Back to 1988 24

Chapter 24: Liquor-Filled Chocolate

The news of Mi Yang skipping a grade came suddenly. Bai Luochuan was completely unprepared.

For the first time, he didn’t speak to Mi Yang. In the evening, he went home alone with a dark face.

At night, Bai Luochuan didn’t come downstairs for dinner. The nanny auntie called him, but he didn’t answer. Mrs. Bai knocked on his door, but he wouldn’t open it. He just sulked in his room, ignoring everyone.

Mrs. Bai was also at a loss. She guessed that her son had encountered something unpleasant at school and was considering whether to call the school teacher later. After all, he was her only precious son, and she was really worried.

After dinner, before Mrs. Bai had a chance to call and inquire, a little guest came to visit.

Mi Yang stood at the door, holding his pillow, and said with a smile, “Auntie, I’ve come to play with Bai Luochuan. Can I stay at your house tonight?”

Mrs. Bai was overjoyed and quickly let him in. “Of course you can, Little Good Boy. Auntie was just worried about him. You don’t know, Luochuan came home today and wouldn’t talk to anyone, wouldn’t eat, and just locked himself in his room. You’re in the same class as him. Can you tell Auntie what made him so unhappy today? Did the teacher criticize him?”

Mi Yang thought for a moment. “No. Should I go ask him for you?”

Mrs. Bai said, “Yes, yes, you go.”

So, Mi Yang went upstairs with his little pillow. Mrs. Bai also had him take a glass of juice up, reminding him that even if he didn’t eat dinner, he should at least drink something. It was clear that the mother’s heart was aching.

Mi Yang knocked on the door and called out, “Bai Luochuan? Bai Luochuan, open the door for me.”

It was quiet inside for a while before the lock made a soft “click” and was opened.

Mi Yang tested it and slowly pushed the door open to enter. The room was pitch black; the lights weren’t on. He carefully fumbled for the switch. Fortunately, he had been here many times and didn’t trip over the toys on the floor. After turning on the lights, he saw the young master Bai sulking on the bed, his face buried in the pillow, with a “I don’t want to talk to you” look.

Mi Yang placed the glass of juice on the small cabinet by his bed, cleared his throat, and then put his own small pillow next to him.

Hearing the noise, Bai Luochuan turned his head to look. It was only after seeing the pillow that he sat up, but his brow was still furrowed. He asked him, “What are you doing here! Aren’t you leaving?”

Mi Yang sat on the edge of the bed and talked to him. “I’m not. We’re still in the same school.”

Bai Luochuan said, “Not in the same class, and not deskmates anymore. You never even mentioned it to me. You just want to leave.”

Mi Yang tilted his head to look at him and poked his cheek. The young master Bai impatiently slapped his hand away. He poked him again, and he immediately glared over, puffing out his cheeks. Mi Yang was amused by him and coaxed him, “The teacher was the one who gave me the test papers to do. I didn’t expect to be able to skip a grade so soon. Don’t you usually like to say that my grades are good? Now that my grades are especially good, why are you unhappy?”

Bai Luochuan was deeply hurt and turned his head away, refusing to talk to him.

Mi Yang touched his own pillow and pretended to pick it up. “Since you don’t welcome me, I’ll go home…”

Before he could finish, a small hand pressed down on the pillow, not letting him go. Bai Luochuan turned back to look at him. “You’re not allowed to go.”

This time, the child’s eyes were red.

Mi Yang’s heart softened. He placed his small pillow next to his and patted it. “I’m not going. I’m sleeping here tonight.”

Only then did Bai Luochuan’s expression soften slightly.

Mi Yang looked at the small cabinet beside them, which was filled with snacks. He said, “I’m hungry. I want to eat something.”

When Bai Luochuan was angry, he would never take the initiative to eat. But since Mi Yang said he was hungry, he got up and brought over a box of candies. It was a box of assorted candies, with all sorts of varieties, and a few pastries.

Mi Yang took a pastry, unwrapped it, and took a small bite. His eyes lit up. “This is delicious. Want to try?”

Bai Luochuan refused, but the pastry was already at his lips, so he reluctantly took a couple of bites. After eating one piece, the second one was easier. After all, he was a child and couldn’t go hungry for long. Not having eaten dinner was still uncomfortable. He ate three pastries and drank the juice Mi Yang brought him. Mi Yang ate a piece of chocolate candy with him, and after taking a bite, the chocolate melted, and he tasted the rum inside. But he had already swallowed it, leaving only a faint taste of liquor in his mouth.

Mi Yang licked his lips. It seemed that swallowing the liquor-filled center just felt warm, and the taste was quite good.

Since Mi Yang had agreed to stay the night, he went to the small bathroom in the room to wash up. The young master Bai followed behind Mi Yang, watching him wash his face, brush his teeth, and change into his pajamas before coming back and lying down next to him, as if afraid he would run away.

He watched him closely, but his little face was still tense. He was probably still angry and didn’t talk much to Mi Yang, lacking his usual lively demeanor.

Since he was silent, Mi Yang took the initiative to talk to him. “I’ve learned how to make book covers.”

Bai Luochuan remained silent, puffing out his cheeks.

Mi Yang took his hand, hooked his fingers, and swayed it. The other’s stiff arm slowly softened and swayed along with him a couple of times. Mi Yang said with a smile, “When the new books are given out next semester, how about I make book covers for you?”

Bai Luochuan was sullen for a long while before he rolled over and hugged him. “Okay.”

Mi Yang swayed his small hand again. “I heard the homeroom teacher say that they want me to go to the first class of the third grade. My mom is going to the school tomorrow to talk about it.” The small hand holding his tightened a little. Mi Yang consoled him, “It’s just upstairs from us, very close. The staircase next to our classroom, just go up one floor. I’ll come see you after class, okay?”

Bai Luochuan held his hand. “Okay.”

Hearing him say that, Mi Yang felt a sense of relief, knowing that this young master wouldn’t cause any more trouble. Although he couldn’t see little Bai Luochuan’s face in the dark, Mi Yang still turned and gave him a hug as encouragement. He felt that this little young master he had watched grow up, although a bit willful, was generally well-behaved. He would listen to whatever he said. He was so sensible, much easier to coax than the grown-up young master Bai.

Mi Yang smacked his lips. That liquor-filled chocolate was really sweet. Even after brushing his teeth at night, there was still a faint taste of liquor.

He didn’t know if it was because of that hint of liquor, but Mi Yang had a dream.

He dreamed of someone he hadn’t dreamed of in a long time.

In the dream, he was back at the Bai family’s old residence, at the time of Bai Luochuan’s engagement. But his memory of the people around him was hazy, or perhaps he was drunk in the dream, muddle-headed, and couldn’t remember those warm and similar faces.

He had been drinking, and he couldn’t hold his liquor well. On top of that, he had a bad cold. When Bai Luochuan was helping him upstairs, he had no strength at all and could only lean on him, being half-supported, half-carried up.

Bai Luochuan said a lot to him. Mi Yang heard it, but it was as if his ears were stuffed with cotton. He only caught bits and pieces and couldn’t understand what he was saying. Bai Luochuan was relentless, practically pressing his lips to his ear. Mi Yang felt the tickle of his breath on his ear, which was both itchy and uncomfortable. He couldn’t help but push him a little. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

In the dim corridor, Bai Luochuan pushed him against the wall, his body pressing close. His eyes seemed to be flickering with flames, as if he were trying his best to suppress his anger. For a moment, Mi Yang even thought he was going to hit him. But before he could defend himself, Bai Luochuan kissed him, his lips covering his as he said in a hoarse voice, “This is what I mean.”

The dream was blurry and swayed violently. Mi Yang was also very dizzy, as if he couldn’t even hold onto the wall and was about to fall.

His memories were fragmented, but Bai Luochuan was always there.

After a long period of darkness, Mi Yang felt a tightness in his chest. He slowly opened his eyes and, sure enough, saw the person lying on top of him. The person’s arms were propped on either side of his head. When he saw him, a faint smile appeared on his handsome face.

“Don’t sleep. Stay with me a little longer.”

After hearing that, Mi Yang suddenly realized it was his own voice. He had never known he could speak so softly, as if he were begging Bai Luochuan.

The young master Bai was very susceptible to this. He whispered, “Mm, I won’t sleep. I’ll talk to you.” He chuckled, then slowly began to speak. “Hey, in my next life, I want to be a little dumber. I don’t want to be so tired. I want you to worry about me, and I won’t have to care about anything, just eat well, drink well, and live a good life…”

“Okay.”

Bai Luochuan’s eyes curved into a smile. His lips pressed against his, the dry touch of them distinct. He said, “You promised.”

Mi Yang moved his lips, trying to open them a little to kiss him back. The tip of his tongue touched his in response. “Mm, I promised.”

…

When Mi Yang woke up, his heart was still beating violently, thumping one after another. He placed his hand there and felt it for a while, unable to distinguish the exact feeling. There was panic, but that wasn’t all. Even after waking up, he could still taste that hint of sweetness.

In the dream, he had initiated the kiss and had also responded to it.

Mi Yang lifted his hand to look at it. It wasn’t the size of an infant’s, but it had shrunk a lot. After all, he was still just an elementary school student. He felt like he had forgotten something important, but he couldn’t remember what it was. Mi Yang turned his head to look at the child beside him, his feelings complicated.

Could it be that he, too, liked Bai Luochuan?