“Hello, is this 120…”
“Hello, excuse me, is this pharmacy closed? Where did it move to?” Yu Yue Sheng stopped a passerby and asked.
This was already the most polite tone he could muster. After spending so much time teaching in class, he couldn’t help but sound a bit like a teacher addressing a student, with a hint of coldness in his magnetic voice.
The passerby followed Yu Yue Sheng’s gaze and looked at the storefront, “It closed a while ago, this liquor store has been open for some time now.” He sized up Yu Yue Sheng, who appeared delicate, silent, and composed, and added, “Are you from around here?”
“I haven’t been here in a long time.”
“I see.” The young man was a bit chubby and held a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts in his hand. He casually popped one into his mouth and vaguely pointed, “If you go down this street, take a left, I can’t recall the name of the road, but there’s a pharmacy on that street. It’s not the same one as this, but I’ve heard it’s pretty good.”
“I’ll go take a look, thank you,” Yu Yue Sheng said.
“You’re welcome.” The passerby waved his hand, put his earphones back in, and strolled away, humming a song.
Yu Yue Sheng looked ahead.
The night was deep blue, and after the lights lit up, the bustling and colorful streets were filled with people. The road the young man mentioned was roughly remembered, but he wasn’t sure if he could find it.
In his mind, he thought about Qi Juan enduring the stomach pain and still eating hotpot, huddled on the side of the road, making small, suppressed groans, as if cat claws were scratching at his heart. Even when advised to have congee instead, he wouldn’t listen. It was as if he was being forced to drink poison; he only knew how to avoid it with a smile and come up with a bunch of grand excuses.
Why did he care about that reckless little wolf cub?
Yu Yue Sheng put away the navigation he had brought out and walked back a few steps. He decided to observe how Qi Juan was doing first, and if it didn’t improve, he would take him directly to the hospital.
As he pondered, he raised his gaze.
In his gaze, Qi Juan was sitting on the steps in front of a storefront, drinking mineral water. He had flipped the hood of his coat up to cover his head, pressing his hair down, like withered grass obscuring his brows, and only a small, pale face was visible.
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed the liquid. He had already finished most of a water bottle, and a glistening droplet hung from the tip of his pointed chin, which he quickly wiped away with the back of his hand.
If he remembered correctly, the bottle of mineral water was given to Qi Juan by the girl with a ponytail just now. At that time, the bottle was still covered with a thin layer of white mist, and when held in his hand, it would moisten the fingertips with meandering water stains.
Thinking of this, the person skillfully took out a cigarette and a lighter. The lighter flicked between his slender fingers, just like the person sitting at the back of the classroom, casually twirling a water-based pen under the chair’s crossbar. If caught, he would look back with a smile, full of charm.
But now, there was no longer that timely awareness of lifting his head.
Almost unable to see how he lit it, the cigarette was already lit, held between his lips, and the smoke wafted out from between his red lips and white teeth. The smoke curled around, and his half-closed eyes seemed to be covered in a layer of dust. He had one leg curled up under his elbow, looking somewhat decadent.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Hunching his body, one hand went into his pocket, and you could see the clothing on his abdomen outlining the back of his hand. When he bent down, the neckline and the slender collarbone depicted a shallow depression.
Yu Yu Sheng frowned even more tightly.
He stuffed his phone into his pocket without saying a word, then turned around and walked back to the car. Gripping the steering wheel for a while, he took out his phone and sent a text message to Qi Juan: [Is the ice water tasty?]
His gaze was fixed on the pedestrians hurriedly passing by in front of the windshield. His expression grew darker and darker. Yu Yue Sheng waited for a while but didn’t receive a reply. When he picked up his phone to check, he realized that the battery was running low, and the screen was lagging. It showed that he had received a message, but before he could open it, the screen went black.
He slammed the phone on the seat next to him, feeling impatient, and rummaged through the storage compartments.
Meanwhile, Qi Juan casually squeezed the empty mineral water bottle until it flattened, and the bones on the back of his hand shifted slightly. Seemingly unconcerned, he accurately threw the plastic bottle into a nearby trash bin, and the black spring-loaded lid flipped several times.
The fingers that had held the cold water typed a line of text to Yu Yue Sheng, and the screen became slightly blurred with watermarks.
“Drip.” A water droplet splashed.
When Qi Juan looked up, a drop of icy rain fell a few centimeters below his eyes, and as he lowered his head, it slid down his smooth cheek.
The wind roamed the streets and alleys, making his hair constantly brush against his face. He decided to hunch down, pressing his forehead against his knee bone. His hand could reach the painful upper abdomen, and he scratched at it bit by bit with his fingertips, causing the sharp ridge of his spine to protrude. Dark spots bloomed on his black short-sleeved T-shirt.
“Ninety-nine.”
“Ninety-eight.”
“Ninety-seven.”
“…Hiss.”
Why haven’t you come to find me yet?
When Qi Juan called, the other side’s phone was already turned off.
He placed his arm horizontally over his stomach, pressing his body tightly. Perhaps his clothes were too thin; he felt the spasms in his stomach colliding with his arm, causing the whole area to ache and go numb, as if it wanted to escape in desperation. He clenched the fabric on his waist tightly with his fingertips, and his lips were stained with a bloody color from biting.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of a car’s engine.
He quickly straightened up, but the sudden movement caused a pull in his stomach, and his body couldn’t help but sway, almost falling to the ground
.
“Damn it.” A curse slipped out of his mouth, and he instinctively placed his hand on his upper abdomen, rubbing it randomly several times. His clothes were wrinkled, and his eyebrows furrowed.
It wasn’t Yu Yue Sheng’s car; it was probably someone else’s car parked casually by the roadside, and the color didn’t even match.
Qi Juan self-mockingly hooked the corner of his mouth. He bit the cigarette butt in his mouth, placed the remaining tray back into the box, tidied up the cake box, and clasped both of Stitch’s big ears in his hand. Then, he left a gap to flick the cigarette butt, shaking off a large piece of ash. With the other hand, he pressed the cake box and the doll against his stomach.
The milky flavor spread in his mouth, and his delicate Adam’s apple moved slightly. The cigarette ash scattered in the wind and was quickly extinguished by the damp rainwater.
His hand also pressed on his stomach, feeling the pain inside, as if there were tiny knives scraping the lining bit by bit.
When he straightened up, the reflux of cream in his stomach had subsided completely.
A faint white mist spread in the air, and his eyebrows slightly furrowed. He stared at the gradually disappearing vehicles in his line of sight, murmuring, “Yue Sheng, if you don’t turn around, I will never bother with you again.”
When Qi Juan pushed open the door of his home, the lights were already on inside. He was soaked from head to toe by the rain, and water dripped down from his clothes, forming small puddles on the floor. As he walked in after changing his shoes, he saw Chi Yin playing a mobile game while leaning on the sofa, and he didn’t find it strange at all. On the other hand, he himself looked indifferent and listless.
Chi Yin raised his eyelids and glanced at him. “Hey, how dare you buy a cake? That’s rare… Did your lactose intolerance improve?”
“It’s better,” Qi Juan replied as he walked towards the room.
“Heh, I wonder who was vomiting and having diarrhea last time, rolling all over the bed even after receiving two painkiller shots,” Chi Yin said, laughing as if he heard a great joke. He tossed his phone aside, stood up, and followed Qi Juan into the room.
The person was clutching their stomach, making banging sounds as they rummaged through the drawer. The drawer was pulled open with a crash and then slammed shut, crooked and almost causing the cabinet to fall apart.
There was a certain demeanor resembling a drug addict searching for cocaine, wishing to take a hit to make their brain cells decay even more thoroughly.
Chi Yin crossed his arms, leaning against the door frame, and watched him. “What are you looking for?”
“Your wasabi! Where’s that insanely spicy candy?” Qi Juan said.
“Gone.”
“Then what else is fun around here?” Qi Juan looked at Chi Yin with a mischievous smile.
“What’s gotten into you?” Chi Yin put down his arms, picked up a glass of cold water from the table, and splashed it on Qi Juan’s face.
It can be described as a head-on confrontation, with droplets of water flowing down along the jet-black hair, forming a discontinuous line. The flow gradually slowed down, condensing into small water droplets that fell with a “pitter-patter” sound.
Qi Juan stared at him without saying a word, his eyelashes filled with fine water droplets, like tiny fans, and the intense blackness seemed about to flow into a gloomy ink.
“You still haven’t told me where you went? Why did you only come back now?” Chi Yin held Qi Juan’s damp cheeks, pressing him against the table behind, and on tiptoe, he began to bite his lips, licking the person’s tender and warm mouth. His hand drew circles around his navel, and he began to explore further down.
His lower abdomen was really cold, as if it had turned into ice. The fair and tender skin would sink slightly when touched, as if sliding down a slide.
Qi Juan’s lower back hit the edge of the table, and he felt like a deep mark was about to be branded on his skin. He grabbed Chi Yin’s hand and said in a hoarse voice, “I don’t need to report to you wherever I go. Don’t move.”
His breathing was unsteady, and the trembling gasps he couldn’t suppress revealed his feelings between the lines, as if soaked in the damp mist.
“Why? You haven’t taken the initiative for a long time? You won’t let me touch you anymore?” Chi Yin asked.
Qi Juan clenched his teeth and said, “My stomach hurts.”
“Is that so?” Chi Yin gently pressed on his soft and ice-cold abdomen, and a groan involuntarily escaped him, fragile like a water surface that would break at the slightest touch.
Chi Yin stared at the person who had his head down, his face pale, and said word by word, “Even like this, you still dare to eat wasabi?”
Qi Juan slowly loosened his grip and said incoherently, “It’s very delicious, why wouldn’t I dare? So, will you give it to me?”
He stepped back and accidentally bumped into the table. He reached out and touched the vase on the table, reaching inside to grasp a dried rose branch, which he skillfully broke in his hand.
His hand seemed to be scratched by the sharp thorns, and drops of blood fell from his wrist. Chi Yin picked up his hand and examined it. The cut was near the artery, appearing longer than it actually was, but it was just a superficial wound with a slightly swollen edge. Chi Yin eventually released his hand.
“There’s none left,” Chi Yin said.
“Mmm, this is actually not bad,” Qi Juan said as he used his fingers to smooth the curled edges of the rose petals, leisurely as if caressing a small cat between his hands.
He tore off the rose petals one by one, pressed them against the corner of his lips, and with a light flick of his tongue, he enveloped them in his warm mouth.
Fresh blood flowed lightly down his snow-white forearm, forming a long line, like a red blood snake entwined.
Qi Juan took a bite of the petal and said, “Bitter with a hint of sweetness, like a refreshing plum soup.”
Chi Yin reached his hand inside his clothes and felt a sudden bulge in his stomach area. He probably ate a lot and didn’t digest it properly; it must be very uncomfortable. Despite having a stomach ulcer, he still ate, and even a little bit of food would cause him pain for a long time.
However, the person continued to nibble on the petals, the movement elegant as if gently licking the veins of the flower. He tilted his head, smiling playfully, and folded his tongue, effortlessly spitting out a thorn.
Chi Yin pressed down firmly, even able to feel the pulsating intestines inside through the flat abdomen.
Qi Juan showed no sign of pain on his face, just folding his body and placing his hot breath near Chi Yin’s ear lazily, saying, “What’s the matter? Can’t bear it today? Only capable of teasing and flirting? Where are all those usual tricks?”
“It’s nothing. I just feel you’re acting a bit unusual. Are you unhappy?” Chi Yin asked.
The person with the drooping head remained silent for a long time. He chuckled softly, even his shoulder blades fluttered lightly, and after a long while, he finally said, “Isn’t it obvious?”
He calmly let a touch of crimson overflow from the corner of his mouth, and his Adam’s apple rolled slightly as the thick color continued to trickle down. Chi Yin could hardly distinguish whether it was rose juice or the rupture of his internal organs.
Qi Juan raised the back of his hand to wipe it away haphazardly, and then slumped down along the table, limp as if boneless. He said, “Only you pretend not to see.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Am I blind? Can’t I see?” Chi Yin retorted.
In a daze, a cold and clear face appeared before his eyes, with exquisite features, yet an icy aura exuding from his brows and eyes—a landscape that he dared not touch.
“You’re…cough, cough, cough…” Qi Juan lowered his head, pressing both hands against his upper abdomen.
In his stomach were the flower petals he liked and the cake he enjoyed, but when they merged into his bones and blood, it was painful, as if he had poured his heart into loving someone, only to be scratched by sharp thorns with a gentle touch.
He was breathing slightly, perhaps chuckling through his gasps. For some reason, his tone was filled with desolation.
When Chi Yin supported him, he realized that his forehead, cheeks, and arms were all scorching hot. The whole person seemed to be on the verge of losing consciousness. Hastily, Chi Yin propped up Qi Juan with one hand and fumbled for his phone with the other:
“Hello, is this 120…?”
“Cough…” Qi Juan turned his body and grabbed the table leg, feeling the urge to vomit. His stomach spasmed, and there even seemed to be a sense of revolt, but the pain overwhelmed him.
Meanwhile, Chi Yin was anxiously massaging his stomach. Whether it was due to his technique or something else, the person in his arms couldn’t stay still. He turned his head and coughed out more and more blooming blood, dotting the white tiles with vivid red flowers.
His abdomen was restless, as if it had gone mad, and no amount of rubbing could soothe it.
“Hiss… Uh!…” The young man closed his eyelashes, trembling as if he were dry leaves swaying in the chilly autumn wind. He turned his back, clutching his clothes tightly in front of his belly, and suppressed moans and groans escaped through his clenched teeth.
“Stop pressing, I really can’t take it anymore. Where did you go that made you hurt like this?” Chi Yin said helplessly.
But Qi Juan stubbornly clenched his teeth and refused to say anything. Outside, the sound of pouring rain cut through the quiet and cold night.
“Knock, knock, knock.” An urgent knocking sound echoed.
“Wait. It seems like someone is knocking at the door… Are ambulances this fast nowadays?” Chi Yin supported Qi Juan and muttered as he quickly opened the door, letting the wind rush in. When he saw the person outside, he was slightly stunned, “Why is it you?”1He used informal “You”
Yu Yue Sheng was still holding medicine in his hand, and the evening’s damp mist surrounded him. He furrowed his eyebrows and spoke coldly, “Where’s Qi Juan?”
A thud sound of something falling inside the room followed by a muffled noise. “He’s inside, not doing well. We just called for an ambulance,” Chi Yin pointed inside and said.
“How is that possible?”
Yu Yue Sheng pushed him aside and quickly walked in. The scene he encountered when opening the room’s door was shocking, causing a pang in his heart—
The young man was half kneeling on the ground, clutching his front collar, struggling to cough. In front of him on the ground, one after another, warm blood-red petals bloomed. A bag of medicine bottles rolled on the floor, and the pills inside rattled and made clanging sounds.
In the background, it was a stormy evening with thunder and rain. The sky was split by a bright flash, giving the room a momentary exposure, which made the person’s complexion lose all its color
