Chapter 71
“Do you want to move in with me?” Meng Huaizhi suggested. “We’ve been married for so long, but we haven’t lived together yet.”
“Then my mom… she told me to live with her more than half a year ago,” Shen Wu hesitated, then decisively dismissed this option. “But she has a second spring now and doesn’t need her son to accompany her. It would be awkward for me to live with her…”
Shen Wu deliberately dragged out the end of his words, as if he were waiting for Meng Huaizhi’s second persuasion.
Meng Huaizhi’s eyes curved slightly, and he deliberately lowered his voice, making it low and magnetic, “Then you can come and accompany me, baby?”
Shen Wu: “……….”
For Shen Wu, a suggestion that was not harmful to him usually took no more than three times to get his consent, but this time it unexpectedly aroused a strong resistance.
“No way!!” Shen Wu turned his face away and pursed his lips, his momentum fierce, but his thoughts were completely betrayed by his red ears. “What baby…”
“Then when you call me gege, do I have to call you didi?” Meng Huaizhi said with a smile. “It feels like a crime.”
Shen Wu was silent for a moment and said helplessly, “Your jokes are really not funny at all.”
Meng Huaizhi: “Then why are you laughing?”
Shen Wu snorted and simply turned his whole body away.
So Meng Huaizhi embraced him from behind, “Accompany me?”
…
It was not until the next morning that Shen Wu began to pack his luggage to move.
He packed a part from his apartment at the racing team, and then went back to the Shen family to pack another part.
Shen Wu rarely returned to the Shen family and felt a little unfamiliar with his own room.
Meng Huaizhi took out a few pieces of clothes from the closet and asked him, “I don’t think I’ve seen you wear these clothes. Are you taking them?”
Shen Wu curiously flipped through his own clothes, first muttering, “When did I buy these clothes?” He thought for a moment and then nodded, “Take them. Of course, you haven’t seen them. I liked this style when I was in university. Fashion is a cycle, so it’s just right to wear them this year.”
Shen Wu had been in university for four years, and for two of those years, Meng Huaizhi had been abroad.
Meng Huaizhi rummaged through and picked out two T-shirts, one black and one white. These two T-shirts were the same style but different colors, each with a well-designed “W” logo on the chest.
The two T-shirts felt smooth to the touch and looked like they had never been washed. Meng Huaizhi asked Shen Wu again, “Do you like the white one or the black one?”
“The black one.”
“Then I’ll take the white one.”
“…” Shen Wu was silent for a moment. “You’re packing my clothes for me, but you’re also picking?”
He then couldn’t bear it anymore and took back the job of packing his clothes, and ordered Meng Huaizhi, “Help me pack the figurines in that cabinet. Take them all.”
Meng Huaizhi smiled and agreed.
The figurines in the display cabinet were quickly packed. Meng Huaizhi then opened the drawers below.
The edges of these few drawers were covered with a thin layer of dust, as if they had not been opened for a long time. The things in the drawers were neatly arranged, showing the collector’s care and love.
Meng Huaizhi saw all the versions of all his albums since his debut, as well as the accompanying posters. They were almost overflowing, filling a whole drawer.
The next drawer was filled with souvenirs from all his concerts, officially sold light sticks, small cards, desk calendars…
The next layer was filled with fan-made merchandise, a variety of things, including pillows, various accessories, and Q-version cotton dolls.
Meng Huaizhi took out the cotton doll wearing overalls with a small hairpin on its head, held it to his cheek, and asked, “Does this look like me?”
Shen Wu turned around with his clothes in his arms. The moment he saw the thing in Meng Huaizhi’s hand, the folded clothes in his arms fell back onto the bed with a plop.
He hurriedly went over to snatch the doll and said with some guilt, “How can it look like you!?”
Meng Huaizhi said “oh” and then opened his palm, showing the replacement clothes he had found in the drawer, and said, “I prefer this set.”
“…Really?” Shen Wu looked at the simple white shirt and black long pants Meng Huaizhi had chosen and didn’t quite agree.
He then flipped the cotton doll in his hand over and over. No matter how he looked at it, he felt that the overall set was more exquisite and murmured, “I remember these overalls cost five hundred yuan. They’re the most expensive.”
Meng Huaizhi did not reply and looked at him with a smile.
Shen Wu: “…”
Shen Wu tried to remedy the situation, “This is a doll custom-made by your fans. Didn’t you say that your fans don’t understand you? Although it’s custom-made for you, it’s not you. I don’t think it looks very much like you…”
Meng Huaizhi casually pulled open a drawer, revealing a dazzling array of “evidence,” which instantly sealed Shen Wu’s mouth, and he sighed, “The merchandise you’ve collected is more complete than what I’ve kept myself.”
“I had too much pocket money and couldn’t spend it all, so I just bought them randomly,” Shen Wu spouted nonsense with a straight face. “It’s also because I knew you would become a world superstar, and these things would appreciate in value. It’s a kind of… far-sighted investment.”
A few seconds later.
“Alright, alright,” Shen Wu completely gave up. “So what if I’m your fan? You have so many fans. Is it strange to have one more?”
“It’s not strange to have one more,” Meng Huaizhi looked at his eyes, word by word, “but it’s very important.”
Shen Wu moved into Meng Huaizhi’s house and officially began his married life. The days were plain but fulfilling.
And this long winter had just begun.
In the novel, he had been put under house arrest by Shen Tianheng after the competition. Not long after, he had escaped with Shen Ping’s help. The novel had passed it over with a single sentence, only saying that after he had escaped, he had died in winter on a day of family reunion.
The period from New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, to the Lantern Festival, for half a month, all fit the vague description in the novel.
Shen Wu had suspended his racing training for this period of time and was staying at home with Meng Huaizhi every day.
Two days before New Year’s Day, Shen Ping called to invite Shen Wu home for New Year’s Day.
Under the pressure of Meng Huaizhi’s gaze, Shen Wu put it on speaker, fiddled with his fingers, and did not reply for a long time.
Shen Wu’s silence was a form of resistance. Shen Ping had been his brother for more than twenty years and naturally knew.
Shen Ping’s voice was slightly hoarse, with a helplessness that Shen Wu had never felt before, “Xiao Wu… didn’t you say that we’re still the same as before?”
This was what Shen Wu had told him in person after Shen Ping had explained the whole story at the hotel room door.
Of course, Shen Wu had not forgotten. He could only grunt in agreement and then say, “There’s no need to go on New Year’s Day, right? Let’s talk about it during the New Year…”
His relationship with Shen Tianheng had been strained for so many years. It was not something that could be resolved overnight. And the mediator between the father and son, Xu Qiongya, was no longer at the Shen family.
On the other hand, after he had had a talk with Shen Ping, although he had said that their brotherly relationship was still the same as before, he had already grown up and had formed his own small family with Meng Huaizhi. Even if Shen Ping was still his inseparable own brother, he could not be as clingy as before, seeking his help for everything, big and small.
He already had a more intimate lover with whom he would spend the rest of his life.
He wanted to spend all the important festivals and all the ordinary days with Meng Huaizhi.
Meng Huaizhi happened to be joining in the fun on the side and mouthed: Anyway, I’m not going.
Shen Wu: “…”
Shen Ping on the other end of the phone was still not willing to give up, “Then on the 31st, just tomorrow, how about you come back for a trip… or we can go out for a meal together? Just the two of us.”
Shen Ping had taken a step back and had given two options.
Meng Huaizhi frowned at his words.
Comparing the two options, Shen Wu instantly made a choice—he was more unwilling to choose the latter, to go out for a meal alone with Shen Ping on New Year’s Eve.
He looked at Meng Huaizhi’s eyes and continued to find an excuse, “Mm… I’m planning to spend New Year’s Eve with Huaizhi-ge.”
Actually, this was not an excuse. They had not discussed it in advance, because this matter was natural to them and did not need to be said.
Shen Ping seemed to have expected it and continued to give way, “Then how about you come back at noon? Dad is also at home. He’s been talking about you every day recently. I’ll pick you up. We’ll just have a simple meal, and then I’ll take you back.”
He paused and then said, “I just happened to see on the internet… Meng Huaizhi is going to an event tomorrow? Then you can just come back and accompany us, okay?”
Meng Huaizhi forced a smile that had no smile and said directly to the clueless Shen Ping, “The event is at noon.”
Shen Wu looked at his phone and then at Meng Huaizhi in a daze and helplessness.
Meng Huaizhi could see that after Shen Ping’s repeated concessions, plus the fact that he had work tomorrow, the repulsion on Shen Wu’s face had almost dissipated.
So he asked Shen Wu, “Do you want to go back? If you’re willing, you can go for lunch.”
Shen Wu nodded, “Okay…”
Shen Ping suppressed his anger at being eavesdropped on and said with a smile in his voice, “Okay, then I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. I’ll take you back after we finish eating.”
Meng Huaizhi interrupted again, “No need, I’ll pick him up.”
Shen Wu had smelled gunpowder several times, and the result of this call was quite satisfactory.
Because Shen Wu had agreed to go home, and Shen Ping could even come and pick him up in person. It was clearly a laborious task, but his joy was almost overflowing from the phone receiver.
Shen Wu remembered that the last time at the hotel, he had also said to Shen Ping: You should have your own life too.
Because Shen Ping had said he was jealous of him.
His life had always been smooth sailing, and he had almost never felt jealous. In the past, he had always felt that Shen Tianheng favored his older brother and was prejudiced against him, but he was only angry at Shen Tianheng for being unreasonable and had never resented or been jealous of Shen Ping, who was wholeheartedly for him.
They were getting older. He had already become a mature adult and had a stable spouse. Shen Ping was also ten years older than him and should have his own life.
If he had his own happiness, Shen Ping might be able to untie the knot in his heart.
Compared to dwelling on the past, Shen Ping was more willing to look forward, and he also hoped that his brother Shen Ping could look forward.
Shen Ping did not want him to be hurt in any way, and he also did not want Shen Ping to be bogged down by the past and be unhappy all day.
“Ge,” Shen Wu asked casually, “do you have… anyone you have a good impression of recently?”
Shen Ping: “What’s wrong?”
Shen Wu: “As a younger brother, I’m just concerned about your love life.”
“No,” Shen Ping held the steering wheel and looked straight ahead, his voice soft, “Whether you’re married or not, I’m still your ge no matter what. I’m your eternal support. If you encounter any difficulties, you can always find me. I’m always here.”
Shen Wu turned his face away uncomfortably, “No… I just think that you should have your own life too. If someone is with you every day, maybe you’ll be happier…”
Shen Ping took a sharp breath and gripped the steering wheel.
“Just like I have Huaizhi-ge,” Shen Wu paused for a few seconds before he finished.
Shen Ping was silent.
“Ge…” Shen Wu looked out the window in a daze and murmured to himself again, “If I died, would you be sad?”
“How is that possible?” Shen Ping asked back without hesitation.
His expression was as gentle as ever, and he said calmly, “You’re ten years younger than me. You won’t.”
Shen Wu’s heart skipped a beat.
Shen Ping had not answered the question of whether he would be sad or not, because that was a future that Shen Ping had never imagined.
He was ten years younger than Shen Ping, and Shen Ping naturally thought that he could live longer.
Shen Wu pursed his lips with a complicated mood and said again, “There are also many tragedies of white-haired people sending off black-haired people. Haven’t you heard of them?”
“Xiao Wu,” Shen Ping said seriously, his voice also sinking. “Don’t curse yourself.”
“What if?”
“Xiao Wu…”
“Racing is very dangerous. Don’t you know?”
Shen Ping was silent for a moment and then said, “Didn’t you come back safely every time? I believe in you.”
Shen Wu did not speak again for a long time.
Shen Ping glanced over and happened to meet Shen Wu’s tilted head.
Shen Wu was looking at him with a complex and indescribable gaze in the silence.
“Focus on driving, Ge.”
“Okay,” Shen Ping looked at the road seriously. After a while, his voice inexplicably became hoarse, “I can’t imagine if you…”
The unfinished words dissipated in his mouth.
Shen Ping did not dare to say Shen Wu’s “death” out loud, which was somewhat similar to Meng Huaizhi.
The car fell into silence again.
After passing another intersection, Shen Wu looked up and his heart stopped in an instant at the red that was so close.
Outside the front windshield, there was a red truck that was out of control, approaching them at an astonishing speed!
“Ge! Ge—” Shen Wu was instantly pale with fright.
Shen Wu had seen the out-of-control truck at almost the same time as him. He turned the steering wheel hard a few times, trying to avoid the truck’s impact.
However, everything happened in a flash. The small car could not dodge in time and was hit by the truck, which weighed more than a thousand pounds.
The moment before the airbag deployed.
Shen Ping suddenly unbuckled his seatbelt and threw himself at Shen Wu in the passenger seat.
A subconscious reaction could not be faked and was far more weighty and heavy than any solemn promise.
Shen Wu was protected by a warm human body and an airbag.
The moment before he lost consciousness, he remembered that Shen Ping had once said, “I don’t want you to be hurt in any way.”
It turned out that it also included this life-and-death moment.
