A Dog Out of Nowhere Chapter 31

Grandma had filled the table with dishes. Dad said they’d never finish and suggested saving some for tomorrow.

“No saving,” Grandma snapped. “If we don’t finish, we don’t finish. We can eat the rest tomorrow. Same thing.”

“But then it’s leftovers…” Dad began.

“Then let it be leftovers! My grandson came home for New Year, he can eat as much as he wants. You always fuss,” Grandma cut him off. “Besides, there’ll be even more leftovers in a couple of days. What’s New Year without leftovers?”

“Leftovers it is,” Fang Chi laughed, eating. “Plenty of leftovers.”

“Exactly,” Mom smiled. “Every year’s the same. And anyway, we’re not cooking for you, it’s for the eldest grandson.”

“Right,” Grandma said.

It’d been a while since Fang Chi had seen his parents. It felt awkward, hard to talk. If it was just dinner with Grandpa and Grandma, he could chat through the whole meal. But with Mom and Dad there, he mostly just listened.

“How’s business at the shop?” Grandpa asked.

“Alright,” Mom said. “That order Auntie brought in made some money. We’ll have to thank her properly this trip.”

“Don’t overwork yourselves,” Grandma said. “You can’t earn all the money in the world.”

“We still need to earn what we can,” Mom said. “Fang Chi’s got university, then marriage, a house, all of that costs money. We have to save up.”

“I’ve got tuition covered,” Fang Chi said around a chicken drumstick.

“College tuition is sky-high,” Grandma clicked her tongue. “Honestly, I doubt you’ll get into any top school. Better you help out at the shop, less trouble, then find a nice girl and get married. I’ll be ready to help raise the kid.”

“He’s got his own ideas, let him be,” Mom smiled.

“I just think…” Grandma still wanted to say more, but Grandpa patted her from the side. She frowned. “What?”

“You don’t get it. A girlfriend from university, that’s someone he’ll really share a language with,” Grandpa said.

“Spend all that money just to find a girlfriend?” Grandma said.

“Only when you can talk together can you live well together,” Grandpa said seriously.

“Then I’ll have to wait many more years,” Grandma sighed.

“Even if he doesn’t go to college, he can’t get married right now either.” Dad picked up some food and set it on Grandma’s plate. “Look how far ahead you’re worrying.”

“Then once you’re in university, hurry up and see if there’s someone suitable. Bring her back for Grandma to see.” Grandma patted Fang Chi’s arm.

Fang Chi just smiled and said nothing.

“This child!” Grandma patted him again. “At the crucial moments you never say what’s on your mind.”

“The fish is good,” Fang Chi said.

“Then I’ll have your grandpa cook it for you every day!” Grandma said at once.

After dinner, Mom and Dad stayed chatting with Grandpa and Grandma a while longer before going back to rest at the new house. Grandpa turned on the TV to watch the news, Grandma sat crocheting slippers.

Every winter she made a pile of yarn slippers to hand out to everyone, even a few pairs for kids, though no one knew who she was preparing them for.

Fang Chi cleared the dishes and went to wash them.

That kind of talk over dinner had been common ever since junior high. Especially after, two years ago, the neighbor boy, who used to take him running all over the hills, got married at twenty and had a son a year later. Since then Grandma had brought it up even more.

Fang Chi more or less understood. Grandma didn’t have much schooling, her thinking was simple. She just hoped he could settle down early, follow the proper steps, marry, and have children. She wasn’t wishing for wealth or glory, just a stable, decent life.

Before, when he heard it, he only ever smiled.

But today, listening, he felt an odd kind of unease.

After cleaning the kitchen, he crouched in the yard and lit a cigarette.

His hands were getting cold. It’d probably snow tonight. Xiaozi, the short-haired mutt, sat pressed against his leg, solid and warm.

He put the cigarette out after a few drags, it was too cold.

“Come on, let’s go inside.” Fang Chi rubbed Xiaozi’s head.

When he came in, Grandma waved him over. “Come here, let me see if your feet have grown again.”

“They haven’t.” Fang Chi stretched his foot out against the sole Grandma had just made. “Feet can’t just keep growing.”

“Later go ask Shuiqu his size. I’ll make him a pair too,” Grandma said.

“Mm.” Fang Chi answered and went upstairs.

At the second floor, he stopped before Sun Wenqu’s door, thought a moment, then went back into his own room first.

On the windowsill, the little flowerpots he hadn’t really looked at before, up close they could’ve passed for store-bought sets, not cheap ones either. The kind of thing pretentious artsy types love.

Monkey?

Fang Chi smiled faintly, then pulled open his drawer and rummaged inside.

No matter who cleaned the room, no one ever touched this drawer. It held all his “treasures,” little trinkets he’d collected since he was a kid. Every time he came home, he liked to take them out and look.

From a small box, he pulled out a tiny bone, three or four centimeters long, his favorite when he was little.

He’d found it on the mountain. No idea what creature it was from, but it was perfectly intact, beautiful. He’d even brought it to a teacher, who helped him clean and bleach it over several days. He’d treasured it ever since.

Holding the bone, he went next door and knocked on Sun Wenqu’s door.

Sun Wenqu came to open it. “I was just about to take my dishes down.”

“Do it later,” Fang Chi said, hesitated, then handed over the bone. “Here. For you.”

“What?” Sun Wenqu took it, looked, and froze. “A bone?”

“Mm.” Fang Chi smiled. “Something I found when I was a kid. Thought I’d give it to you. Just not sure if…”

“Thanks,” Sun Wenqu said immediately, lowering his head to study it. “Polished? How is it so perfectly shaped?”

“No, I found it like this. I thought it was pretty, so I picked it up.” Fang Chi scratched his head, embarrassed, glancing toward the notebook on the desk.

“I wasn’t serious about making you give me something, I was just teasing,” Sun Wenqu grinned. “But this is interesting. I like it.”

“Good then.” Fang Chi sniffed, grabbed the bowls on the desk. “I’ll take these down.”

“Don’t.” Sun Wenqu stopped him. “I’ll wash them later myself. Renting a room here isn’t a hotel stay.”

“Oh.” Fang Chi put them down.

Sun Wenqu went back to examining the little bone, silent. Fang Chi stood there not knowing what to say. Chief Huang was curled on Sun Wenqu’s pillow, letting out a soft, syrupy meow.

Suddenly Fang Chi felt awkward.

Since meeting again here, neither of them had brought up that night. What Sun Wenqu thought, he didn’t know. As for himself… he’d forgotten.

Yes, forgotten.

Busy with revision, worried these past two days over Sun Wenqu vanishing like thunder out of a clear sky… then meeting again here at Grandpa’s house, when he saw him, all he felt was relief, and strangely, happiness. Not once did he recall that embarrassing scene.

Or maybe he had just forced himself not to think of it.

But now, in this room scented faintly of coconut milk, with Sun Wenqu standing right in front of him, behaving perfectly normal, not acting crazy, suddenly he remembered that brief, light touch.

And with it came a rush of panic, a crawling tremor across his skin.

All at once, he felt he couldn’t stay.

“This could…” Sun Wenqu was still studying the bone. “Drill a hole on each end, thread a cord through, wear it on your neck.”

“Are you stupid?” Fang Chi said. “Even Xiaozi’s got a bone collar.”

“You wearing it would look stupid,” Sun Wenqu laughed. “Me wearing it wouldn’t. Different people, different style. You’re just Monkey style.”

“…I’ll, uh, go… study now.” Fang Chi turned to leave.

“Hey, I’ve got something for you,” Sun Wenqu called him back. “We’re really in sync, you gave me something to wear on the neck, I’ve got the same for you.”

The word “in sync” made Fang Chi nervous. “Mine’s not for wearing. It’s just… a bone.”

“Come on, no need to stress the point.” Sun Wenqu squinted, picked something off the desk, and handed it over. “Here. Made it when I had no inspiration, just messing around. One for you, one for Liangzi.”

The moment Fang Chi heard Ma Liang had one too, he felt a little relieved. He took it.

It was a small double-sided white ceramic piece on a black leather cord, shaped like a four-leaf clover. The front had delicate veins carved, the back… the back had words.

Six tiny characters.

When Fang Chi made them out, he couldn’t help but laugh. “You really are hopeless.”

“What’s wrong? Heavenly spirit, earth spirit. Pretty good, isn’t it?” Sun Wenqu clicked his tongue. “Bless the dumb student to pass his exams.”

Fang Chi didn’t answer. He stared at the ceramic piece, lost in thought.

“Go study.” Sun Wenqu waved him off, picking up the bowls.

“Oh.” Fang Chi came back to himself, nodded, and hurried out.

“You’re walking out of sync,” Sun Wenqu called after him.

“Huh? Am I?” Fang Chi froze, looked down at his legs. Was he really that nervous?

“No.” Sun Wenqu brushed past him with the bowls. “Just teasing.”

Fang Chi ignored him, and darted back to his own room.

He was a bit annoyed.

Not because Sun Wenqu was acting up again.

But because his nervousness, his awkwardness, had been seen.

It wasn’t just losing face.

It was panic. Utter helplessness.

Like sneaking a pee by the roadside and suddenly a car comes by with headlights blasting right at you, you don’t know whether to keep going or zip up.

Grandpa and Grandma went to bed late that night, probably happy because son and grandson were home. They chatted till nearly ten before Grandpa finally turned in.

Grandma brought some fresh sugar cakes to Fang Chi’s room.

“Your grandpa just made these, still hot,” Grandma said. “Eat if you’re hungry. Take two to Shuiqu.”

“Mm.” Fang Chi answered, bit into one right away.

He’d been working on practice papers all night without finishing a single set. Kept spacing out. Didn’t even know where his mind went. But he did know one thing, spacing out made him hungry.

“Don’t just eat by yourself!” Grandma pushed him. “Take some to Shuiqu.”

“Mm.” Fang Chi nodded again, still chewing.

“Go on.” Grandma lost patience, slapped the back of his head. “You little brat!”

“Alright, alright.” Fang Chi stood, plate in one hand, cake in the other, and shuffled out. He tapped lightly on Sun Wenqu’s door with his foot.

“It’s not locked,” Sun Wenqu called.

“I don’t have a free hand.” Fang Chi spoke with his mouth full.

Grandma clicked her tongue and pushed the door open.

Inside, Sun Wenqu was shirtless, leaning back in his chair, legs on the table, pencil in his mouth. When the door opened, he glanced over, 

Then he shot upright like he’d been caught red-handed, grabbed his clothes and pulled them on. “Oh! Grandma, you’re still up?”

“Made sugar cakes. You two eat together,” Grandma smiled. “Don’t be shy. Fang Chi’s seen enough of you.”

“Has he?” Sun Wenqu smiled, eyes flicking over Fang Chi. “I haven’t seen him though.”

“Take a bath together, then you’ll see,” Grandma said.

“True.” Sun Wenqu leaned back again.

“Grandma.” Fang Chi pushed her toward the stairs. “Go on, get some rest. Careful on the way down.”

By the time he came back into the room, Sun Wenqu had already stripped off again, sitting bare-chested in his chair.

“Where’s Chief Huang?” Fang Chi set the plate down on the little round table.

“In the blanket,” Sun Wenqu grabbed a cake. “Oh man, amazing. Did Grandpa make these?”

“Yeah. Eat while they’re hot. My grandpa’s sugar cakes are the best in the world.” Fang Chi lifted the blanket and saw Chief Huang stretched out comfortably on the bed. “Ungrateful little…”

He regretted lifting the blanket right away. The moment he did, a rush of coconut milk scent, mixed with Sun Wenqu’s own, hit him.

“Cat.” Fang Chi dropped the blanket back down, steadied himself at the bedside.

“Hey,” Sun Wenqu stretched his foot out, nudged Fang Chi’s hip with his toe. “Bring me some water. No, better yet…”

“Oh,” Fang Chi turned instantly to leave. “Chocolate, right?”

“You’ve got some?” Sun Wenqu called after him.

“Yeah, I brought it.” Fang Chi ran downstairs.

The living room was empty now. Xiaozi sat scratching himself in pure bliss, so lost in it he didn’t even hear Fang Chi come down.

“Feels good, huh.” Fang Chi nudged him lightly with his foot.

Startled, Xiaozi toppled over completely.

“Idiot.” Fang Chi laughed, then ran into the kitchen. Xiaozi dashed after him, circling his legs.

The pantry wasn’t well-stocked, just chocolate and milk, no crushed peanuts or walnuts. After digging around, Fang Chi only found a jar of pepper.

Finally he rummaged through Grandpa’s New Year stash and came up with a bag of cashews. That would do.

Fang Chi put the cashews on a plate, crushed them with a spoon, and sprinkled them into the chocolate.

After fussing for quite a while, he finally got the pot of chocolate done. Carrying it out of the kitchen, he was puzzled, how come Xiaozi wasn’t circling at his feet anymore?

The moment he stepped out and looked into the yard, he saw Xiaozi and Sun Wenqu, one man, one dog, sitting side by side, heads tilted back. Sun Wenqu was wrapped in a military coat, a Leifeng hat pulled low over his head.

That getup really was a sight.

“What are you doing?” Fang Chi was a little surprised. “Stupid dog moon-gazing?”

“The Milky Way. Last time I came I didn’t really look.” Sun Wenqu pointed up. “These days I watch it every day. Beautiful…”

“I grew up watching it.” Fang Chi walked over with the pot and tilted his head back too. “When I was little, I could already recognize lots of stars and constellations.”

“It’s done?” Sun Wenqu glanced at the pot in his hand.

“Mm. Want to go in and eat?” Fang Chi hunched his shoulders against the cold.

“I’ll eat right here.” Sun Wenqu lifted his hand, holding out a cup.

Fang Chi sighed and poured him some. “Is that enough? If it is, I’ll finish the rest.”

“Enough,” Sun Wenqu said.

Xiaozi had been wagging his tail for food the whole time. Fang Chi went back inside to fetch him a little sausage.

He hadn’t wanted to stay in the yard, it was cold, and being alone with Sun Wenqu made him uneasy. He even went back inside with the pot. But in the end, he only put on an extra coat, pulled on a hat, and turned back into the yard.

Time for a smoke.

Fang Chi crouched on the steps, lit a cigarette, and held it in his mouth.

“You smoke even when you’re not worried?” Sun Wenqu took a sip of chocolate, then pulled a sugar cake out from under his military coat and took a bite.

Fang Chi choked on a drag and coughed so hard his craving was gone. After putting the cigarette out, he pointed. “Where are you stashing those cakes?”

“Here.” Sun Wenqu pulled open the coat, cake and plate both sitting on his lap. “Got to keep them warm, right?”

“…Give me one.” Fang Chi said.

“Take it yourself.” Sun Wenqu was eating with both hands, one cake, one chocolate. “My hands are full.”

“Oh.” Fang Chi stood.

Only when he got close did he realize “take it yourself” wasn’t that simple.

He’d have to pull open Sun Wenqu’s coat and pick one off his lap.

“Go on.” Sun Wenqu raised an arm, giving him room. “Hurry up.”

Fang Chi hesitated, then bent down, reached in, and pulled the coat aside. To show he had no other thoughts and wasn’t awkward, he didn’t try to keep a distance, just kept a natural posture.

But just as he reached for the cake, Sun Wenqu leaned forward slightly and softly sang in his ear: “your heart…”

His voice, magnetic but not too deep, was beautiful. Fang Chi’s hand shook, nearly knocking the whole plate over. He grabbed a cake and hurried back, stepping right on Xiaozi’s paw.

Xiaozi yelped, and Fang Chi jumped away again.

“won’, ” Sun Wenqu burst out laughing, cutting his singing short.

“I’m telling you, I really don’t understand.” Fang Chi bared his teeth at him, crouched back on the steps, bit into the cake, and focused on sucking out the sugar.

“No matter.” Sun Wenqu leaned back. “You’ll figure it out.”

Fang Chi didn’t answer, just ate in silence.

They shared the midnight snack without talking further, but to Fang Chi’s surprise, the silence didn’t feel awkward.

“You exercise in the mornings?” Sun Wenqu asked after finishing his cake, dusting off his hands.

“Yeah. Run.” Fang Chi lit another cigarette and stuck it between his lips, then gave Xiaozi the last bite of cake.

“Run with me tomorrow,” Sun Wenqu said.

Fang Chi glanced at him.

To him, that phrasing was a little… something. Not “let’s run together tomorrow,” not “can you run with me”, but “accompany me to run.”

Strangely, it made him want to say yes. Someone like Sun Wenqu, running in the mountains, felt like he could disappear at any moment.

“Mm.” Fang Chi nodded, then asked, “You really run every day now?”

“I do. Your grandpa’s up at four-thirty leading your grandma in Baduanjin out back.” Sun Wenqu smiled. “By the time I hold out till five-thirty when they finish, I can’t sleep anymore, so I get up and run.”

“No wonder you’ve slimmed down… Maybe I should talk to them,” Fang Chi said, guilty. “Change the place or the time.”

“No need.” Sun Wenqu stretched. “I’ve been sleeping earlier, and I nap at noon too. Doesn’t affect me.”

“Oh,” Fang Chi replied.

“I lost weight?” Sun Wenqu gave him a look. “Just four jin lighter and you noticed?”

“Feels like… yeah, thinner.” Fang Chi coughed.

Smiling, Sun Wenqu went inside to get clothes for a bath.

Fang Chi also returned to his room, lay on the bed, forced himself to read a bit, three lines or so, before falling asleep clutching the book.

Back home, he felt at ease. Maybe knowing Sun Wenqu was fine added to that ease.

He slept deeply.

When someone pushed him awake the next morning, he grumbled, “Don’t bother me.”

“Bother you to death,” Sun Wenqu’s voice came from above. “Chief Huang, scratch him!”

Half-asleep, Fang Chi didn’t even process the fact Sun Wenqu was in his room, at his bedside, until Chief Huang’s claws pressed down on his forehead a few times. He opened his eyes.

Sun Wenqu stood there in a tracksuit printed with a huge cartoon bear, another bear on the sleeve, a pompom knit hat on his head.

Fang Chi stared groggily for a long while. “They make kids’ clothes in sizes that big?”