Chapter 48
A brief moment of awkwardness hung in the air. Jian Wu folded the test paper, said goodbye to everyone in the office, grabbed his bag, and left: “I’m leaving, have a good weekend, everyone.”
Jian Wu’s mentor smiled and nodded behind him: “That’s more like it.”
“Exactly, Teacher Jian has been working too hard recently,” someone chimed in, “Even the most diligent person in our office is working overtime now, it’s making me feel uneasy.”
His mentor didn’t join in the chatter, just smiled and continued reading his book.
Outside the office, as soon as Jian Wu stepped out, he saw someone standing in the hallway like they were being punished, but this person was bolder than a student being punished and couldn’t help but smile when he saw him.
Jian Wu looked away, avoiding his smiling face: “Where’s He Yong?”
“He left.”
Jian Wu pursed his lips and said pointedly: “Is the school that interesting?”
“It is.”
Jian Wu asked again: “If it’s so interesting, why didn’t you stay longer?”
“Jian Xiaowu,” Song Shuci’s smile deepened, “I never realized you were also quite good at being sarcastic.”
Seeing Jian Wu didn’t speak, he explained, as if reporting: “I also wanted to stay with you, but He Yong kept saying you were busy, and you didn’t deny it, so I couldn’t stay.”
“I really was busy,” Jian Wu said.
Song Shuci said: “Then when you’re not busy, can you show me around the school again?”
“In your dreams.”
Jian Wu started walking towards the parking lot. Song Shuci stopped him, “I didn’t drive today, I returned the rental. How about we take a taxi?”
Jian Wu said: “It’s a bit far, taxis are expensive, and there are many parents picking up their children at this hour, there will definitely be a traffic jam.”
“Then how do we get there?” Song Shuci said, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Jian Wu hesitated for a moment, then suggested: “How about I give you a ride on my motorcycle?”
“Motorcycle?”
Seeing Song Shuci frown slightly, Jian Wu wasn’t surprised.
He had wanted to buy a motorcycle after the college entrance exam, but Song Shuci had always said it was unsafe, and he didn’t have much money back then, so he put it aside. Unexpectedly, this time, after a moment of consideration, Song Shuci didn’t refuse. “Alright.”
Jian Wu was stunned, surprised by his agreement. He took out his motorcycle keys and gestured towards the parking lot.
“Then let’s go.”
Motorcycles were now banned in many cities, but City B hadn’t implemented any relevant regulations, so many people who lived nearby still used motorcycles as transportation. The parking lot was filled with various motorcycles. Song Shuci watched as Jian Wu led him to a cool-looking black motorcycle and handed him a helmet.
“I thought you rode an electric scooter…” Song Shuci finally couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t this dangerous?”
Jian Wu: “…”
“I sometimes go camping or fishing in the suburbs, electric scooters don’t have enough battery life. I never speed, and I don’t ride fast in the city, are you reassured now?” He put on his helmet, straddled the motorcycle, and backed it out of the parking lot, “Of course, if you want to walk now, I have no objections.”
Song Shuci put on the helmet and, without hesitation, sat on the back seat.
The back seat wasn’t very spacious, and with two tall men, it was a bit cramped.
Jian Wu could clearly feel the warmth from behind, pressed against him. Perhaps wanting to create some distance, or perhaps because it was uncomfortable, Song Shuci shifted, but it only brought him closer.
He suddenly regretted his decision to give Song Shuci a ride.
But Song Shuci seemed oblivious to their close proximity and continued to ask: “Why do you have two helmets? Do you often give people rides? Who do you usually take?”
Jian Wu didn’t want to speak.
He revved the engine and rode off.
The spring afternoon temperature was pleasant, the sun hidden behind the clouds, only a faint glow filtering through.
Jian Wu rode along the river, just in time to see people exercising and strolling along the bank. The sounds of laughter and chatter mixed with the wind, sometimes near, sometimes far, like white noise in a dream.
He wasn’t riding too fast, the wind brushing past his ears wasn’t too strong, but it still slightly affected their communication.
Jian Wu shouted to Song Shuci behind him: “Comfortable?”
Song Shuci’s voice, mixed with the wind, came through the helmet: “You like riding motorcycles?”
Jian Wu shouted: “Don’t you think the wind feels free when riding a motorcycle?”
Song Shuci, not needing to hold onto the handlebars, reached out to feel the wind.
Perhaps because of the nearby river, the spring evening breeze in City B was always a little humid. The wind was strong, but the humidity made it feel soft and gentle, like a silent kiss on his fingers.
He retracted his hand and looked at Jian Wu in front of him.
The young man only showed him the back of his helmet, but the warmth from his body was very real.
Song Shuci’s hand, cooled by the wind, moved and suddenly rested on Jian Wu’s waist.
He could feel Jian Wu clearly flinch, then tease him with a slightly forced bravado: “Seriously? That scared?”
Song Shuci chuckled: “Mm, I’m scared.”
Jian Wu’s waist was sensitive. The helmet was already a bit stuffy, and now, his nose was sweating.
The evening breeze and the sense of freedom vanished. Jian Wu could only feel the warmth on his waist gradually rising.
But Song Shuci had already admitted to being “scared,” so he couldn’t say anything more. He could only endure the hands gripping his waist, paying attention to any other movements.
Fortunately, Song Shuci seemed to be genuinely scared, only holding onto his waist throughout the ride, only gripping tighter when they stopped suddenly or turned a corner, otherwise, there were no unusual movements.
Finally arriving at the familiar courtyard, Jian Wu stopped the motorcycle and said through gritted teeth: “You can get off now.”
“Oh.” Song Shuci let go, put one foot on the ground, then swung his other leg over and got off.
Tall and long-legged, his movements, whether getting on or off, were always pleasing to the eye, but Jian Wu wasn’t in the mood to appreciate them. He locked the motorcycle and extended his hand towards Song Shuci: “Give me the helmet.”
Song Shuci took off his helmet and handed it to him, then glanced at his face, completely covered by the helmet: “Why aren’t you taking yours off?”
Jian Wu put Song Shuci’s helmet into the sidecar, hesitated for a moment, then took off his own and hung it on the motorcycle.
Song Shuci glanced at his slightly damp hair and the obvious red marks on his face, his Adam’s apple bobbing unconsciously.
“You’re that hot?”
No shit.
Jian Wu really wanted to say, anyone whose waist was grabbed like that by their former bed partner would react, right?
They had just broken up, not lost their memories.
Even if their minds forgot, their bodies always remembered.
But he didn’t intend to reveal these emotions to Song Shuci and just said: “My helmet isn’t very breathable.”
“Then let’s switch helmets on the way back,” Song Shuci said seemingly considerately, his fingers unconsciously curling behind his back.
Not much had changed.
Jian Wu’s waist was still slim, taut, but through the layer of clothing, the tactile sensation was less distinct.
Hearing Song Shuci still talking about going back, Jian Wu changed his previous statement: “Let’s take a taxi back, it’s dangerous to ride a motorcycle at night.”
“Didn’t you say it was expensive?” Song Shuci teased.
Jian Wu gave him a polite, fake smile: “You’re paying.”
Revisiting their old neighborhood, they walked from the parking lot to their old building.
The basketball court in the old courtyard seemed to have been recently renovated, and many children were playing happily.
This was the complex where Jian Wu and Song Shuci lived when they were young, the place where they grew up together.
Time seemed to move slower here. Whether it was the small supermarket downstairs or the elderly vendors selling vegetables at the entrance, nothing seemed to have changed.
Seeing the braised food store that had been open for almost twenty years was still there, Jian Wu said with surprise: “This store is still open, wait here, I’ll buy some food to take upstairs.”
Song Shuci followed him slowly, a smile playing on his lips, seemingly not much different from ten years ago.
The owner of the braised food store was watching short videos and laughing. Hearing someone approach, she just casually greeted them. Unexpectedly, the next second, she heard a warm voice: “Auntie Wang!”
The familiar address made her subconsciously put down her phone and look up. Upon seeing the person, she immediately stood up excitedly: “Jian Xiaowu?”
“It’s me,” Jian Wu smiled sweetly at her.
“My goodness, it’s really you, it’s been so long since you came back.” Auntie Wang, her hair streaked with gray, couldn’t help but come out from behind the counter and looked at him for a long time.
Being asked this, Jian Wu seemed a little guilty, just saying: “I was working elsewhere, always busy, so I didn’t come back.”
Fortunately, Auntie Wang didn’t ask further, just said repeatedly: “Oh, that’s good, that’s good, it’s good that you’re back. Wait here, Auntie will pack some braised food for you.”
Without Jian Wu having to say anything, Auntie Wang, following his usual preferences, packed several boxes of braised food for him and even specially picked out a few good duck necks and chopped them up, telling him to take them back for Jian Yu.
“Your mom loves these duck necks recently, you must take some back for her!”
“Okay.” Jian Wu agreed and took out his phone to pay.
“What are you paying for?” Auntie Wang stopped him, “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, consider it a treat from Auntie.”
“That won’t do,” Jian Wu said.
Auntie Wang pouted: “You’re like my own son, why wouldn’t it do?”
Jian Wu coaxed her with a smile: “Even your own son can’t eat for free.”
They argued back and forth about the payment, until Song Shuci, his sharp eyes spotting the QR code in the corner, quickly paid.
Auntie Wang then noticed Song Shuci, who had been standing behind Jian Wu.
“Oh, isn’t this Jian Wu’s Gege? You’re back too?” Her tone towards Song Shuci was clearly more polite, her hands clasped together, seeming a bit reserved.
This wasn’t because she was biased, but simply because, after so many years of living in the same courtyard, there were naturally different levels of closeness.
Jian Wu, who always smiled at everyone, was naturally more endearing. Even if he didn’t buy anything from her, he would still greet her when passing by and sincerely praise her food. But Song Shuci was different. He was the rare type of child who wasn’t interested in food. Whenever Jian Wu dragged him here to buy something, he would just stand there and watch, or, like today, just pay.
Auntie Wang had tried to get closer to Song Shuci before, because everyone in the courtyard knew he was a brilliant student, and she also had children and hoped Song Shuci could tutor them. But no matter what she said, Song Shuci always managed to end the conversation in one sentence, making it impossible to chat with him.
Surprisingly, Song Shuci now seemed much more down-to-earth.
“Auntie Wang,” Song Shuci greeted her, then replied, “I came back a while ago, and since Xiao Wu is also here, our families are planning to have dinner together tonight.”
“Aiya, I’m so envious of you, after so many years, your families are still so close,” Auntie Wang sighed, “And you two good brothers supporting each other.”
Jian Wu looked at Song Shuci, who happened to be looking at him as well.
Coupled with Auntie Wang’s unintentional words, this eye contact suddenly became somewhat complex.
This moment of silence made Auntie Wang slightly awkward: “What? Did I say something wrong?”
Jian Wu quickly pulled himself back from his thoughts and chuckled: “Yeah, his parents and my mom have always been close.”
Unexpectedly, Song Shuci, who usually didn’t speak much, also added: “We’ve always been close too.”
Although this sentence sounded a bit strange, Auntie Wang didn’t think too much about it, just said: “That’s good, that’s good, a harmonious family brings prosperity.”
After they took the food and said goodbye to Auntie Wang, Jian Wu glanced at Song Shuci: “Who’s always been close to you?”
Song Shuci lifted the food in his hand and complained: “I just bought you braised food, can you have some conscience?”
“Then I’ll transfer you the money,” Jian Wu insisted on drawing a clear line.
“Hey—” Song Shuci interrupted him, “Look, what’s that?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Look.”
Jian Wu looked over suspiciously. On an empty patch of ground not far away, a hopscotch grid was drawn with orange brick fragments.
No one could resist hopscotch, especially Jian Wu.
“Want to play?” Song Shuci asked him.
Jian Wu didn’t speak, but his reaction said it all.
He jogged over to take a closer look. The person who drew the grid was very meticulous. Although they only had broken bricks, each line was straight and clear.
“But…” he looked around and found a problem, “No beanbag.”
The rules of hopscotch involved throwing a beanbag onto the numbered squares and hopping over the square where the beanbag landed.
“Who said there’s none?” Song Shuci took out a glasses cleaning cloth from his pocket, scooped up some dirt from the flowerbed, wrapped it up, tied it into a knot, and tossed it to Jian Wu, “Try it?”
Jian Wu, seeing him magically produce a beanbag, suddenly fell silent.
“If you don’t throw it, I’ll declare myself the winner,” Song Shuci said.
Jian Wu pursed his lips, tossed the beanbag onto the number “1,” hopped around, and then hesitantly handed it to Song Shuci: “Your turn.”
Song Shuci looked at his suit and shirt and paused for a moment.
“Forget it, let’s not play,” Jian Wu retracted his hand, “Let’s go upstairs.”
Song Shuci snatched the beanbag from his hand and, dressed in his suit, hopped onto the childishly drawn grid.
Jian Wu stared at him, stunned, until Song Shuci hopped to the end and back, then, like a high five, stuffed the beanbag into his hand.
Not far away, on the sixth-floor balcony, two mothers leaned against the railing, watching the two grown men playing hopscotch with speechless expressions.
“They bought groceries, why aren’t they coming up, what are they doing down there?” Jian Yu said.
Although Xu Xiu was also speechless at her son, she still forced a smile and defended him: “Maybe they’re mending their relationship.”
But as if to contradict her words, the two men downstairs suddenly seemed to be about to fight, taking off their jackets and rolling up their sleeves.
Xu Xiu, seeing her almost-thirty-year-old son pull his shirt out of his trousers, covered her face, unable to bear the sight, and pulled Jian Yu inside: “Forget it, forget it, let’s not watch anymore.”
