A Dog Out of Nowhere Chapter 49

—Did you get there?

—Got here.

—Hotel or Ma Liang’s place?

—Ma Liang’s. You still not asleep?

—Already lying down. I’ll sleep after asking you.

—Then hurry up and sleep. It’s past twelve.

—Mm, good night.

—Good night.

…

—Tell me when you leave tomorrow.

—Got it. Don’t worry. Good night.

—Good night.

Fang Chi set his phone beside his pillow and turned off the room light.

Chief Huang was, as usual, sleeping on the pillow. Fang Chi pushed him aside and lay down, tapping the cat on the nose. “Hey, do you smell whose scent’s on me?”

Chief Huang’s eyes glowed in the dark.

“Your favorite, Sun Wenqu’s scent,” Fang Chi smiled. “Can you smell it? If you were a dog you’d have smelled it downstairs earlier. You cats can’t.”

Chief Huang closed his eyes.

“Good night.” Fang Chi tugged the blanket.

Fang Chi had thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight, but unexpectedly he fell asleep, probably because he had been too excited, maybe he even passed out.

He had thought he wouldn’t dream, but unexpectedly he dreamed nonstop, probably because Sun Wenqu’s appearance this time had been too brief, so his dreams had to make up the rest.

As for the content of the dreams, unsurprisingly they were shameless as h*ll.

So much so that when the phone alarm rang, the only thought in his dream-self’s head was: d*mn, I’m going to go limp, this kind of loud ringtone will scare someone into a problem sooner or later.

When he reached to turn off the alarm, he felt the alarm screen looked a little different today.

Then he saw Sun Wenqu’s name on the screen.

Only when he heard “Hello? Hello?” coming from the phone did he suddenly realize, it wasn’t the alarm, it was a call.

As for the alarm, he glanced at the top of the screen. It had already rung!

He shot upright in bed and answered, “Hello.”

“Sleeping beauty!” Sun Wenqu’s voice came through.

“What time is it?” Fang Chi kicked off the blanket and jumped out of bed.

“Almost seven,” Sun Wenqu said. “Aren’t you going to be late?”

“Looks like it,” Fang Chi shuffled into the bathroom in his slippers. One hand yanked down his pants to pee, but he stopped halfway and said into the phone, “Wait a second.”

Then he muted it.

After finishing, he spoke again: “You’re heading back?”

“Yeah,” Sun Wenqu said.

“So early?” Fang Chi froze for a moment, scrambling to get dressed because he was about to be late, yet unwilling to hang up because he didn’t want to part, running all over the room with the phone clamped to his ear.

“Liangzi insisted I drive back, so I did. But it’s snowing today, so I’ll drive slow and leave earlier,” Sun Wenqu said. “You get ready first. I’ll hang up.”

“Don’t!” Fang Chi shouted urgently.

“Hey, I’m downstairs at your place. Finish getting ready and come down, I’ll take you to school,” Sun Wenqu sighed.

“What?” Fang Chi froze, then rushed over and flung the window open. Sure enough, he saw the red Beetle parked by the roadside downstairs, and immediately felt the corners of his mouth unable to hold back the smile. “I’ll be right down.”

Fang Chi quickly washed up. When he grabbed his backpack and was about to leave, he saw Chief Huang sitting upright on the table, squinting at him sideways. He remembered he hadn’t fed the cat yet.

He poured milk and cat food into Chief Huang’s bowl, carried him over and set him beside it. “Eat. I’m going. Not coming back at noon.”

Chief Huang stretched out a paw and pawed through the kibble, flicking several pieces out like he was testing for poison. Only after confirming it wasn’t poisonous did he lower his head and start eating.

“Picky,” Fang Chi muttered, shutting the door.

When he ran downstairs, Sun Wenqu was just about to turn the car around.

“No need to turn around, the back gate works too,” Fang Chi knocked on the window. Sun Wenqu stopped; he opened the door and got in. “Just turn right out the back gate.”

“Eat some breakfast,” Sun Wenqu pointed to the back seat.

Fang Chi reached back and grabbed the bag, steaming hot pork wontons and soy milk, all packed in double-layered simple insulated containers.

“Breakfast stalls use boxes this fancy now?” Fang Chi opened the container.

“In your dreams,” Sun Wenqu said. “I bought it from that breakfast place across from your Uncle Liangzi’s studio, the expensive one no one ever eats at.”

“You’re crazy,” Fang Chi laughed, holding the container and looking at him. “Why’d you come over?”

“Liangzi said I’d pass by your place on the way out of town, so I came by to see if I’d run into you,” Sun Wenqu said. “Good thing I did, otherwise were you planning to go to school tomorrow instead?”

“Not that bad. Maybe this afternoon,” Fang Chi smiled.

“Eat. It’ll only stay warm about half an hour, otherwise it’ll get cold,” Sun Wenqu said, driving toward the back gate of the complex.

“Have you eaten?” Fang Chi asked.

“I’ve eaten,” Sun Wenqu said, “this morning your aunt cooked noodles.”

“My aunt…” Fang Chi paused before realizing who “your aunt” referred to, “oh.”

“You still run to school every day?” Sun Wenqu glanced at him.

“Mm, running feels good,” Fang Chi said while eating, “after school I walk part of the way with my classmates, then run back. Otherwise not moving all day feels awful.”

“Is it that classmate from yesterday?” Sun Wenqu asked, “I saw you two together before.”

“…Mm,” Fang Chi hesitated, then nodded, “he’s my… best friend in high school.”

“Haven’t heard you mention him.” Sun Wenqu said.

“I haven’t mentioned anyone else either,” Fang Chi said. The wontons were pretty tasty; he kept stuffing them into his mouth one after another and finished them quickly. Then he held the lunchbox and looked at Sun Wenqu. “Drive steady, I want to drink the soup.”

“Drink the soy milk, what’s so good about that soup,” Sun Wenqu glanced ahead, “wait for the red light.”

“I just like drinking noodle soup, dumpling soup, wonton soup, hot pot purine soup…” Fang Chi said.

Sun Wenqu stopped the car. “Hurry up and drink! So talkative.”

Fang Chi tilted his head back and drank all the soup in one go, then took the soy milk and sipped it slowly. “Comfortable.”

“Kid,” Sun Wenqu smiled, “what do you usually eat for breakfast?”

“Just grab whatever, soup dumplings, steamed dumplings, tofu pudding. There’s stuff right outside the complex, sometimes I eat with classmates by the school gate.” Fang Chi pulled out a tissue and wiped his mouth.

“Do you still eat late-night snacks?” Sun Wenqu asked.

“Not really anymore, afraid of getting fat,” Fang Chi said with a smile.

“Pretty vain,” Sun Wenqu clicked his tongue and flicked him lightly on the face.

When they were about half a street away from school, Fang Chi looked outside. “Just stop here, I’ll walk.”

“What’s wrong,” Sun Wenqu pulled over, “I can drive you right to the school gate.”

“Forget it, in a bit… classmates might see.” Fang Chi hugged his backpack, a bit embarrassed.

“So what if they see?” Sun Wenqu didn’t quite understand.

“It’s just… I don’t want… them to see,” Fang Chi said with some difficulty, “just… just…”

Sun Wenqu smiled and squeezed his shoulder. “Then walk over yourself.”

“Drive carefully later,” Fang Chi opened the door, then closed it again, “do you know the way?”

“I do, I’m not directionally challenged,” Sun Wenqu sighed, “please don’t activate worry mode.”

“Then I’m going,” Fang Chi got out of the car. As he was about to close the door, he looked to both sides, then suddenly got back in, grabbed Sun Wenqu’s arm and pulled him, kissing the corner of his mouth. “Let me know when you arrive.”

“Mm.” Sun Wenqu smiled.

Fang Chi closed the door, swung his backpack onto his shoulder, and walked briskly toward the school gate.

Sun Wenqu smiled, ready to make a U-turn. After glancing at the sidewalk, he loosened his foot on the gas.

The classmate of Fang Chi he’d seen twice, the one Fang Chi said was his best friend, was walking about ten steps behind him.

By their relationship, he should be catching up to greet him now. Walking one in front and one behind like this…

Sun Wenqu narrowed his eyes slightly, stepped on the gas, turned around, and drove toward the outskirts.

That line Fang Chi said about not wanting classmates to see probably referred to one specific classmate.

Fang Chi felt like he hadn’t eaten much breakfast today, but for some reason he was quite full. When his stomach was full, his mood was good.

As he entered the school gate, someone tapped his right shoulder. Out of habit he was about to turn right, but then came back to his senses and turned his face to the left.

Xiao Yiming was indeed standing on the left, smiling at him. “Did you eat breakfast?”

“Yeah,” Fang Chi smiled, “you got something to eat?”

“Yep,” Xiao Yiming nodded, “can you still eat more?”

“I can,” Fang Chi said, “if I can’t now, I can after class; if not then, I can at noon.”

“Hey,” Xiao Yiming smiled and took out a food bag from his backpack, “my mom braised chicken wings yesterday, told me to bring you some. They’re warm now. If you eat them at noon, go borrow Old Li’s microwave.”

“Then I’ll eat one now.” Fang Chi took one and ate it while walking.

“My mom said if you always eat noodles, you might as well come eat at my place. She’ll stew meat for you.” Xiao Yiming said.

“I’m not that precious,” Fang Chi sucked his fingers, about to wipe them on his pants, but he wasn’t wearing jeans today; he felt jeans were more dirt-resistant.

Xiao Yiming was wearing them. After hesitating, Fang Chi wiped his fingers on Xiao Yiming’s pants.

“Believe it or not I’ll take off my pants and beat you with them!” Xiao Yiming glared at him.

“I don’t believe it.” Fang Chi said.

“Fine then, forget it.” Xiao Yiming smiled.

Sun Wenqu’s message came at noon. Fang Chi was sitting with Xu Zhou, Xiao Yiming, and a few others in a small hot pot place across from the school.

Nowadays they would chip in together from time to time to eat a small hot pot: warm, tasty, and a short break.

Sun Wenqu sent a voice message. Fang Chi tilted his head and tapped to listen.

“I’ve arrived. Have you eaten? Grandma is making dumplings for me. Jealous?”

Fang Chi hesitated, stood up, and walked aside, wanting to send a voice reply.

“Hey, where’s Fang Chi going?” someone shouted.

Fang Chi didn’t speak, just waved his phone.

“No way, making a call? And you have to avoid us?” Xu Zhou turned to Xiao Yiming, “Is he in a relationship? He definitely is!”

As soon as that was said, several classmates got interested and all looked at Xiao Yiming. At times like this, any bit of gossip could excite these poor souls struggling in a sea of exercises.

Fang Chi got a bit nervous. He didn’t turn around, but listened carefully.

“Teasing, where would he find the time,” Xiao Yiming said, “with his schedule from 6 a.m. to midnight, if he wants a relationship, it’d have to be with his cat.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

“You can park your car in the backyard. There’s a shed, you can fit in since your car is small,” Fang Chi said into the phone, “I’m eating hot pot with classmates, not jealous at all.”

After speaking, he stood by the window waiting. Sun Wenqu replied quickly: “Didn’t get enough hot pot yesterday? Eating it again?”

At the mention of yesterday’s hot pot… Fang Chi felt a slight numbness in his body and legs. After steadying himself, he glanced toward the table, Xiao Yiming happened to be looking back at him.

He quickly looked away again. “Go eat your dumplings.”

After Sun Wenqu left, Fang Chi’s life returned to calm books and worksheets.

Actually, during this visit, even adding up all the time they spent together, it didn’t exceed the time Fang Chi spent studying in a single day. But after Sun Wenqu left, Fang Chi still felt like something was off, though he couldn’t say what.

He started using the fountain pen Sun Wenqu gave him to do problems. It wrote quite well, fine-tipped, making his usually messy handwriting look a bit more neat.

Sun Wenqu seemed to get busy as soon as he went back. They still didn’t contact each other much, usually at night, when Fang Chi was running home after evening study; sometimes they would chat a bit.

Even though, like before, their conversations weren’t anything special, it felt steady.

Even the slight embarrassment Fang Chi used to feel when initiating contact like making conversation for no reason was gone.

Pretty good.

During evening tutoring, he and Xiao Yiming lay face-to-face on the desk doing problems. Xiao Yiming looked up and asked, “When did you buy that pen?”

“Hm?” Fang Chi looked at the pen in his hand, “a friend gave it.”

“Birthday present?” Xiao Yiming said.

“Yeah.” Fang Chi nodded.

“Pretty fitting.” Xiao Yiming smiled.

“Your birthday gift was pretty fitting too.” Fang Chi said.

Xiao Yiming’s gift was an eye mask, the kind that heats up when plugged in. Wearing it before sleep, set for half an hour, felt quite comfortable.

“Does it work well?” Xiao Yiming asked.

“Mm,” Fang Chi smiled, “my dark circles are gone.”

“As if it’s that magical.” Xiao Yiming smiled and lowered his head to continue working.

In the following days, Sun Wenqu didn’t get a chance to come back to the city. Ma Liang went twice instead; before going the second time, he even called to ask if Fang Chi wanted anything brought over.

“No.” Fang Chi replied.

“No feelings, no sense of romance,” Ma Liang said, “then any message to pass along?”

“This isn’t ancient times.” Fang Chi said.

“Then anything to bring back?” Ma Liang asked again.

“Ask Sun Wenqu.” Fang Chi said.

“Hey!” Ma Liang laughed, “are you, or are you not, jealous of me? What kind of attitude is that?”

“Then bring some beef jerky,” Fang Chi thought for a moment, “thanks, Uncle Liangzi.”

There were one or two small flowers blooming in the roadside flower bed. When Fang Chi passed by, he took a photo, planning to remind Sun Wenqu at night to take a picture of the flowers in the “Monkey” pot.

There was evening tutoring today, but when he arrived, he didn’t see Xiao Yiming.

Usually Xiao Yiming arrived earlier than him, asking the teacher about problems first. Fang Chi sent him a message asking why he hadn’t arrived, but got no reply.

Before class started, Fang Chi sent a few more messages, still no response. He called, but no one answered.

He frowned. What was going on with Xiao Yiming?

There were two classes that night. During the break after the first one, the teacher called Xiao Yiming’s mother, who said he was sick and didn’t feel well, so he didn’t come.

“Sick?” Fang Chi was stunned. He hadn’t noticed anything wrong all day, he had even been enthusiastically eating chestnuts after school. Suddenly sick?

And what kind of illness makes you unable to reply to messages or answer calls?

Unconscious?

Even after leaving the tutor’s place, Fang Chi still couldn’t figure it out. Wearing earphones, he ran while thinking, feeling uneasy.

There were only a few months left before the college entrance exam. Last week, a girl from Class Two who was an excellent student suddenly had an emotional breakdown in class, laughing and crying, and was taken home, never returning to school.

People in class would fall sick from time to time. The teacher said the pressure was high, and with weak physical condition, it was easy to get ill at times like this.

Fang Chi still insisted on running to and from school every day. First because he liked running, second because it was exercise. He didn’t want to get sick at a time like this; it would delay things too much.

Xiao Yiming suddenly falling ill for no reason made him feel quite anxious.

When he got home, Chief Huang was sitting on the windowsill with its back to the door, peeking outside through the curtain gap. Hearing him enter, it didn’t even turn its head.

That day when Chief Huang burrowed into his clothes felt like a dream, gone without a trace. After that, it went back to ignoring him, as if that day it had taken the wrong medicine.

The day before yesterday, after overhearing him tell Liang Xiaotao that he would take Chief Huang to be neutered this weekend, Chief Huang completely ignored him even more.

Every day it just stared out the window, deep in thought.

Fang Chi changed the cat litter and went downstairs to throw it away. As he came back up, he heard his phone ringing.

His heart skipped a beat at first. He hurried to take out his keys and open the door, but after listening again, he relaxed, it wasn’t Sun Wenqu. He had set a special ringtone for Sun Wenqu: if he heard “Our motherland is a garden, the flowers in the garden are so bright,” that would be Sun Wenqu.

He entered, changing shoes while picking up the phone from the shoe cabinet and glancing at it.

It was Xiao Yiming.

“What’s up with you?” Fang Chi answered the phone. “Your mom said you’re so sick you can’t get out of bed.”

“…More or less.” Xiao Yiming said.

“What’s wrong?” Fang Chi asked. Xiao Yiming’s voice didn’t sound very spirited, but it didn’t really feel like he was sick either.

“Are you at home?” Xiao Yiming asked him. There was wind mixed in his voice, sounding like he was out on the street.

Fang Chi glanced at the time. “Where are you?”

“Almost at your neighborhood,” Xiao Yiming said. “Bring me a coat.”

“A coat?” Fang Chi froze. “Are you naked?”

“Not having a coat doesn’t mean I’m naked,” Xiao Yiming sighed. “Help me bring a thick coat out. I’ll be there in about five minutes.”

“Okay.” Fang Chi hung up.

He didn’t know what was going on with Xiao Yiming, but he immediately went inside and took the thickest down jacket he owned from the cabinet. He rarely wore this one normally, it was too long, inconvenient for running.

Holding the down jacket, he ran to the entrance of the neighborhood. Just as he was about to call Xiao Yiming again to ask which direction he was coming from so he could go meet him, he saw someone half-running toward him on the road to the right.

Only wearing a thick sweater.

Even though it was already the start of spring and the little flowers had begun to bloom here and there, it had snowed just last week. The old north wind was still very dutiful and hadn’t taken a break. Dressed like that, whether you were sick or not, it looked like you were asking to get sick.

“What the h*ll happened to you?” Fang Chi ran over and stuffed the coat into his arms.

“Thanks.” Xiao Yiming put on the coat. After pulling up the zipper he leaned against a nearby tree as if he’d finally relaxed. “Ah, I’m freezing to death.”

The left side of Xiao Yiming’s face was a little swollen. At a glance you could tell it was at least the effect of two slaps.

“Who hit you?” Fang Chi asked.

“No one.” Xiao Yiming sniffed.

Fang Chi didn’t say anything. He stared at him.

After a long while Xiao Yiming finally sighed. “My mom.”

“What did you do to piss off your mom?” Fang Chi asked. Xiao Yiming’s mom was pretty fierce, but she treated Xiao Yiming very well, and was also quite friendly toward their classmates and friends.

“What do you think?” Xiao Yiming glanced at him.