A Dog Out of Nowhere Chapter 32

“Want one?” Sun Wenqu scooped up the cat in one hand, tugged at the outfit with the other. “If you want, Uncle Liangzi will buy you a set too. He bought me this one.”

“Got one with a rab…” Fang Chi started mumbling, then suddenly woke up, eyes going wide. “How’d you get in?”

“You didn’t lock the door.” Sun Wenqu leaned back against the desk. “I was gonna knock, but Grandma told me to just come in. If you don’t like it, take it up with her.”

“I…” Fang Chi sat up helplessly, rubbing his eyes. “Wait for me downstairs. I’ll be right down.”

Smiling, Sun Wenqu held Chief Huang like a birdcage, walked to the door, then paused and pointed at Fang Chi’s shoulder. “That scar on your back, how’d you get it?”

“Huh?” Fang Chi reached back to feel it, impressed by Sun Wenqu’s sharp eyes. “From a fall. Got a cut on the back of my head too… Don’t tell Grandpa and Grandma, or Grandma’ll cry for three days.”

“I won’t.” Sun Wenqu smiled. “Hurry up.”

After he left, Fang Chi sat stunned on the bed for a couple of minutes before coming to.

Once he got dressed and went down, he saw Sun Wenqu jogging slow circles in the yard with Xiaozi.

Ma Liang’s taste was questionable, but somehow Sun Wenqu didn’t look bad in such a giant cartoon tracksuit. Maybe because Fang Chi had never seen him look so energetic, it was actually easy on the eyes.

Fang Chi squatted by the yard basin with hot water to brush his teeth.

Sun Wenqu kept running with Xiaozi, but every time they passed behind him, Sun Wenqu would deliberately squeeze closer so Xiaozi, blocked off, had to spring up and leap over Fang Chi’s back.

After the third time, Fang Chi turned his head. “I’ll hit you, I mean it.”

“Hey, but Xiaozi’s smart,” Sun Wenqu laughed. “I take him running every day, he even knows to scout ahead for me.”

“No kidding.” Fang Chi spat out foam. “Mountain dog. Grandpa trained him.”

Washed up, Fang Chi went with Sun Wenqu out the yard.

Running was better behind the village, if not into the hills, they could follow the river. The road had been paved with cement, running straight to the next village.

“How do you usually run?” Fang Chi asked.

“Follow the river first,” Sun Wenqu said. “There’s a fork up ahead, then I cut into the mountain, loop halfway, and come back out.”

“Oh.” Fang Chi thought a bit. “That means you run less than ten minutes every day.”

Sun Wenqu chuckled. “What kind of talk is that?”

“That loop into the mountain’s not even a kilometer.” Fang Chi sighed. “What’s the point of running such a short distance?”

“Then you lead,” Sun Wenqu said. “I usually just run that way. Stay too long in the hills, I’m afraid I’ll get lost.”

“I’ll take you.” Fang Chi said. “Good scenery, clean air, better trails.”

“Alright.” Sun Wenqu rummaged in his coat, then flung up his hand. “Fly, Chief Huang!”

When Fang Chi saw the cat in his hand, he nearly tripped. “Are you insane? Bringing a cat jogging? He’s not Xiaozi!”

“Leaving him home alone is too boring.” Sun Wenqu tucked Chief Huang into the hood behind his neck. “Lonely.”

Fang Chi looked at the cat nestled in the hood, head poking out calmly. He sighed, at a loss for words.

Xiaozi bounded ahead happily. At the fork where Sun Wenqu usually turned, the dog stopped and looked back at them.

Listening to Sun Wenqu’s breathing, Fang Chi judged, normally, after a few hundred meters you could tell if someone could run. Sun Wenqu’s breath was steady. Probably fine. After all, he did spend all that time at the gym, surrounded by shirtless guys.

“Forward!” Fang Chi waved.

Xiaozi turned and bolted ahead.

“Where does this lead?” Sun Wenqu asked.

“Another village,” Fang Chi said. “From there you can enter the hills too.”

“Good.” Sun Wenqu ran a few more steps, then asked, “You didn’t bring your earphones today? I thought they were glued to your neck.”

“I figured you’d want to talk on the way.” Fang Chi grinned. “And if you trip again, I wouldn’t hear it.”

“I brought this.” Sun Wenqu pulled a whistle from his pocket and blew.

“Plenty of breath today,” Fang Chi said.

Sun Wenqu smiled. “By the way, who did you ask about me before?”

“Just asked Luo Peng for Ma Liang’s number,” Fang Chi said. “He’s our member, I could look it up. Who else would I ask?”

“I thought maybe Li Bowen,” Sun Wenqu said, petting Chief Huang in his hood while running.

“No way.” Fang Chi shot him a look. “If I were you, I’d have beaten him up already.”

Sun Wenqu didn’t answer, just broke into a grin, so happy he ran a few strides ahead.

Fang Chi blinked, then chased after him. “You did beat him up, didn’t you?”

“No, how could I?” Sun Wenqu clicked his tongue. “I’m such a civilized person…”

“Doesn’t look like it,” Fang Chi shot back quickly. “You totally did. Right?”

Sun Wenqu stayed silent, just kept running.

“He deserved it anyway,” Fang Chi said.

“Young man, why so hot-blooded?” Sun Wenqu patted his shoulder. “Beating someone over a little thing like that, not good.”

“Some people just deserve it.” Fang Chi said. He’d never liked Li Bowen. He judged people on instinct, and even before that guy tried to set Sun Wenqu up, he’d thought his smile looked fake.

“Like me?” Sun Wenqu suddenly pointed at himself. “Ow, this black eye of mine…”

He shouldn’t have said that, at once Fang Chi was dragged back to that day’s scene, and his face burned all over again. Luckily the biting north wind of early morning was strong enough to cool him down.

“You were asking for a beating.” He muttered.

“You’ve got a guilty conscience,” Sun Wenqu said. “Oh no, wait, you’re just… seeing enemies in every shadow.”

Fang Chi glanced at him, feeling helpless against Sun Wenqu’s antics, so he forced the topic back. “So what exactly did he do to set you off? You don’t seem like someone with such a mild temper.”

“Of course I had to build up my anger bar, pile up the old grudges with the new ones, then settle it all at once.” Sun Wenqu grinned.

“So you did hit him?” Fang Chi asked.

“Your Uncle Liangzi chopped two beer bottles with his bare hand, you know. I laid into him good, the rhythm was perfect, all crack crack boom!” Sun Wenqu said.

Fang Chi stared at him for a long while. Half true, half false, half crazy, he couldn’t tell what was real. So he only said, “Drinking the wind, you’ll get a stomachache later.”

Before Sun Wenqu could answer, he picked up speed and ran ahead.

Sun Wenqu didn’t chase, just kept a steady pace behind. Fang Chi noticed he was pretty solid when it came to running, not rushing, not lagging, keeping rhythm well. Looked like he could last a while.

The scenery along this road was beautiful. Since they’d planned tourism development, the paths by the village had been cleaned up. Just ten meters away was the river… though in this season, being near the river meant the wind was like one slap after another across the face.

Fang Chi wore a ski hat, but now he envied Sun Wenqu’s pompom knit cap, it looked much warmer.

Xiaozi, running up ahead, suddenly barked twice, then darted toward the river.

There was another dog by the river, a small, mixed-breed spotted one Fang Chi recognized. It was from the next village over but often came to play. Xiaozi’s friend.

The dog had no name, but Grandpa called it Little Flower.

“Want to rest a bit?” Fang Chi stopped and turned his head.

“You tired?” Sun Wenqu also stopped, still in good shape, barely winded.

“Xiaozi wants to chat with his buddy.” Fang Chi smiled, realizing maybe he’d underestimated Sun Wenqu’s stamina. “Shall we wait?”

“Alright.” Sun Wenqu pulled Chief Huang from his hat and set him on the ground. “Let him stretch his legs too.”

But before he even finished speaking, the moment he lifted his hand, Chief Huang sprang up his pants leg, scrambling back to his shoulder.

“So delicate.” Fang Chi clicked his tongue. “Can’t even let his paws touch the ground.”

“Exactly,” Sun Wenqu said. “Look at Xiaozi, a big rough dog, and he’s never even been a stray.”

Fang Chi chuckled, watching Xiaozi and Little Flower run back and forth along the river, sniffing and jostling each other.

Sun Wenqu stood right beside him. They both stayed silent.

The wind had died down a little, but with no sun out it was still cold. After two minutes, Fang Chi grew worried. “That jacket of yours doesn’t block the wind, does it?”

“Nope. Drafty as h*ll. Freezing me to death.” Sun Wenqu frowned, rubbing his arms, and looked at him. “How about…”

Fang Chi blinked, locked eyes with him for a long while before snapping out of it. “Oh.”

Then he unzipped his coat, ready to take it off.

“Hey, I was kidding. You’re in a rush, huh?” Sun Wenqu laughed, spun around, and bolted forward at full speed. While running, he waved at Xiaozi. “Let’s go, you big lug!”

Xiaozi barked twice, bade Little Flower goodbye, and bounded back up the road.

Fang Chi stood frozen for a moment before gritting his teeth and giving chase.

He really felt like Sun Wenqu was holding him in his palm, turning him over and over, seeing right through him.

He kept running behind Sun Wenqu, eyes tracing his figure. He hadn’t meant to stare, but everything around them was too familiar, only Sun Wenqu felt new to look at.

Normally, Sun Wenqu went out in lazy casualwear, giving off the vibe that if there were a chair nearby he’d drop into it at any second. At home, it was pajamas and a sofa nest, practically part of the couch itself.

But today, dressed in sportswear, running lively and full of energy, Fang Chi couldn’t help sneaking glances. It was unbelievable. So the man’s legs could move after all. And pretty long, too.

Thinking about long legs… Fang Chi dropped his gaze to his own.

Up ahead, Sun Wenqu turned at the village entrance and took the road into the hills.

“This way, right?” Sun Wenqu called back.

“Yeah!” Fang Chi hurried a few steps. “Slow down, it’s not paved in there.”

“I know, I run every day,” Sun Wenqu said.

“Not this way, you don’t,” Fang Chi said. “Watch your step.”

“Mountain paths are all the same. What difference could there be?” Sun Wenqu waved it off.

“Slip and fall again and tell me if it’s the same,” Fang Chi said.

“Hey,” Sun Wenqu shot him a sideways look. “Why don’t you go apprentice under your Uncle Liangzi?”

“Alright.” Fang Chi nodded.

Sun Wenqu laughed. Fang Chi glanced at him, then also smiled. “Like you’re any less sharp-tongued.”

“Maybe a little. Runs in the family.” Sun Wenqu clicked his tongue.

“Ugh!” Fang Chi shouted, sprinting ahead. “We can’t hold a conversation for more than five minutes!”

The mountain wasn’t as green as when they’d first come, leaves all gone, everything gray, with only a few small patches of snow here and there.

It felt a bit desolate.

Fang Chi didn’t know why, but he started thinking: before meeting Sun Wenqu, he never felt anything about winter mountains. Now he couldn’t help imagining, what kind of mood was Sun Wenqu in, wandering these mountains alone with Xiaozi?

What went through his head when he saw this scenery?

Why did he come here at all?

Fang Chi turned back to look at him.

Sun Wenqu was running up while teasing Xiaozi. The road was uneven, with stones half-buried in the dirt. Fang Chi frowned. “Don’t fool around while running, or you’ll…”

Before he finished, he saw Sun Wenqu step on a jutting stone.

They’d been several meters apart. Even though Fang Chi spun and dashed back the moment his foot landed, he could only watch helplessly as Sun Wenqu’s weight pressed down, his foot slipped sideways, then twisted sharply.

Since all his weight had been on that foot and he was running, Fang Chi even heard his pained shout: “Sh*t!”

By the time Fang Chi reached him, he only managed to catch him and stop the fall. Sun Wenqu crashed into him, and Chief Huang, shaken from the hat, sprang out, quick as a bat taking flight, latching onto Sun Wenqu’s back with claws spread.

“I told you to watch your step! To slow down!” Fang Chi yelled. “How old are you? And you can’t even keep up with a cat!”

“Almost thirty,” Sun Wenqu said through gritted teeth, voice strained.

“…Sit down!” Fang Chi helped him to the ground.

The moment he sat, Chief Huang jumped off his back and darted toward the dead brush.

“Chief Huang, you stay put!” Fang Chi barked.

The cat’s tail shot upright. It turned, looked back, and froze in place.

Beside them, Xiaozi whined twice and flopped to the ground.

Sun Wenqu sat there frowning, staring at Fang Chi.

When Fang Chi turned back, their eyes met. They glared at each other for a while before Fang Chi dropped his gaze and asked softly, “Does it hurt? Let me see.”

“Doesn’t hurt,” Sun Wenqu grinned. “It did, but you scared me out of it.”

“Let me… look.” Fang Chi paused, realizing he’d been a bit fierce, enough to freeze even Chief Huang.

“Go ahead. Look all you want, don’t hold back.” Sun Wenqu stretched his leg forward.

Fang Chi shot him a look. Judging from his face, the sprain was no light matter. And still he couldn’t talk straight.

“My fault, made you run this way.” He frowned, pushed up Sun Wenqu’s pant leg, but couldn’t see. Reaching for his laces, he clicked his tongue. “Why the h*ll are you running in skate shoes?”

Sun Wenqu glanced at his sneakers. “What’s wrong with them? Stylish, light, plenty of designs, and, ”

“Just not for running.” Fang Chi cut him off. “The soles don’t grip at all. Lucky you didn’t do the splits.”

“You sound like an old nag.” Sun Wenqu said.

“What kind of nag looks this good?” Fang Chi frowned as he pulled the shoe off.

“Mine does.” Sun Wenqu chuckled.

Fang Chi ignored him. The swelling at his ankle made him tense. “We need to get cold on it now, or it’ll swell up like two buns.”

“In this weather? It’s already a freezer.” Sun Wenqu said.

“You…” Fang Chi looked at him. “Stay here.”

“What for?” Sun Wenqu asked quickly.

“I’ll go to the next village for an ice pop.” Fang Chi stood. “Wait here.”

“Why not just help me back, or carry me, ” Sun Wenqu began.

“Would that be faster than me running?” Fang Chi tossed his jacket over him and bolted down the path. “Xiaozi, watch him!”

Xiaozi barked, sat up.

Sun Wenqu watched Fang Chi’s figure vanish into the morning light, pulled the jacket over himself, then meowed at Chief Huang.

The cat bounded over, and he tucked it into his arms.

“Xiaozi,” Sun Wenqu patted the dog’s head. “Is your older brother always this fussy?”

Xiaozi tilted his head.

“Is he like this with everyone?” Sun Wenqu pinched its ear.

Resting a while eased the pain, but when he looked, the swelling on his ankle was clear.

He sighed, locked eyes with Xiaozi for a bit, until Xiaozi looked away.

“How long’ll he take?” Sun Wenqu checked his phone. “If it’s too long, you can carry me back, huh?”

Xiaozi turned his back, sat facing the path again.

Sun Wenqu propped his foot on a rock and watched the time.

Four minutes later, Fang Chi appeared at the treeline. Xiaozi stood, wagging and barking, but dutifully stayed put.

“That fast?” Sun Wenqu watched him run up.

“Didn’t want you wandering off.” Fang Chi held an ice pop, crouched, tugged down his sock, and shoved it in. “Not too bad, doesn’t look serious.”

“Where could I wander?” Sun Wenqu said.

“With you, who knows…” Fang Chi pulled the sock further, checked the inside of his ankle. “How many tattoos do you have, anyway…”

“Plenty.” Sun Wenqu patted his thigh. “Got some at the top of my leg too. Wanna see?”

Fang Chi said nothing, adjusting the sock and ice pop.

“Feels a bit better,” Sun Wenqu tried flexing. “Rest a bit and I’ll walk.”

“Then sit a few minutes. Really shouldn’t have made you run this way. My fault.” Fang Chi frowned, sat across from him, glanced around nervously, and suddenly asked, “Where’s Chief Huang?”

“Here.” Sun Wenqu pointed at his stomach.

“Had enough to eat?” Fang Chi asked.

Sun Wenqu looked at him and laughed.

Fang Chi also laughed for a long while, not knowing what had gotten into him, like the two of them were just a pair of fools.

“Put your jacket back on,” Sun Wenqu said.

“No need, you keep it,” Fang Chi shook his head. “Running, I don’t feel cold. But sitting here not moving, that’s when it gets chilly.”

“You’re not cold?” Sun Wenqu looked at him, inside the sports jacket he was still wearing a full tracksuit.

“Not cold. Don’t compare yourself with me,” Fang Chi said. “You can’t match me. If I’m in a good mood, I can even swim in the river a few minutes in weather like this.”

Sun Wenqu just smiled and said nothing.

“Hey,” Fang Chi glanced at him, “how did you… end up running here anyway?”

“Just wanted to find a quiet place to stay,” Sun Wenqu said. “And your place happens to have clean air, not many people… and a familiar face.”

“Oh.” Fang Chi thought that sounded perfectly reasonable, and for the moment couldn’t find any reason to question it. “That giant safe-looking thing in your house, what’s it for?”

“A kiln.” Sun Wenqu tugged at his sock. “For firing pottery.”

“…I thought kilns were the brick kind. Pretty advanced,” Fang Chi said. “So you just make flowerpots every day? Another couple of batches and my grandma’ll tell you to haul them into town to sell.”

Sun Wenqu just looked at him and smiled.

Fang Chi felt a little uncomfortable under that smile and turned his head away.

“Fang Little Chi,” Sun Wenqu leaned back against the tree trunk, “you’re pretty interesting.”

“Oh.” Fang Chi answered flatly.

“Don’t you think I’m pretty interesting too?” Sun Wenqu said again.

“You’re kinda crazy,” Fang Chi turned his head back to look at him. Sun Wenqu didn’t say anything, so after hesitating a bit he gave a little nod. “Mm. You’re… pretty… interesting.”

“That counts as a major discovery,” Sun Wenqu said. “I thought you hated me.”

“…Don’t hate you.” Fang Chi glanced at his foot, then grabbed Xiaozi’s tail and gave it a tug. “You’re… a good person… I don’t hate you. Just a little crazy.”

“If I wasn’t a little crazy, I’d scare you to death,” Sun Wenqu said, and flicked lightly at the hand Fang Chi was using to pull Xiaozi’s tail.

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