Zong Yuan, who feared nothing in the world, was most afraid of two things in life: one was math problems with real solutions, and the other—
Zong Yuan’s face stiffened as he maintained a distance of at least three meters from Fu Xin. His scalp tingled, and goosebumps prickled on his skin. “Stay away from me.”
Fu Xin, holding a fish in one hand, looked at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
The fish Fu Xin was holding was so off-putting to Zong Yuan that it threatened to shatter his cool demeanor. Its slimy texture and the dense scales made him shiver. “Don’t touch that thing; throw it away.”
Obediently, Fu Xin tossed the fish back into the water. As soon as the twenty-centimeter-long crucian carp splashed in, it flicked its tail and started to swim, its gills fluttering. Zong Yuan stood rigid, his legs frozen in place, staring up at the sky, down at the ground, but refusing to look at the fish swimming back and forth in the tank in front of him.
Fu Xin furrowed his brows, concerned. “Are you afraid of fish?”
Zong Yuan scoffed, “How could that be?”
Though he said this confidently, his expression revealed cracks in his bravado.
Fu Xin unconsciously smiled. He wiped his hands and reached out to pull Zong Yuan away from the seafood stall, but Zong Yuan instinctively dodged him.
Fu Xin’s smile faltered and his outstretched hand slowly retracted. “What’s wrong?”
Zong Yuan frowned in disgust. “You still smell like fish.”
Fu Xin couldn’t tell whether he felt relieved or sighed, but he borrowed water and soap from the fish vendor to ensure his hands were scent-free before approaching Zong Yuan. Zong Yuan frowned and had Fu Xin spread his hands out flat, bending over seriously as if conducting a scientific experiment to sniff them.
His nose brushed against Fu Xin’s hands. Fu Xin lowered his eyes to watch him, feeling a tingle in his palms.
Satisfied, Zong Yuan stood straight and nodded. “Very good.”
Fu Xin tugged at the hem of his shirt. “Let’s move away from here.”
Zong Yuan only relaxed once they were completely out of the damp area. His expression darkened as he threatened Fu Xin, “You can’t tell anyone about this.”
“Okay,” Fu Xin obediently nodded.
Zong Yuan cleared his throat and then, feeling a bit guilty, added, “Buy whatever you want to eat. Go ahead, be bold.”
Fu Xin looked at him. “What do you like to eat?”
“Everything I like is what you like,” Zong Yuan replied without missing a beat. “After all, we’re in sync.”
Fu Xin’s cheeks flushed slightly as he hurried his steps. “You wait here for me.”
Zong Yuan, with his long legs, kept pace beside him. “I’m coming with you.”
By now, the sky was starting to darken. Zong Yuan and Fu Xin each carried a bag of ingredients and snacks as they arrived at the spot where Zong Yuan had parked his motorcycle.
Zong Yuan flagged down a taxi and had the driver take the two large bags down to the apartment building. Fu Xin said, “I can carry them.”
“Forget it,” Zong Yuan said. “It’s your first time on my bike. Don’t you want it to look aesthetically pleasing?”
Fu Xin silently closed his mouth.
Zong Yuan placed the helmet on Fu Xin’s head. “Wear it properly.”
Fu Xin took off the helmet. The wind wasn’t strong now, but he stubbornly looked at Zong Yuan. “You wear it.”
“Tsk,” Zong Yuan sighed, took the helmet back, and swung his long leg over to sit effortlessly on the motorcycle. He patted the seat in front of him. “Come on, sit here, facing me. Bury your head in my arms.”
The distance was just a little bit, right in front of him, perfect for burying into his embrace.
Fu Xin climbed onto the back seat.
Zong Yuan turned his face to look at him, his profile sharp and defined, with a high nose. He let out a light snort. “What a coward.”
Fu Xin pretended not to hear.
Zong Yuan drove steadily to the entrance of the community and picked up two bags of groceries from the security booth. By the time they reached the apartment, the sky had completely darkened.
Fu Xin swiftly dealt with the ingredients. Zong Yuan eagerly asked, “What should I do?”
Fu Xin thought for a moment, but genuinely couldn’t come up with anything.
Feeling a bit awkward, he said, “You wash the vegetables.”
Zong Yuan nodded seriously as if carrying out a task of national importance. He dumped the vegetables into the water and began to scrub them vigorously as if washing himself.
Fu Xin had always been independent, raised himself, and had no opportunity to learn to cook elaborate dishes. He could whip up a few simple home-cooked meals and had a couple of specialty stir-fried dishes.
The kitchen was brand new and fully equipped. Fu Xin simmered soup on one side while stir-frying vegetables on the other, moving back and forth as the enticing aroma of food began to fill the kitchen, along with the sizzling sounds of frying.
Zong Yuan leaned against the kitchen door, squinting his eyes as he watched Fu Xin’s busy figure, while 0046 drooled. “It smells so good.”
“Get lost,” Zong Yuan said. “Don’t disturb me while I observe Fu Xin.”
Fu Xin finished reducing the sauce, sprinkled fresh chopped scallions on top, and served the last dish. Zong Yuan pulled out two sets of chopsticks and bowls from the cabinet and sighed, “It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten at home.”
They had three dishes and a soup: sour and spicy shredded potatoes, stir-fried sliced meat with chili, Kung Pao chicken, and tomato egg soup.
Fu Xin nervously watched as Zong Yuan took his first bite. Zong Yuan nodded and affirmed, “Delicious.”
Fu Xin let out a sigh of relief and took a bite of rice. Just eating rice felt like the happiest meal he’d had in a while.
He glanced at Zong Yuan, who had a smile at the corners of his mouth, clearly very happy.
This made Fu Xin feel even more delighted.
After dinner, Zong Yuan led Fu Xin to the guest room next to the master bedroom. He brought out a new set of pajamas. “Wear this after your shower, okay? It might be a bit big,” he added mischievously, “Or you could just wear the top.”
Fu Xin looked at the pajamas in Zong Yuan’s hands, hesitated for two or three seconds, then nodded. “Okay, fine.”
Damn, are you seriously considering this?
It was Zong Yuan’s turn to feel awkward. He had a strange sense of luring an innocent boy. “Put it on completely, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Fu Xin took the pajamas and walked into the bathroom, which was clean and bright, with a bathtub that had never been used.
The slippers on his feet were at least two or three centimeters too big. Fu Xin turned on the showerhead and slowly revealed a smile amid the mist.
…
He Xiu’xiu received a call from the gangsters when she was about to go to bed. She answered with a smile, “Brother Sun, did you teach him a lesson?”
On the other end, the gangster touched the thin, shallow scar on his face and shivered. “No, no, no, we didn’t manage to teach him a lesson. He was with another guy named Zong Yuan, so we didn’t go over.”
He Xiu’xiu hung up the phone with a cold expression, her face twisted in anger.
First it was Zhang Zhi’liang, and now Zong Yuan. Fu Xin, oh Fu Xin, I truly underestimated you.
Bitch.
…
Zong Yuan knocked on Fu Xin’s door. “Fu Xin, are you finished?”
His hair was still dripping with water, exuding a humid warmth. He wore a loose pajama top, not buttoned up, revealing a glimpse of a figure that could make anyone blush and feel their heart race.
Fu Xin opened the door, and the scent of the same body wash as Zong Yuan enveloped him. He tightened his grip on the hem of his shirt, not daring to meet Zong Yuan’s gaze. “Wh-what’s wrong?”
Zong Yuan reached out and brushed Fu Xin’s damp hair back lazily. “Come on, let’s go dry your hair.”
Fu Xin followed him to the living room, his gaze unconsciously trailing after Zong Yuan.
Zong Yuan picked up the hairdryer, but Fu Xin snatched it from him. “I’ll dry your hair first,” he said softly.
The sound of the hairdryer whooshed through the air.
0046 encouraged Zong Yuan, “The atmosphere is just right, Zong Yuan. You should set his thoughts straight.”
Zong Yuan thought it made sense and directly asked, “Fu Xin, do you like Zhang Zhi’liang?”
Fu Xin paused for a moment, holding the hairdryer.
Zong Yuan continued, clearly disdainful. “Your taste is terrible. With his cowardly demeanor, how could you possibly like him? Just because he’s handsome and studies well? What good is that if his character is bad?”
Fu Xin was silent for a long time, finally replying, “You’re not disgusted with me?.”
“Why would I be disgusted with you?” Zong Yuan tapped the armrest of the sofa. “You like guys; let others say whatever they want. It’s your own business. Why should you care about others?”
Fu Xin turned off the hairdryer and walked around the sofa to stand in front of Zong Yuan. Zong Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”
Fu Xin asked, “Is my cooking good?”
The topic shifted a bit quickly, but Zong Yuan nodded. “It’s delicious.”
Fu Xin pressed on, “Did it capture your stomach?”
Zong Yuan smirked, taking a cigarette from a box on the coffee table and deliberately scanning Fu Xin up and down as he teased, “It’s still a little short.”
Fu Xin’s face showed disappointment.
Zong Yuan slowly added, “But it’s somewhat captured my stomach.”
Fu Xin suddenly looked up and saw Zong Yuan casually smiling at him while smoking, every subtle curve of his smile making it hard for Fu Xin to look away.
His heart raced wildly, and he quickly thought to rebut, “I don’t like Zhang Zhi’liang.”
Keep pretending, Zong Yuan nodded dismissively.
Fu Xin covered his wildly beating heart as he moved behind Zong Yuan to continue drying his hair, Zong Yuan’s black, messy hair sliding through his fingers.
He recalled what he had said earlier.
“What if I actually capture your heart?”
“Then I’ll be yours.”
Fu Xin revealed a brilliant smile, the first in years, as if sunlight had broken through the darkness, illuminating the depths of the sea and shattering the oppressive silence. He gently ran his fingers through Zong Yuan’s black hair, silently thinking, You are mine.
0046 turned and saw Fu Xin’s radiant smile, feeling moved. What a simple and good kid—just a few words from Zong Yuan made him happy.
The next day was Saturday. Zong Yuan took his card, bringing Fu Xin out for some fun.
His first stop was the barbershop, where he confidently pushed Fu Xin toward the hairstylist with a commanding attitude and a single request: “Make him look handsome.”
He waved the golden card in his hand. “Got it?”
The hairstylist nodded with gleaming eyes and took Fu Xin to wash his hair. “Handsome guy, let’s go.”
Fu Xin bit his lip, gazing at Zong Yuan. Zong Yuan took a sip of the water provided in the shop and urged, “Go ahead.”
Fu Xin obediently followed inside.
Zong Yuan could see Fu Xin’s face shape clearly, so there was no reason the hairstylist wouldn’t notice.
The hairstylists gathered around, discussing excitedly what hairstyle would suit the handsome boy. Zong Yuan leaned over to Fu Xin, who was sitting in the chair, aligning his gaze with the boy’s eyes reflected in the mirror, reassuring him, “Don’t be afraid.”
“Okay,” Fu Xin reached out from behind the drape to tug at Zong Yuan’s shirt hem. “Don’t eat too much candy.”
Zong Yuan chuckled softly, “I smoke.”
Fu Xin frowned, “Smoke less.” You’re mine; I want to take good care of you. Smoking is bad, so smoke less.
0046 was almost moved to tears. “Look at how good this kid is! Did you hear that, Zong Yuan? Smoke less! I’m starting to doubt that after you save your brother, you’ll probably die faster than him.”
Zong Yuan choked on his words. He wanted to pat Fu Xin’s head, but Fu Xin had his head wrapped in a scarf like an Arab. So instead, he pinched Fu Xin’s cheek. “Fu Xin, you sure have a lot to say.”
Fu Xin blinked helplessly. “Is that a bad thing?”
Zong Yuan paused, then laughed. He turned Fu Xin’s chair to face him, resting his hands on the armrests, effectively trapping Fu Xin between the chair and him, their breaths nearly mingling.
His laughter seemed to vibrate through the air, enchanting even the atmosphere. Pink bubbles appeared one after another. The youthful, hormone-laden scent surrounding him made it easy for others to become intoxicated. “Good.”
He said, “Then you’d better take good care of me.”
“After all, I’m not that easy to manage.”
