ting asked again, “You climbed the wall again?”

Lu Jue didn’t deny it. “Is there somewhere nearby to shelter from the rain?”

The rain showed no sign of stopping. Yu Ting took Lu Jue to Backstreet.

Backstreet was a food street behind No. 2 High School, about a hundred meters long. Roadside stalls lined both sides, each a different food vendor.

Passing by a cold drink shop, Yu Ting stopped.

The cold drink shop was a standalone building, beautifully decorated. Its outer wall was painted sky blue, the walls decorated with colorful shells of all sizes. It had an extended eave for rain shelter. The floor was coated in cream-colored floor paint. Hanging beneath the eaves were a few smiling teru teru bozu dolls and a shell wind chime.

On a rainy day, the indoor tables were all full. The two stood under the eaves. Yu Ting said, “Wait here. I’ll buy water.”

Watching Yu Ting go into the shop, Lu Jue lazily turned around and put on wired earphones.

Shortly after, Yu Ting returned. Lu Jue glanced at the bottle of mineral water and the ice pop in his hand. His eyes twitched slightly at the corners. He took off his right earphone and plugged it into Yu Ting’s right ear, smoothly snatching the ice pop away.

A familiar melody played in the earphones. The female vocalist sang—

“without you i will be so far away from home…”

This was a song Yu Ting really liked. In that second he was distracted, Lu Jue had already ripped open the ice pop’s clear packaging. Yu Ting reached out and quickly snatched it back.

Lu Jue, “?”

The two stood side by side. Yu Ting loosened the cap on the room-temperature mineral water and pressed it into Lu Jue’s hand. “This one is yours. You shouldn’t eat cold things, right?”

Having said that, Yu Ting turned his head to watch the rain. He slightly lowered his head and took a bite of the salted ice pop. Cold and refreshing—the perfect flavor for summer.

At that moment, Lu Jue said something. Yu Ting, listening to the song, didn’t catch it. He tilted his head slightly. “What?”

The rain stopped as abruptly as it had come. The last few drops bounced onto Yu Ting’s shoe tips. The song in the earphones also reached its end. The world fell silent, as if stilled.

Suddenly, a sea breeze blew in quietly. The wind chime under the eaves clinked and chimed back and forth, the sound clear and crisp.

Lu Jue leaned forward, drawing a bit closer to Yu Ting. By his ear, he whispered softly, “I can eat cold things.”

“My ‘illness’ is, being a homosexual.”