【Chen Gu: There yet?】
【Jiang Mian: Just parked.】
Jiang Mian had declined Chen Gu’s troublesome offer to help him drive the car back, returning home alone.
Without needing to focus entirely on driving, Chen Gu’s words started echoing in Jiang Mian’s mind again.
The heat in his ears, which had barely subsided along the way, was reignited by his own thoughts.
【Chen Gu: Sir Jiang, if you’re afraid of the heat, walk faster.】
Jiang Mian paused, subconsciously looking back.
The space behind him was empty; there wasn’t a single person.
Yet Chen Gu seemed as if he were right behind him: 【Don’t look back, hurry home.】
Jiang Mian: “…”
Although he knew Chen Gu could guess this based on their usual interactions, it was still somehow a bit eerie.
Jiang Mian replied “okay” and then quickened his pace to enter the elevator and go home.
After entering his fingerprint and going inside, Jiang Mian messaged Chen Gu again, saying he was home.
Chen Gu replied “ok”. Jiang Mian placed the box in his hands on the table.
He thought for a moment, then went to the study to find a pair of scissors. Carefully, he cut the colorful tape on the outside and removed the wrapping paper.
Opening the gift box, Jiang Mian finally learned what souvenir Chen Gu had brought him.
It was an exquisitely crafted set of hollowed-out bookmarks.
There were twelve bookmarks in total: six gold, six silver. He didn’t know if they were solid gold and silver, but they were also inlaid with gemstones anyway.
The twelve bookmarks were carved with different mythical creatures. Jiang Mian couldn’t identify which was which, but he had basic aesthetic sense.
Usually all about practicality, it was the first time Jiang Mian had seen such an artwork. Not only could he not look away, he couldn’t help but reach out and touch one through the dust-proof bag.
Chen Gu’s taste and eye were truly exceptional.
Who could possibly bear to use such beautiful bookmarks, letting them suffer even a little damage?
At least, Jiang Mian’s choice was to enshrine them.
Jiang Mian put the bookmarks in the same drawer as Chen Gu’s hair tie and the other items. Looking at the twelve bookmarks inside the transparent box, he spaced out a little.
Truthfully, he didn’t really care about gifts. Jiang Mian was the quintessential pragmatist. So whenever Jiang Liaoyi asked him, unless there was something he actually wanted, he would always say he didn’t need anything.
But now, he had to admit, in that moment when he received the gift, he was happy.
He felt like he understood a little bit why people cared about things like a sense of ceremony.
Because it genuinely made one feel the joy in life.
——
Since there were no classes this Sunday either, Jiang Mian didn’t rush back to the school.
Jiang Mian basically never set an alarm because his biological clock was very accurate; once he woke, he wouldn’t go back to sleep.
Get up, take yesterday’s bread from the fridge to heat up, then read books and do practice problems, then order lunch takeout. After eating, continue reading and doing problems, then dinner, then more reading and problems, then sleep.
This was essentially Jiang Mian’s daily routine.
But today, a little after nine, nearing ten, while doing problems and starting to think about what to eat for lunch, Chen Gu messaged him.
【Chen Gu: Morning】
【Chen Gu: Coming over for lunch? You pick the dishes.】
Jiang Mian hesitated for only a second before replying “okay”.
It was just that Chen Gu’s cooking was too good, better than any restaurant he’d eaten at outside.
And since he had nothing else to do, hanging out with Chen Gu was nice too.
【Jiang Mian: I want white-cut chicken.】
【Chen Gu: ok, soup and side veggies?】
【Jiang Mian: You decide.】
【Chen Gu: Alright. Should I pick you up?】
【Jiang Mian: No need, I’ll take the subway, it’ll be faster.】
【Chen Gu: Okay. For afternoon tea, cake or fruit? I’ll buy some later.】
Chen Gu didn’t insist on coming to pick him up, which made Jiang Mian very comfortable.
He was quite afraid that Chen Gu, saying he was pursuing him, would take care of him like he was a girl. That would make Jiang Mian feel awkward.
Because he was a guy.
【Jiang Mian: You decide.】
【Chen Gu: Then, Sir Jiang, want to try my craft again?】
Chen Gu also made afternoon tea?
Jiang Mian was a bit tempted.
So today became a showcase of Chen Gu’s cooking.
When Jiang Mian arrived at Chen Gu’s place, the delivered ingredients hadn’t arrived yet. Chen Gu handed him slippers and casually asked: “By the way, the souvenir. Did you like it?”
Jiang Mian lowered his head to change shoes: “Mm.”
He said seriously: “I liked it a lot, thank you.”
“Glad you liked it.” Chen Gu smiled, his eyes curving: “I was worried you’d think it was too nouveau riche.”
So they really were solid gold and silver… the inlaid gemstones were likely real too.
Jiang Mian only felt the gift was even more weighty.
He didn’t know much about these artworks, but he knew that even if the materials weren’t genuine, achieving that level of craftsmanship must have been expensive, let alone if they were all real… Could Chen Gu have bid on them at some auction for him?
“No.” Jiang Mian affirmed: “Your aesthetic sense is very good.”
Chen Gu naturally knew his aesthetic was good. As an art student, if he lacked aesthetic sense, he’d be done for.
But hearing Jiang Mian’s comment, his mood was excellent. Better than when he’d received praise from art masters in the past.
“Did you eat breakfast?”
“Mm.”
“I haven’t yet. I’ll eat a pack of biscuits and drink a glass of milk to tide me over. Do you drink milk?”
“I drank some this morning… How come you haven’t eaten breakfast?”
“I just woke up when I messaged you.”
Chen Gu spread his hands innocently: “After asking you, I ordered the groceries first. I just finished washing up, and then you arrived.”
Jiang Mian pressed his lips together: “Next time, eat first.”
Chen Gu’s lips curved: “Okay.”
He asked again: “What time did you wake up?”
Jiang Mian thought for a moment: “Seven, I think.”
Chen Gu raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised: “So early? Isn’t today a day off?”
Jiang Mian told the truth: “I’m used to it.”
Used to waking early to memorize vocabulary and legal articles. Over so many years, his biological clock had become so precise it was hard to change.
As the two chatted idly, after Chen Gu finished a pack of biscuits, his gaze swept over Jiang Mian’s hand.
Sensing his gaze, Jiang Mian looked at him with some confusion.
Chen Gu simply smiled: “I just suddenly remembered the first time I saw you, at Chen Yishen’s place. You even specifically bought snacks to bring.”
That was also Jiang Mian’s habit when visiting.
He felt showing up at someone’s home empty-handed wasn’t good.
But today, coming to Chen Gu’s place, Jiang Mian indeed hadn’t had that thought.
Jiang Mian hesitated: “Then… next time I come, should I make up for it?”
“Don’t.” Chen Gu immediately refused: “Sir Jiang, if you’re going to be formal with me, then I won’t be polite.”
He hadn’t brought this up on purpose so Jiang Mian would bring snacks.
He wanted Jiang Mian to realize that he was different from others, and also to seek confirmation from Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian: “?”
Meeting Chen Gu’s meaningful, half-smiling expression, his intuition screamed danger, so he silently swallowed his thought back.
The groceries arrived quickly. Because the ingredients needed prep, Chen Gu went into the kitchen first.
While putting on his black apron, he gestured to Jiang Mian: “Make yourself at home.”
Jiang Mian nodded slightly. He didn’t offer to help in the kitchen either.
Because he truly was completely clueless in that area; going in would most likely just get in the way.
So Jiang Mian sat on the sofa and watched bar exam videos.
Chen Gu’s performance was as consistently excellent as ever, causing Jiang Mian to eat an extra half-bowl of rice. So full he had to stand and walk a few circles, he also noticed the candies placed in a box on the cabinet shelf, kept there by Chen Gu.
He paused, looking with some uncertainty at Chen Gu, who was leisurely finishing every last bit on his plate: “This candy…”
“The one you gave last time.” Chen Gu admitted very readily: “Couldn’t bear to eat it.”
Jiang Mian: “?”
He was genuinely confused: “It’ll expire if you don’t eat it.”
Chen Gu curved his lips, looking perfectly harmless: “But I really can’t bear to.”
In that very aggrieved voice, he said softly: “Jiang Mian, it’s been a long time since anyone gave me candy.”
Jiang Mian paused.
He looked at the candy box, specifically placed by Chen Gu high up where ordinary people couldn’t reach it, unable to tell exactly what feeling was spreading inside his heart.
Jiang Mian sighed inwardly. He knew he was probably hopeless.
Even though he clearly knew…
“Eat it,” he said. “In the future, I’ll give you more.”
“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
It wasn’t in vain that he’d specifically placed that jar of candy there, letting Jiang Mian discover it himself.
——
In the afternoon, Chen Gu baked cookies. The overly sweet cookies paired with a cup of mocha coffee created a flavor that was just perfect.
Although it was already late September, South Boundary was still hot, so Jiang Mian didn’t want to go out and play.
But if the two of them just sat there, it seemed quite boring too.
Jiang Mian fiddled with the small spoon in his hand, using the tabletop’s reflection to glance at Chen Gu.
He was used to this quietness, but he didn’t know if Chen Gu would find it dull.
“Jiang Mian.”
Hearing Chen Gu’s voice, Jiang Mian looked up instinctively.
He saw Chen Gu smile faintly at him, his eyes slightly curved: “Can you be my model?”
Jiang Mian paused briefly: “You want to draw?”
Chen Gu nodded: “Since we’re just sitting here anyway.”
Jiang Mian didn’t hesitate much: “How do you want to draw?”
Knowing he was asking how to pose, Chen Gu smiled: “It’s fine, just sit as you are. Let me go get the easel.”
Only when he mentioned it did Jiang Mian notice that Chen Gu had another room, always kept closed, used as a bedroom.
Chen Gu didn’t seem inclined to give him a tour, so Jiang Mian didn’t pry.
He had heard that artistic people often had some eccentricities or temperaments; perhaps Chen Gu’s studio was one such thing.
Jiang Mian had never modeled for anyone. Although people from the South Boundary University Academy of Fine Arts had asked if he could, Jiang Mian always refused.
Doing this for the first time, he felt a bit unnatural.
Chen Gu didn’t say anything to him either, just focused on the drawing paper.
After sitting stiffly for a while, Jiang Mian finally couldn’t help but ask: “Can I move?”
Chen Gu had just been waiting for him to speak. He chuckled lightly: “Of course, do whatever you like.”
Jiang Mian let out a breath of relief. First, he took a sip of coffee, then a bite of a cookie. Seeing that Chen Gu didn’t seem affected, he gradually relaxed.
Chen Gu was very fast at sketching. In less than twenty minutes, he said he was done.
Jiang Mian was a bit surprised. He got up and walked over to look: “You’re amazing.”
The person drawn on the paper with charcoal looked exactly like a black-and-white photocopy of a photo of Jiang Mian.
Chen Gu remarked casually: “Haven’t drawn people in a long time.”
Jiang Mian was puzzled. Chen Gu explained: “Last time I drew people was back in school. There were practice requirements then. After graduating, I stopped drawing people.”
Jiang Mian asked, confused: “Why?”
Chen Gu raised an eyebrow. He lifted his lips, tilting his head to look up at Jiang Mian. Those dark eyes held a smile, like a river of stars suspended in the night sky: “Because I never met anyone I wanted to draw.”
No one can perfectly disguise their true nature, and Chen Gu was no exception.
Occasionally, he would reveal the nonchalance and pride ingrained in his bones, paired with a dazzling brilliance that bordered on insufferable. Combined with that face, he became the kind of bad-boy charm that made people scream in movies.
He said: “They were all too ugly.”
Jiang Mian was silent for a moment, then ultimately said seriously: “It’s that you didn’t like them. You shouldn’t always treat everyone with such hostility and prejudice, just like you did with Chen Yishen in the beginning.”
He knew the “ugly” Chen Gu mentioned wasn’t a literal insult.
It was a deeper, unexplainable meaning.
But amazingly, the rigidly principled Jiang Mian could achieve a wondrous resonance of souls with the always-unrestrained Chen Gu.
He could guess Chen Gu’s thoughts, understand Chen Gu.
But by the same token, Chen Gu could also guess Jiang Mian’s thoughts, understand Jiang Mian.
To each other, they were completely transparent people.
But Chen Gu didn’t say anything further. He simply smiled and gave Jiang Mian a mock salute to show he understood.
Some words didn’t need to be spoken aloud; smart people naturally understood.
