OFBL Chapter 14

Feeling the touch of Dr. Zhang’s fingers, Xu Li straightened his back and twisted his body to glance back. He smiled and said: “Don’t touch me like that, boyfriend. I’m about to react.”

Zhang Yuze’s hand suddenly bounced away. In the end, he continued to apply shower gel to him, but this time the action was a little faster.

Xu Li asked: “Don’t you want to know where that scar came from?”

Zhang Yuze stood up, now taller than the sitting Xu Li. As long as he lowered his head, he could see Xu Li looking up at him. The other party’s hair was still wet and hanging in front of his forehead, looking much more obedient than usual.

Just like a fluffy dog.

Zhang Yuze didn’t even raise his eyelids before saying: “I know you. Even if I don’t ask, you’ll still couldn’t help but tell me.”

Xu Li smiled. “That’s true. You know me well.”

“Then say it.” Zhang Yuze turned on the tap and washed away the foam on his back. Along the way, he took a closer look at the scar. It seemed to be cut by something sharp, but it looked like an old wound, with pale pink edges.

Xu Li shook the water from his face and said: “It was my father who beat me. It should have been when I was a sophomore in high school. I happened to find that he was cheating on me and my mother with some rich woman outside. So I ran around and made a fuss, and he picked up a chair to give me such a scar.”

“What did you do?” Zhang Yuze followed his words and thoughts, and an unruly high school teenager who looked like a thorn appeared in his mind. With Xu Li’s temper, he guessed that he could even pick up a torch and burn down the mistress’s family.

Xu Li paused for a second and said naturally: “I pulled out the Money Tree that was planted in front of that woman’s house¹A native to the Yunnan province of China, the Chinese Money Tree has rapidly become a symbol of wealth and abundance in Feng Shui. It is believed that by offering respect to the Gods, people can receive generous gifts from them, such as success in business endeavors or prosperity. As a result, many are turning towards this tree to bring good fortune into their lives. The Chinese Money Tree is thought to represent the five elements of Feng Shui: Water, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Wood. These essential elements are believed to bring balance and harmony into the lives of those who embrace them. Therefore, the tree itself can be used as a tool for positive energy in any given area..”

Zhang Yuze: “…”

“I also took away the God of Wealth by her door²Caishen (traditional Chinese: 財神; simplified Chinese: 财神; lit. ‘God of Wealth’) is a mythological figure worshipped in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. Caishen’s name is often invoked during the Chinese New Year celebrations. He is depicted in statues and paintings as riding a black tiger and holding a golden rod. He may also be depicted holding an iron tool capable of turning stone and iron into gold..”

“…”

The highest-level revenge often required the simplest means. Zhang Yuze was speechless, but still managed to say: “I thought you would fight. After all, how can you stand that with your temper?”

Xu Li raised his face, and his eyes shone in the light, looking like they were covered with a layer of mist. He smiled and said: “Please, Dr. Zhang, getting into a fight would be included in my file, which would affect the college entrance examination.”

Zhang Yuze was stunned. This time around, Xu Li’s rationality surprised him.

“I cared about the college entrance examination, which determined whether I could study medicine in my life or not.” Xu Li stood up, pushed Zhang Yuze out of the bathroom, and regained his usual boyish smile. “I’m going to wash my underwear. Do you want to stay and watch?”

Zhang Yuze slammed the door in his face.

…………

Xu Li came out soon. Zhang Yuze helped him wipe the water and promptly dressed him in another easy-to-wear cardigan sweater. Walking out of the bedroom, Xu Li suddenly looked at the balcony and said: “It’s snowing again…”

Zhang Yuze shuddered. “So I have to freeze to death when I go to work tomorrow.”

Unexpectedly, Xu Li was very excited. “Let’s go out to see the snow! I haven’t seen it this year.”

Zhang Yuze watched him stand by the door, looking like he really wanted to go out. For a while, he was surprised by the man’s ability to focus on one single thought at a time…

… But then he said angrily: “Come back to me! If you go out now, wouldn’t your shower be in vain?!”

Xu Li put on his shoes and said helplessly: “Dr. Zhang, I’m going out to see the snow, not to roll around in it. It’s not so easy to get dirty. Get dressed quickly and come with me.”

Zhang Yuze shook his head and proudly refused: “I’m not going.”

I’m so scared of the cold. Go out and see what?! What kind of snow was worth standing in the cold northern wind at night?!

“Come, don’t be so spoiled.” Xu Li waved to him again.

Zhang Yuze frowned and was about to refuse, but Xu Li stopped talking by himself and suddenly smiled: “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot that you’re afraid of the cold. Then I won’t go either.”

“You still have a little conscience.” Zhang Yuze mumbled.

Xu Li took off his shoes and put his slippers back, walking to the edge of the balcony. Before pushing the door out, he smiled, turned around, and said: “After all, you’re the boyfriend that I’ve picked up after such a hard time. I have to take good care of you.”

Zhang Yuze was stunned by his words. Although it was not the first time he tried to date, it was the first time someone said they wanted to take care of him. In his previous relationship with Shen Mo, Zhang Yuze was the one who always gave more, while Shen Mo was the one who deserved to enjoy it.

Shen Mo always cared whether Zhang Yuze remembered his preferences, their anniversaries, or whether he cared about his emotions in time. But in return, he never cared about his boyfriend.

There was no need to speak anymore. Dr. Zhang withdrew his thoughts and looked up again. Outside the glass door of the balcony, Xu Li’s silhouette looked both strong and fragile.

A series of coquettish words. Dr. Zhang cursed at his back.

As for Xu Li, he held his cheek and let the wind blow the snowflakes on his face. He usually didn’t smoke, but when he felt melancholic, he liked to look at the scenery in a daze. He had been in a bad mood since coming back from his mother’s place. Being unable to cure her love brain after so many years made him feel annoyed.

Before, when he mentioned those bad things in his sophomore year of high school to Zhang Yuze, his mood turned even more complicated. In fact, Zhang Yuze was damn right. How could he bear it with his temper? He was eager to kick the scumbag and tear the mistress to pieces.

But no. He had to find random ways to spill his anger without getting to the bottom of the problem. Otherwise, if he was accused of violence, he could no longer support his mother.

Therefore, the only thing he could do as a teenager was to take a long-distance public bus by himself and travel to a posh neighborhood only to uproot the Money Tree in front of a rich woman’s house.

Like a coward.

And just like that, the next day the mistress found him through the community’s surveillance. And his biological father did not feel ashamed of being found out by his son at all. Instead, to preserve his thin face, he picked up a chair and broke it on his back.

Getting your back broken meant paralysis. But his father never thought about it. Over the years, the only thing that bastard could do to maintain his dignity in the family was endless violence.

Xu Li raised his face. Therefore, love was an eternal lie. It was known from his parents’ marriage that the thing did not exist.

The balcony door opened with a thud. Xu Li looked back and saw his boyfriend tightly wrapped in a quilt. “What are you doing outside?” He asked.

Zhang Yuze stepped forward and cursed softly: “It’s up to me to see if you’re still alive.”

Xu Li hooked his lips and smiled: “You seem to like seeing me alive. Are you so afraid that I’ll leave you?”

Zhang Yuze tightened the quilt even more and said lightly: “I’ll collect the body for you when you die. If you don’t die, just keep it.”

Xu Li leaned on the railing and smiled.

Zhang Yuze was wrapped like a zongzi, with only the tip of his nose exposed. But at least he wasn’t cold. The living room was covered in dim yellow light, reflecting the snowflakes in front of him with an orange-yellow glow. Dr. Zhang quietly watched the snowflakes flying and falling, some of them even touching his face.

In his memory, the last time he watched the snow like a fool was with Shen Mo in college. Zhang Yuze couldn’t remember whether the snow was pretty that day or not. He just remembered that he was as cold as dead, and even his scarf was taken away by Shen Mo.

He even had a fever the next day.

Dr. Zhang never had a good impression of snow. However, he was wrapped in another man’s quilt today. It was not cold, and the whole situation suddenly had a special flavor.

Xu Li broke the silence and asked him: “Didn’t you say that you came here through a book? Then where did the scar on my back come from? Didn’t the author write it?”

Zhang Yuze glanced at him and replied: “Maybe he wrote it, but I don’t know. I didn’t look back.”

Xu Li smiled and asked: “How much did you read about me?”

Zhang Yuze thought for a while and said seriously: “It should be the first four paragraphs or so. Anyway, after introducing that you’re a scumbag, I didn’t bother to read it anymore.”

“…”

Xu Li couldn’t help but complain: “Fortunately, the author is a fast-paced person. If he wrote about the scenery in the beginning and only cared about achieving the perfect number of words, you probably wouldn’t even know who I was…”

Zhang Yuze ignored his words, and Xu Li did not continue. They tacitly looked up at the snow at the same time, shoulder to shoulder. Just like life occasionally needed a pause button, Zhang Yuze and Xu Li’s banter suddenly stopped at that moment.

Xu Li turned his face and asked: “Do you think this is what love is like?”

“Who knows.” Zhang Yuze turned his face away, and at the end of his sight, Xu Li also happened to be looking at him. A snowflake blew on his eyelashes with the wind, turning into water and then frozing into a crystal.

It looked very beautiful.

With the soft light of the living room coming from behind, Zhang Yuze once again carefully described Xu Li’s appearance with his eyes. He found that Xu Li had a very flattering appearance. His facial features were delicate but not feminine, and his lower jaw was pointed and thin but not mean-looking.

In other words, it was a face that no one could hate once they saw it…

…Worthy of being the scum gong in a cheap novel!

Xu Li turned his head, held his chin, and asked with boredom: “What did you do when you were in love before?”

Zhang Yuze thought for a moment before stretching out his right hand from the depths of the quilt, opening his five fingers, and placing them in front of Xu Li.

Xu Li lowered his eyes.

Then, he gave him a high five, thinking their tacit understanding was off the charts.

Zhang Yuze: “…”

Seeing that he didn’t say anything, Xu Li was stunned: “That’s it?”

“That’s it your head!” Zhang Yuze withdrew his hand angrily. “Holding hands! This is what couples should do, right?!”

Xu Li looked like he had just woken up from a big dream. He reacted and stretched out his hand to pull out Zhang Yuze’s hand.

However, Zhang Yuze turned around and said impatiently: “No, it’s cold.”

“Dr. Zhang, this is my first time holding hands with someone. You’d better cherish it.” Xu Li was truly shameless. He imitated Zhang Yuze’s appearance just now and placed his hand in front of him, with his five fingers wide open.

Zhang Yuze sighed, but still stretched out his hand and clutched his fingers. The pull was not very tight, the hand holding especially loose, but their fingers were entangled together.

Xu Li’s palm was very warm.

After holding hands for a while, Xu Li suddenly asked: “Do you feel moved?”

Zhang Yuze sneered and said: “I feel a fart.”

Xu Li began to bring out his old words again: “I read on the Internet that there will be a strong feeling of excitement when having physical contact with your lover.”

“I didn’t expect you, a medical student, to believe in the Internet so much.” Zhang Yuze said.

It was indeed rare for the two of them to not quarrel or start fighting. They simply held hands like that, letting the wind blow and the snow fall all over their heads.

“I have slept with many people.” Xu Li suddenly said.

“Oh.” Zhang Yuze was expressionless.

“But most of them I can’t even remember, forgetting it all after one night.” Xu Li said again.

“Oh.” Zhang Yuze got used to it.

“But, some things are really worth remembering for a lifetime.” Xu Li smiled and shook their entangled hands. “For example, holding hands with you.”

“You’re sick.” For the first time in his life, Zhang Yuze said those two words with a smile on his face.

T.N: Awwwww ❤️

• 1
  A native to the Yunnan province of China, the Chinese Money Tree has rapidly become a symbol of wealth and abundance in Feng Shui. It is believed that by offering respect to the Gods, people can receive generous gifts from them, such as success in business endeavors or prosperity. As a result, many are turning towards this tree to bring good fortune into their lives. The Chinese Money Tree is thought to represent the five elements of Feng Shui: Water, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Wood. These essential elements are believed to bring balance and harmony into the lives of those who embrace them. Therefore, the tree itself can be used as a tool for positive energy in any given area.
• 2
  Caishen (traditional Chinese: 財神; simplified Chinese: 财神; lit. ‘God of Wealth’) is a mythological figure worshipped in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. Caishen’s name is often invoked during the Chinese New Year celebrations. He is depicted in statues and paintings as riding a black tiger and holding a golden rod. He may also be depicted holding an iron tool capable of turning stone and iron into gold.