“I figured you’d be getting home around now,” Grandpa said with a smile at the gate. “Slow down, last time you dragged your suitcase so hard you broke a wheel.”
“I’m starving,” Fang Chi said as he entered the yard, tossing down his suitcase and setting the cat carrier on the table. “Got anything to eat?”
“Of course, of course,” Grandma came out of the house. “You reincarnated starving ghost, I’ll go get you something.”
Fang Chi came home during breaks too, but nothing compared to returning at New Year. The smell of firecrackers in the air, mixed with the festive joy, always lifted his spirits.
The yard was littered inside and out with red firecracker scraps. Fang Chi kicked up a flurry with his feet, earning a scolding from Grandma, then happily carried his suitcase inside.
Dad and Mom were busy with New Year’s goods. Several big stacks of firecrackers leaned against the wall. When they saw him, Mom smiled: “Back already? We heard Xiaozi barking all the way.”
“He came to the station to get me,” Fang Chi grinned.
“Take your things to your room. It’s messy in here, not sorted yet.” Dad patted his shoulder. “Your grandma already tidied your room for you.”
“Okay.” Fang Chi started upstairs with his suitcase, then turned to shout toward the yard: “Don’t open the bag on the table! There’s a cat inside!”
“You even brought a cat back?” Mom frowned. “Isn’t the house messy enough?”
“I picked it up before. No one would’ve looked after it while I was gone, so I brought it here,” Fang Chi said. “It won’t run around, I’ve got a leash.”
“Picking up strays again…” Mom muttered something downstairs.
Fang Chi didn’t catch it, he was already upstairs, tossing his suitcase into his room.
Just as he turned to leave, he stopped. His gaze fell on the row of little flowerpots on the windowsill. Those hadn’t been there before. Grandpa and Grandma were too old to fuss with plants.
Since when did they have the energy?
Fang Chi smiled to himself and stepped back out.
Grandpa and Grandma lived downstairs. The three rooms upstairs included his own, a storage room, and his parents’ old bedroom. After they built another house, that room had stayed vacant, collecting dust.
Walking past it now, Fang Chi felt something different. He reached the stairs, then doubled back for another look. This time, he noticed, the padlock on the door was gone, replaced by a gaudy gold handle lock, clashing against the old wooden door.
What was going on with Grandpa and Grandma? Or had Mom and Dad done it?
He twisted the handle. It wasn’t locked.
The door opened, and he froze.
The room was spotless. Flowerpots lined the windowsill, with tiny plants sprouting. Gray curtains with subtle patterns hung over the window.
The once-empty, dusty space now held a bed, a desk, a chair that looked invitingly soft, even a laptop on the desk. In the corner stood something big, almost like a safe.
Fang Chi stood dumbstruck at the doorway. What on earth?
It wasn’t until he spotted a small worktable, with clay still stuck on it, that he made a wild, unbelievable guess.
A pottery wheel.
Sun Wenqu?
With that startling thought, Fang Chi dashed into the yard, shouting: “Grandpa! What happened to the upstairs room? Who’s living there?”
“Hm?” Grandpa was bent over, teasing Chief Huang through the mesh screen. Fang Chi’s shout startled him. He turned, blinked, then smiled. “Sun Shuiqu. You didn’t know he rented the room?”
“What?” Fang Chi’s voice cracked, nearly squeaked.
“He said he told you,” Grandpa looked puzzled. “He’s been here a month already. You really didn’t know?”
“I…” Fang Chi was stunned. “I didn’t.”
“He said he was looking for inspiration, I don’t know for what. First thing he did was make a bunch of flowerpots and plant flowers. Even rewired the house, said he was afraid the circuits couldn’t handle his equipment.” Grandpa chuckled.
“Where is he?” Fang Chi finally asked.
“No idea, probably wandering near the mountain. He goes out around this time every day, ”
Before Grandpa could finish, Fang Chi was already bolting for the gate.
“Are you eating or not, you little brat!” Grandma yelled after him.
Fang Chi raced down the path toward the mountain. Xiaozi chased along, barking with excitement.
Sun Wenqu’s phone had suddenly stopped working.
Sun Wenqu’s house was suddenly for sale.
Sun Wenqu had suddenly disappeared.
And now Sun Wenqu was suddenly living at his grandpa’s!
What the h*ll was going on?
Was he insane? Completely insane?
This wasn’t something medicine could fix, you’d need an exorcist!
No one was by the mountain’s edge. The slope here was gentle, the paths easy to walk, popular with hiking groups. For someone as lazy as Sun Wenqu, this was about as far as he’d go.
Fang Chi ran into the hills. Not far in was a stream. At this season the water was low, but it hadn’t frozen, and the springs were beautiful. Fang Chi thought Sun Wenqu would like it, so he headed straight there.
Sure enough, a heavily bundled figure crouched by the nearly dry stream.
“Sun Wenqu!” Fang Chi shouted, stopping in his tracks.
Xiaozi barked too.
Startled, the man lurched forward, one hand plunging into the icy water. He jumped up, shaking his hand and stamping his feet. “Why the h*ll are you yelling like you’re my dad!”
It was Sun Wenqu.
Thinner, his face a bit haggard.
But the tilted grin and smart-aleck words were exactly the same.
“You…” Fang Chi glared, a torrent of words crowding his throat, all rushing to come out at once. In the end, not a single one did.
“Long time no see,” Sun Wenqu walked up and spread his arms. “Reunion hug?”
Fang Chi couldn’t even tell what he was feeling. Looking at Sun Wenqu’s smile made him dazed. After a pause, he stepped forward and hugged him.
Sun Wenqu wrapped him tight, patted his back twice, and murmured in his ear: “Were you looking for me?”
The words shot through Fang Chi like an electric current, leaving half his body numb. He snapped awake, shoved Sun Wenqu hard, and shouted: “Are you insane? You really are insane! Please, I’m begging you, go get treatment!”
Sun Wenqu leaned against a tree, laughing so hard he couldn’t stop. Only after a long while did he manage to say, “Nope.”
Fang Chi glared, forcing himself to calm down from the shock.
“What’s going on with you?” he demanded. “Why did you sell your house?”
“It was never mine,” Sun Wenqu smiled, hands in his pockets as he strolled along the path. Frozen leaves crunched underfoot. “It was my older sister’s. She wanted to sell, so she sold.”
“Then where do you live?” Fang Chi followed.
“Next door to you,” Sun Wenqu said.
“No, I mean, before you came to my place?” Fang Chi quickened his pace, walking shoulder to shoulder with him, staring.
“My sister’s house,” Sun Wenqu chuckled. “I moved out of there straight into yours.”
“You, ” Fang Chi couldn’t wrap his head around his logic. “And after that?”
“We’ll see.” Sun Wenqu glanced down at the path. “I’ll be here for a few months. After that, I’ll think about it.”
“What are you doing here?” Fang Chi asked. “Pottery? I saw the tools in the room.”
“Mm.” Sun Wenqu turned to him. “But let me be clear, don’t peek. Your grandparents never peek.”
Fang Chi blinked. “Oh. Well, it’s not like I’d understand anything even if I did. Not like I could secretly learn it.”
“That’s not it,” Sun Wenqu frowned. “I just… don’t like being watched. Whatever I’m doing, I don’t like eyes on me. Toilet, shower, sleeping, changing clothes, writing, drawing, pottery.”
“How are those the same thing…” Fang Chi muttered. “Fine, I won’t look.”
He remembered the first time he saw Sun Wenqu writing, before Fang Chi had even glanced, Sun Wenqu crumpled the paper and tossed it. Clearly, he hated being observed.
What a bizarre quirk.
“You changed your number?” Fang Chi asked.
“Yeah,” Sun Wenqu said. “Got tired of it.”
“Oh,” Fang Chi nodded. “That money, I gave it to Ma Liang. He gave me the IOU.”
“Figured you wouldn’t be able to pay it back,” Sun Wenqu smirked.
“I was short ten thousand, so I covered it myself,” Fang Chi tugged at his collar. “Fang Ying will give it to me after the New Year.”
“I never even chased you for it,” Sun Wenqu shot him a glance.
“This isn’t about rushing or not rushing,” Fang Chi kicked at a pebble on the ground. “Owing that much money doesn’t feel right. The sooner it’s paid back, the sooner I can feel at ease.”
“Afraid I’ll mess with you again?” Sun Wenqu’s lips curved.
Fang Chi hesitated. “That’s not what I meant…”
“Then I’ll keep messing with you?” Sun Wenqu cut in immediately, laughter reaching his eyes.
“Go get your head checked,” Fang Chi looked at him with total sincerity.
They walked a bit further down the path before Fang Chi’s dad called, saying Grandma was nagging him to come back and eat, worried her eldest grandson would go hungry.
“You heading back?” Fang Chi hung up and started turning around.
“Mm, I’m hungry too. Your grandpa’s grilled fish is amazing…” Sun Wenqu rubbed his stomach. “And he said there’ll be some crazy dishes for New Year’s…”
“You’re not going home for New Year?” Fang Chi suddenly turned his head.
“Nope.”
“You’re not going home?” Fang Chi repeated in shock. “You’re spending New Year here? At my place?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. What’s the big deal?” Sun Wenqu clicked his tongue. “I’m staying here until spring. If you’re jealous, just drop out.”
“No, I mean… you’re not spending New Year with your family?” Fang Chi still couldn’t get over it.
Sun Wenqu suddenly stopped walking, grabbed Fang Chi’s chin, leaned close, and enunciated each word slowly: “That’s right. I’m not going home. I haven’t gone home for New Year in years. New Year, to me, just means eating. Don’t ask, okay?”
“…Okay.” Fang Chi slapped his hand away.
His fingers must’ve just been in the water, icy cold.
They strolled back together. Just as they reached the gate, Grandma’s voice rang out, sharp and loud: “I told you not to open it! I told you not to open it and you had to open it! Can’t keep your hands to yourself for once?”
“Open what?” Sun Wenqu froze.
“Chief Huang!” Fang Chi bolted into the yard. “What happened?”
“Your Huang cat ran off!” Grandma pointed at the now-empty carrier. “I said don’t open it, don’t open it, but your mom insisted on checking if it was dirty. He’s in your arms every day, how dirty could he be?”
“You just keep defending it, keep spoiling it. Cats are full of bacteria,” Mom muttered unhappily. “I only cracked it open a little, how was I supposed to know it’d run out?”
Fang Chi turned to look at his mom. He didn’t know what to say, so he just asked, “Which way did it go?”
“Bolted up the woodpile and over the wall,” Mom sighed. “Forget it, maybe it’ll come back on its own. Looks like just some regular stray anyway.”
“Mm, just a stray,” Fang Chi nodded, then turned and ran out of the yard.
“Chief Huang ran off?” Sun Wenqu jogged after him.
“Yeah.” Fang Chi glanced back. It was the first time he’d seen Sun Wenqu actually run, and it was weirdly fascinating. “You… can run?”
“You’re hilarious.” Sun Wenqu looked at him, then hopped once. “I can jump too. Want to kneel and worship me?”
“Don’t even know where it went…” Fang Chi ignored him, mind already back on the runaway cat.
That double-faced cat, sometimes a diva, sometimes a CEO, had been through plenty today: stuffed in a carrier, squashed into a noisy minibus, barked at by Xiaozi, then ogled by Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, and Dad in turn…
Who knew if it could even be found now.
“You’ve got me,” Sun Wenqu said.
“Hm?” Fang Chi stopped.
“Follow me. I’ll find it.” Sun Wenqu tilted his head up and followed the wall, turning a corner into an alley.
“You know which way it went?” Fang Chi trailed after.
“Of course. It ran along the wall. It’s small and nervous, it’s not gonna climb down and back up again, right?” Sun Wenqu clicked his tongue and strode ahead. “And you call yourself a college candidate with this logic.”
Fang Chi was about to retort when a cat’s cry came from ahead. He jerked his head up. “Did you hear that? Was that Chief Huang?”
“Yeah,” Sun Wenqu turned back, sighed, “that was me.”
Then he meowed again, right at Fang Chi. “Hear that?”
Fang Chi’s mouth opened but no words came. In all his eighteen years, he’d never heard anyone imitate a cat so perfectly, it was unbelievable even seeing it with his own eyes.
Sun Wenqu kept meowing as he walked forward. Near the end of the alley, another meow answered his call.
“Is that Chief Huang?” Fang Chi whispered. Honestly, after hearing Sun Wenqu, this new meow almost sounded less catlike than his.
“Yeah.” Sun Wenqu pointed ahead. Under the kitchen eaves of someone’s backyard, a little patch of yellow-striped tail showed. “That’s Chief Huang.”
“Chief Huang got scared…” Fang Chi muttered. “How do we get it down?”
“Told you, I’ve got this.” Sun Wenqu stacked some bricks by the wall under the tail and climbed up.
Fang Chi stayed back, worried the ungrateful creature would bolt again if it saw him.
If Sun Wenqu was a snake in this life, he must’ve been a cat in the last.
Two meows from him, and Chief Huang responded. The next few minutes turned into a back-and-forth duet, and slowly the cat edged its way out from under the eaves.
When Sun Wenqu reached out, still meowing, Chief Huang rubbed against his hand.
“Gotcha.” Sun Wenqu scooped it up and tucked it into his coat.
Fang Chi let out a breath, jealousy forgotten. “You’re incredible. Must’ve been Cat King in your last life.”
“Why didn’t you leave it at a pet shop? Bringing it back is such a hassle, it’s not like a dog. And your mom doesn’t even like cats,” Sun Wenqu said.
“My mom doesn’t like any small animals. Says they shed, says they’re dirty.” Fang Chi smiled. “It’s fine, I’ll keep it in my room.”
“Keep it in mine,” Sun Wenqu hugged the cat tighter. “It can warm my bed.”
“You’ve got heating in that room, right?” Fang Chi suddenly grew nervous. That room had been unused for ages, he wasn’t sure the radiator still worked.
“Yeah, but I’m delicate.”
“…Oh.” Fang Chi was speechless. “I can tell.”
When they got back, Grandpa was busy cooking, Grandma still scolding Mom.
“Found it,” Fang Chi pointed at Sun Wenqu. “The Cat King worked his magic. Two meows and it came back.”
“Shuiqu’s cat?” Grandma asked.
“My cat!” Fang Chi protested.
“Your cat listens to him though, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah! Exactly!” Fang Chi cried, frustrated, heading into the kitchen. “My cat scratches me but licks him! Low IQ!”
Sun Wenqu laughed out in the yard for ages before finally carrying Chief Huang upstairs.
Once up there, he didn’t come back down. Fang Chi chatted with the family one by one, and even when dinner time came, Sun Wenqu was nowhere in sight.
“I’ll go call him.” Fang Chi started up the stairs.
“No need,” Grandma stopped him. “He always eats in his room. Says he’s looking for inspiration. Hasn’t joined us once this whole month.”
“Oh.” Fang Chi didn’t get it. Back at his place, Sun Wenqu had enjoyed meals with them just fine. Why hide away now?
“I always pack him a portion,” Grandma added in a lowered voice. “Honestly, is he some young master from a landlord’s family? He paid a month’s food costs worth half a year for us. I tell him to order whatever he wants, but his menus are just the regular dishes we eat anyway.”
“Then give him a refund,” Fang Chi blinked. This guy really lived carefree.
“I offered. He refused. Your grandpa says we’ll just sneak it back into his bag when he leaves.”
“What about his food? Should I take it up?” Fang Chi asked after a pause.
“In the kitchen. Go on.”
Fang Chi carried up two dishes, a soup, and a small pot of rice, and knocked on the door. “Hey.”
“‘Hey,’ what hey,” Sun Wenqu called from inside. “Say ‘Dad, open the door.’”
“My dad’s downstairs.”
“Oh,” Sun Wenqu opened the door. “Forgot.”
“You’re eating in here?” Fang Chi set the food on the table.
“Mm,” Sun Wenqu nodded. “I’ve been eating in here lately.”
“Why? Eating together’s way better, you talk, it’s lively.” Fang Chi frowned.
“No thanks. My mood’s not great,” Sun Wenqu smiled. “When my mood’s bad, I act crazy. Ruins everyone’s appetite.”
“…Alright then.” Fang Chi glanced at the windowsill before heading out. “You made these?”
“Mm. Two sets.” Sun Wenqu sat, staring at the wheel.
“Two sets?” Fang Chi didn’t get it.
“Two sets of works. That set’s called Handsome, because I’m handsome. That set’s yours, Monkey.”
“…Why is my set called Monkey?” Fang Chi asked.
“‘Cause I couldn’t think of anything besides monkeys that climb rocks really well.” Sun Wenqu thought for a moment. “Rock goats?”
“Monkey’s fine.” Fang Chi sighed. “Eat up, I’m going downstairs.”
“Come back after dinner,” Sun Wenqu said.
“Got something?”
“A gift for you.” Sun Wenqu glanced at him.
“Another one?” Fang Chi was surprised.
“Well, if you’re embarrassed, you can give me something too.” Sun Wenqu clicked his tongue.
“…Got it.” Fang Chi closed the door.
