Cheng Yue was about to say something when Ji Xu hung up the phone on the other end.
He then vaguely heard a conversation at the door, one of the voices belonging to Ji Xu.
Connecting the dots, Cheng Yue rubbed his nose and, feeling a bit embarrassed, went over to open the door.
The elderly man in the Zhongshan suit was chatting with Ji Xu. When the door opened, both of them turned their gaze towards Cheng Yue.
Feeling a bit self-conscious, Cheng Yue took a step back. Ji Xu, smiling, introduced him to the elderly man in the Zhongshan suit, “This is Cheng Yue.”
The elderly man in the Zhongshan suit gave Cheng Yue a gentle nod and extended his hand. “Hello.”
Cheng Yue was a bit confused but quickly extended his hand to shake.
“This is Professor Qi,” Ji Xu said.
“Hello, Professor Qi.” Although Cheng Yue wasn’t sure why the professor was visiting, he greeted him politely under Ji Xu’s watchful eye.
“Please, come in, Professor Qi,” Ji Xu said with a smile.
Professor Qi took a look at Cheng Yue and then nodded at Ji Xu with a smile before entering the house.
“What would you like to drink, Professor?” Ji Xu asked politely.
“Anything will do,” Professor Qi replied with a smile, making eye contact with Cheng Yue. He found the young man quite interesting; his eyes were very clear, just like the paintings he had seen by Cheng Yue—simple and direct, without any complications.
“You look quite young. How old are you this year?” Professor Qi suddenly asked.
“…Ah, 17,” Cheng Yue said, feeling a bit uneasy, frequently glancing towards Ji Xu.
“That is indeed quite young,” Professor Qi smiled. “You’re in high school?”
Cheng Yue nodded.
“Don’t be so formal; let’s just chat casually,” Professor Qi said.
“Okay,” Cheng Yue nodded again.
At this moment, Ji Xu brought in some tea. Cheng Yue relaxed a bit and began to examine the professor sitting in front of him.
The professor appeared quite old, with white hair and beard, but he had a good spirit and sat upright.
Cheng Yue shifted uncomfortably away from the soft back of the sofa.
“Would you like to see your paintings?” Professor Qi suggested, taking a sip of tea.
“Ah?” Cheng Yue was surprised by the sudden mention of his paintings.
“Cheng Yue usually paints here,” Ji Xu said, guiding the professor to the room where Cheng Yue usually worked.
In the room, there was an easel in the center, and on the canvas was an unfinished painting with only some scattered color blocks.
“Is this what you’ve been working on recently?” Professor Qi took a look and frowned, motioning Cheng Yue over. “Come here.”
“Ah?” Cheng Yue approached.
“Here…”
Ji Xu watched as the two engaged in a back-and-forth conversation, smiling as he quietly exited the room and carefully closed the door.
Professor Qi spent over two hours with Cheng Yue, making various revisions.
During this time, Cheng Yue’s remaining focus, honed by Ji Xu’s insistence on doing homework, was fully engaged as he listened attentively to the professor’s methods.
In just this short period, Cheng Yue could tell that the professor was indeed very skilled.
As evening approached, Professor Qi looked at Cheng Yue, who was still studying the canvas, nodded in satisfaction, and then bid farewell to Ji Xu.
“I’m here because one of my senior apprentices is holding a painting exhibition. I came to take a look. I won’t be staying for long,” Professor Qi said with a smile, handing Ji Xu a black envelope from his bag.
“If you have time, you should visit. There are a few pieces worth seeing.”
Ji Xu accepted the envelope with a smile and, along with Cheng Yue, saw Professor Qi out.
On the way back, Cheng Yue touched his nose and guessed something, “Was the professor you invited for me?”
Ji Xu thought about Professor Qi’s white hair and smiled, tapping Cheng Yue on the forehead. “If you could become his student, I’d be over the moon.”
“I noticed you’ve been smiling all day,” Cheng Yue stopped and walked in front of Ji Xu, looking up at him. “You’re not as scary anymore.”
Ji Xu raised an eyebrow, “Am I usually scary?”
“Not exactly…” Cheng Yue thought for a moment. “Usually you’re the serious, handsome type. Today you’re…”
“What am I?” Ji Xu asked with a smile.
“Today you’re…” Cheng Yue hesitated, “very kind.”
Ji Xu: “…”
“Actually, that’s not it!” Cheng Yue saw Ji Xu’s expression change and quickly corrected himself. “You’re gentle!”
Ji Xu narrowed his eyes and grabbed Cheng Yue under his arm, almost lifting him up the stairs.
The next day, after Tang Jing returned from his blind date, Ji Xu found time to take Cheng Yue to the painting exhibition.
The exhibition wasn’t too far from them, but it was outside the city, about a 20-minute drive.
The house was a standalone building with a particularly beautiful glass conservatory.
The hall was large and empty, with only a series of exquisite paintings displayed on the walls.
After entering, Cheng Yue’s eyes were fixed on a middle-aged man with a braid tied behind his head, across the room.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Xu looked over. The man was likely Professor Qi’s senior apprentice and the host of the exhibition.
“I think I know this person…” Cheng Yue whispered to Ji Xu. “He seems to have visited our school for an academic exchange. I’ve seen his paintings before…”
“Your American school?” Ji Xu asked quietly.
“Yes, he and our mentor seem to be friends,” Cheng Yue said, rubbing his nose. “I once ran into them together at a bar…”
Ji Xu, upon hearing this, squinted at Cheng Yue, though his expression remained neutral. He lightly pinched Cheng Yue’s waist.
Ji Xu’s pinch wasn’t hard, and Cheng Yue slightly moved away, smiling and pinching back.
Ji Xu frowned and gave Cheng Yue a playful pat on the backside. Cheng Yue stopped moving and quietly focused on the paintings, rubbing his sore rear.
After returning from the exhibition, Cheng Yue’s mood was noticeably high. Even during dinner, he continued to enthusiastically discuss each painting with Ji Xu.
After sharing a long reflection, Cheng Yue swallowed his food and solemnly declared, “I want to hold a painting exhibition like this in the future. My mother helped me organize one when I was younger, so I guess that’s some experience.”
“Right,” Ji Xu agreed with a nod.
But no one expected the opportunity to come so quickly. A few days later, while Ji Xu was still at the office, he received a call from Professor Qi.
The gist of the call was that a well-known industry event was holding a painting exhibition.
Professor Qi has a few slots available and brought several disciples and students along to try their luck. He asked if Cheng Yue had time to go along as well. It’s uncertain whether Cheng Yue will eventually get a chance to participate, as it will depend on Professor Qi and the event organizers’ final decision. After all, the chances of a painting by an unknown artist being included in a high-profile exhibition are very slim.
Ji Xu actually gleaned from Professor Qi’s words that the professor had some expectations and positive regard for Cheng Yue.
So, as soon as Ji Xu got home, he told Cheng Yue about the opportunity.
“Can I have a painting displayed?” Cheng Yue asked excitedly after hearing Ji Xu.
“Yes,” Ji Xu smiled and added, “but Professor Qi said it depends on the final result of your painting.”
“When are we going?” Cheng Yue asked.
Ji Xu hesitated for a moment. “Only you will be going.”
“How long will we be gone?” Cheng Yue started to hesitate.
“One week,” Ji Xu said.
“I’m not going,” Cheng Yue said, sitting on the sofa, feeling discouraged.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Ji Xu said, squeezing Cheng Yue’s hand. “With a teacher willing to guide you, the things you can learn will definitely go beyond what you know now. Even without Professor Qi, I was considering finding you a teacher because art exams aren’t that simple.”
“But…” Cheng Yue frowned, feeling that a week was too long.
Ji Xu gave him some time to think and then went to his study to call Song Yi, inquiring if Cheng Yue was suitable for a solo trip of about a week.
“There are no major issues. If you hadn’t mentioned it today, I would have brought it up soon,” Song Yi said with a smile. “Cheng Yue’s condition is stable, but this stability is partly due to you. Letting him be away from you for a few days could be a form of treatment. Just pay attention to the situation as needed.”
That night, Cheng Yue’s answer was still a refusal.
Ji Xu was actually pleased with this response; he enjoyed and appreciated Cheng Yue’s dependence on him.
However, the opportunity was indeed rare. After some persuasion and coaxing, Ji Xu managed to get Cheng Yue to agree.
Three days later, Professor Qi came personally to pick Cheng Yue up. After handing Cheng Yue over to Professor Qi, Ji Xu quietly reminded him of several points: not to call Professor Qi “old man,” to listen to Professor Qi’s instructions, not to forget to do homework, etc.
After sending Cheng Yue off, Ji Xu suddenly felt a bit empty inside.
This sensation was especially clear when he drove past an ice cream shop on his way to work.
After forcing himself to focus and complete the day’s work, Ji Xu drove home. As he arrived outside the apartment, he heard almost deafening music.
He rolled down the car window and looked out. In a small garden not far from the apartment, a crowd of elderly women were dancing to the music, waving fans.
The music only slightly reduced when he drove into the underground parking lot. Upon entering the elevator, he saw a poster inside about an elderly dance competition.
The promotional slogan read: “Care for the lonely elderly, don’t leave them alone at home.”
Ji Xu: “…”
After getting out of the elevator and entering his apartment, he looked at the empty sofa and suddenly felt regret.
It was only the first day.
He didn’t realize when he had gotten used to seeing Cheng Yue, wrapped in a small blanket, twisting and turning on the sofa, greeting him with a bright smile as soon as he opened the door.
He clearly remembered that not lying on the sofa was one of the things he had mentioned to Cheng Yue when they first started living together.
Ji Xu pinched his brow and sat down on the sofa, shaking out the folded blanket and draping it over himself.
At 30 years old, without Cheng Yue, he felt like one of the empty-nesters in the poster.
Just as he habitually reached into his pocket for a cigarette, his fingers touched something cold.
Before he could react, he noticed his phone, which he had just pulled out of his pocket, displayed that he had called Cheng Yue…
The call was quickly answered on the other end. Ji Xu couldn’t even remember what to ask and had to grit his teeth, “Have you had dinner?”
“What did you say! Hello!” The loud music on Cheng Yue’s end nearly drowned out his voice.
Ji Xu’s expression darkened instantly. “Where are you?”
“What did you say!” Cheng Yue shouted loudly, trying to push through the crowd of elderly women surrounding him.
“I’m asking where you are.” Ji Xu spoke in a low, serious tone while grabbing his coat and car keys.
“When did these elderly women come to our apartment building!” Cheng Yue shouted, feeling a bit desperate as he couldn’t get out.
He had even said he was going to surprise Ji Xu.
Now he couldn’t even get into the building, much less provide any surprise.
“What?” Ji Xu tightened his grip on his coat, remembering the lively dancing women outside the apartment building.
“Come to the balcony!” Cheng Yue shouted.
Ji Xu’s heart skipped a beat at these words, and he immediately opened the door and ran downstairs.
As he burst out of the apartment building, he saw the garden in front of the building filled with elderly women and Cheng Yue, who was being pulled along by one of them.
Cheng Yue, wedged in the middle of the crowd, looked frustrated. When he saw Ji Xu approaching, his face lit up with a smile, and he waved his hand, trying to squeeze his way out.
Seeing Cheng Yue unable to get through, Ji Xu quickly maneuvered around the crowd and accurately grabbed Cheng Yue’s wrist. “Why are you back?”
“Ah?” Cheng Yue could only see Ji Xu’s mouth moving and couldn’t make out what he was saying.
“I said, why are you back!” Ji Xu shouted again.
Seeing that Cheng Yue still looked confused, Ji Xu sighed and started pulling him towards the exit.
The surrounding music was too loud. Cheng Yue looked up at Ji Xu’s back as he was being pulled out and suddenly felt the urge to say something.
He hesitated, thinking that Ji Xu might not hear him anyway, and then gathered his courage.
“I miss you so much!” Cheng Yue shouted back loudly.
The booming music suddenly stopped, and the elderly women waving their fans froze mid-air.
Ji Xu turned around abruptly.
Cheng Yue was momentarily stunned, his face burning with embarrassment as he quickly looked down.
Soon, the music resumed…
Author’s Note:
To Empty-Nester Ji Xu: Thanks to the square dance aunties! Thanks to the sound system folks! Thanks!
Cheng Yue will soon be packed and sent off by Ji Xu, hahaha.
