Cheng Mo was still waiting for Fang Chi’s message, but didn’t rush him again. What he wanted to know wasn’t complicated, just Xiao Yiming’s name, what school he was at now, whether he had a boyfriend. But since Xiao Yiming hadn’t given any information, Fang Chi had no way to reply.
“I think he’s sick,” Xiao Yiming gave a very concise conclusion.
“Then should I pass that along to him?” Fang Chi asked.
“Don’t,” Xiao Yiming laughed. “That’d be too rude. Just say I don’t have time to make friends right now, not even for ordinary friends. That’s the truth. I just got in touch with a part-time job a couple of days ago.”
“What part-time job?” Fang Chi didn’t expect him to move so fast.
“A tutoring job and also a children’s playground at a mall. I’ll work as a safety staff on weekends,” Xiao Yiming said. “Where would I have time to meet people?”
“What if he just wants to know, not actually meet you?” Fang Chi thought Cheng Mo seemed alright, so he added casually.
“If he asks all that and still doesn’t want to meet me, then I won’t bother with him even more. That’d make me lose face,” Xiao Yiming laughed.
“…Alright,” Fang Chi sighed. “I’ll just say you don’t have time.”
“Mm,” Xiao Yiming smiled. “How are things with Uncle Sun?”
“Pretty good,” Fang Chi scratched his head. “I’m getting a bit used to it now, but military training is about to end. He’ll come over for a couple of days, then go back with me… after these few days, I’ll probably have to get used to it all over again?”
“Then get used to it again,” Xiao Yiming said. “That’s proof you two are in a relationship.”
“You really know how to talk,” Fang Chi laughed. “Then I’ll say this first, if you’re working part-time, you still have to leave some time. We only have two days of training left. After that, I’m coming to hang out with you.”
“Mm, no problem,” Xiao Yiming said.
The school’s military training was alright, much easier than Fang Chi had imagined, not even as intense as their high school training. But it was quite fun; there was a lot more time for shooting practice, and before it ended, they even let them play a round of real-life CS.
He still hadn’t told Cheng Mo Xiao Yiming’s reply. It felt a bit harsh, whether or not Cheng Mo had been secretly in love for two or three years, he had at least been thinking about him for that long, and Xiao Yiming was giving him no face at all…
On the day training ended, Cheng Mo blocked Fang Chi at a cafeteria table.
“You’re really slow at getting things done,” Cheng Mo dropped his tray onto the table and sat across from him.
“I just didn’t want to discourage you.” Fang Chi lowered his head and ate.
“…He has a boyfriend?” Cheng Mo asked, then thought for a moment and added, “That doesn’t count as discouraging.”
“No,” Fang Chi glanced at him. “He doesn’t have time for you.”
“What?” Cheng Mo froze.
“He’s very busy, two part-time jobs. No time,” Fang Chi said.
“I’m not trying to do anything, I just want to know about him…” Cheng Mo stopped halfway through, stared at Fang Chi for a moment, then said, “From the way you’re talking, he’s studying around here too, right?”
“Huh?” Fang Chi looked at him.
“If he weren’t here, why would he be considering part-time jobs and saying he has no time? If he’s not in the same place, at most we’d just add each other and chat a bit,” Cheng Mo leaned closer with a smile. “Terrible teammate. Say it, what school is he at?”
“D*mn,” Fang Chi didn’t expect him to react so quickly and didn’t know what to say. “You should’ve gone to police academy.”
“If you don’t want to say it, fine,” Cheng Mo seemed to be in a good mood and started eating. “It’s fine.”
Cheng Mo didn’t press further. Fang Chi let out a sigh of relief and stopped worrying about it.
National Day holiday was coming up soon. Quite a few classmates were planning to go home early these next couple of days. Fang Chi wasn’t leaving early, according to plan, he would go hang out with Xiao Yiming tomorrow, and the day after, Sun Wenqu would drive over. The two of them would spend a couple of days here and then go back together.
He had already told his grandparents that Wenqu would come over during the National Day holiday. His grandmother had already cleaned up the room and was even planning to go to the market to buy some good food.
Xiao Yiming called early in the morning when Fang Chi got up, asking when he’d come over. They agreed to meet at 9:30 at the gas station by his school gate.
Fang Chi yawned. Actually, these days weren’t that hard to get through. Half a month had passed in the blink of an eye. The day Sun Wenqu came to see him off still felt fresh and clear, and now they were about to meet again.
It wasn’t a big deal!
There’d be another holiday at New Year’s, and then Spring Festival, meeting wasn’t that hard. There were weekends too.
Fang Chi chuckled a few times on the bed.
There was no way to take a motorcycle taxi from here to Xiao Yiming’s school because it required going through the city center, where motorcycles weren’t allowed. He had to take a bus or a taxi.
Fang Chi waited at the bus stop for a while, then turned and walked a few hundred meters to catch a taxi at the entrance of a residential area.
The bus stop was packed with students from their school, going out to have fun or heading to the station. It was so crowded you could barely see the stop, and even if you squeezed onto a bus, it might already be 9:30.
The road was just as congested by taxi. By the time he reached Xiao Yiming’s school, it was already past ten. Xiao Yiming was sitting on a stone block by the roadside, playing on his phone, T-shirt, big shorts, and a pair of blue flip-flops on his feet.
“Hey,” Fang Chi kicked a small pebble toward him. It hit his foot. “You’ve really let yourself go.”
“No one’s looking anyway,” Xiao Yiming stood up with a smile and patted his pants. “Traffic was bad, right?”
“Yeah,” Fang Chi glanced at the school gate. From afar, it looked quite grand, antique-style, like an old archway. He took out his phone and snapped a couple of photos. “D*mn, even the gate looks like an antique.”
“Want to go in and walk around first?” Xiao Yiming said. “There aren’t many people today.”
“Sure,” Fang Chi nodded. “You’re not going home?”
“No,” Xiao Yiming sighed. “I’ll see during New Year.”
“Do you have enough money?” Fang Chi asked again.
“Enough,” Xiao Yiming said. “Stop worrying. If I don’t, I’ll definitely come to you.”
The two chatted as they walked toward the gate. It was similar to Fang Chi’s school, schools driving the surrounding economy. But since many students had gone home, there weren’t that many people around.
There were also quite a few motorcycle taxis waiting to pick up students. This place was closer to the station and didn’t go through the city center, so many students took them. There were even more here than near Fang Chi’s school.
Fang Chi could hear one behind them. After they took a couple of steps, the sound of a motorcycle engine would follow, rumbling along.
He thought the driver had poor judgment, he and Xiao Yiming clearly weren’t heading out, yet it kept following…
He turned back to look. Just then, the motorcycle revved and came up behind them, then stopped more than ten meters away when it saw him turn.
This wasn’t a motorcycle taxi. Fang Chi froze when he saw the bike, it was a Kawasaki Ninja 250. The rider wasn’t dressed like a driver either. With the helmet on, his face couldn’t be seen… but Fang Chi noticed the wrist guard he was wearing.
It had their university’s logo printed on it.
“D*mn?” Fang Chi’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the person.
It was definitely Cheng Mo!
Was this stalking?
Tailgating?
Psycho!
Motorcycle creep!
“What…” Xiao Yiming also turned around, then froze when he saw the person behind them. “…is it?”
“D*mn, this is… this…” Fang Chi stared at Cheng Mo.
Cheng Mo wore a helmet, so his expression couldn’t be seen. But once both of them turned around, he twisted the throttle and turned the bike, as if to leave.
“Cheng Mo!” Fang Chi shouted, rushed over, and grabbed his arm.
Cheng Mo didn’t say anything. The bike was still slowly moving forward, so Fang Chi swung a leg over and got onto the back seat. “What’s your deal? Are you following me?”
“Keep it down,” Cheng Mo pushed his helmet slightly and finally spoke. “Can’t you treat it as a coincidence?”
“What coincidence? Running into you here, isn’t that a bit fake!” Fang Chi didn’t even know how to describe how he felt about this guy.
“Then introduce us,” Cheng Mo stopped the bike.
“I…” Fang Chi turned to look at Xiao Yiming, who had already walked over. He got off the bike. “How am I supposed to introduce this?”
“I’ll do it myself,” Cheng Mo took off his helmet, hung it on the rearview mirror, and extended his hand toward Xiao Yiming. “Hello, my name is Cheng Mo.”
“My name is…” Xiao Yiming was clearly stunned. After hesitating, he finally reached out. “Xiao Yiming.”
Cheng Mo smiled. “Finally know your name.”
“You’re blocking the road,” Xiao Yiming said.
“Huh?” Cheng Mo turned to look. His bike was blocking a small truck in the middle of the road. He quickly went over and pushed it to the side.
“So it’s him?” Xiao Yiming took the chance to ask quickly.
“Yeah,” Fang Chi nodded and said quietly, “D*mn, I really didn’t know he followed me here.”
“What do we do?” Xiao Yiming looked at him.
“I don’t know,” Fang Chi looked back at him. “What do you think of him? If it’s not too bad, maybe chat a bit?”
“This sudden, when would I have time to form an impression?” Xiao Yiming said.
Cheng Mo parked the bike and walked back over, smiling at Xiao Yiming. “Sorry, Fang Chi wouldn’t say anything, so I followed him.”
“Well…” Xiao Yiming seemed a bit awkward. “Oh.”
“I didn’t mean anything else,” Cheng Mo said. “It’s just that back when I watched his competition… Fang Chi told you, right?”
Xiao Yiming nodded. “Mm.”
“I didn’t plan anything either. Just felt like… maybe it’s fate?” Cheng Mo looked at him. “Can I have your contact info?”
“Hm?” Xiao Yiming glanced at him. “Oh.”
Cheng Mo smiled and didn’t speak. The three of them stood in a circle for about ten seconds before he said again, “…give it to me.”
“Oh.” Only then did Xiao Yiming lower his head and take out his phone.
After adding each other, Cheng Mo put his phone away. “Then I’ll go.”
“You’re leaving?” Fang Chi asked. He had thought Cheng Mo would force them to go eat together, but he was just leaving so simply?
“Mm,” Cheng Mo nodded, then looked at Xiao Yiming again. “I’ll contact you when I have time.”
“Okay,” Xiao Yiming responded.
Cheng Mo waved, went over to start the bike, turned it around, revved the engine, and rode off.
Only then did Fang Chi realize he hadn’t asked where the bike came from.
“Man,” Xiao Yiming tugged at his collar and fanned himself. “That was awkward as h*ll.”
Fang Chi thought about it and burst out laughing, asking as he laughed, “So, got an impression now?”
“It’s alright. No problem getting to know him,” Xiao Yiming fanned himself with his hand. “I’ll treat you to something cold, calm the shock.”
“Okay.” The more Fang Chi thought about it, the funnier it got. He kept laughing the whole way.
“That’s enough,” Xiao Yiming laughed. “You’re not done yet? I haven’t even laughed at you.”
“What’s there to laugh at me for?” Fang Chi clicked his tongue.
“Do you call Uncle Sun ‘dad’?” Xiao Yiming suddenly turned his head.
Fang Chi froze, mouth open, unable to say anything for a long moment.
Xiao Yiming clicked his tongue too. “Looks like you really do. When you told me to call him ‘uncle,’ I already had a feeling. You two really know how to play…”
“Hey!” Fang Chi’s face instantly turned red.
Whether Cheng Mo and Xiao Yiming contacted each other afterward, Fang Chi didn’t ask. He didn’t have the time, Dad Sun was coming. From the night before, he couldn’t sleep, his mind full of anticipation.
He only fell asleep the next morning.
When Sun Wenqu’s call came, he shot up from the bed so suddenly he almost fell off.
“You’re here?” Fang Chi shouted.
“…No, I’m at a rest stop. What time is it, how could I already be there?” Sun Wenqu laughed.
“D*mn, you scared me. I thought I overslept.” Fang Chi checked the time, it was just past nine.
Sleeping until nine wasn’t your style.”
“I couldn’t sleep last night,” Fang Chi rubbed his nose. “I’m getting up now.”
“Sleep a bit more. I won’t get there until after noon,” Sun Wenqu said.
“Once I’m awake, I can’t fall back asleep,” Fang Chi chuckled. “When you get here, I’ll take you to eat something good. I’ve already scouted the place.”
“Mm.” Sun Wenqu smiled.
This highway hadn’t felt long before, when he drove Fang Chi back or came himself, but today it felt like he had taken the wrong road. It just wouldn’t end.
He stopped twice at rest areas, used the bathroom, bought some snacks to eat while driving.
The car was still that Cayenne that Ma Liang had somehow gotten. It was comfortable to drive, but it just felt slow, like he could never reach his destination.
Around two o’clock, Sun Wenqu finally saw the highway toll station sign. While lining up to pay, Fang Chi called.
“Are you there yet?” Fang Chi shouted. “Are you driving the Beetle or something else?”
“A Cayenne Uncle Liangzi lent me,” Sun Wenqu said. “I’m about to get off the highway, waiting to pay.”
“Right now?” Fang Chi asked.
“Mm,” Sun Wenqu responded. The car ahead moved, and he drove forward while taking out money. “Paying now, I’ll call you in a bit.”
“Okay.” Fang Chi hung up.
After paying, Sun Wenqu drove out of the toll station and pulled over to the side.
Just as he was about to sort out the messy pile of cash and snacks, someone slapped the passenger-side window.
He was startled. When he looked up, he saw Fang Chi’s brightly smiling face outside the window.
“What are you doing here!” Sun Wenqu looked at him in surprise and unlocked the car.
“To pick you up,” Fang Chi pulled open the door and jumped in. Before even sitting properly, he lunged over and kissed him hard twice on the lips. “This way I get to see you sooner.”
“How did you get here?” Sun Wenqu smiled and held his face, rubbing it.
“Took a taxi,” Fang Chi grinned so wide his eyes disappeared. “Surprised?”
“Very pleasantly surprised, I thought at most you’d wait for me at your school entrance,” Sun Wenqu said.
“I just figured there was nothing to do waiting in the dorm anyway, so I might as well come,” Fang Chi said cheerfully. “So I took a taxi over, the driver even thought I was picking up my wife, I was that eager.”
“So are we going to your school now, or somewhere else?” Sun Wenqu started the car.
“Let’s grab something to eat first,” Fang Chi said, pulling out a piece of chocolate from his pocket, unwrapping it and holding it to his mouth. “You’re hungry, right?”
“Not hungry,” Sun Wenqu bit the chocolate. “How about you drive, I’ll rest a bit.”
“Okay.” Fang Chi jumped out and switched seats with him.
Sun Wenqu had lost weight. Fang Chi felt like it was especially noticeable on him. Lately he must have been exhausted, there were two months left before that set of ceramics would be taken to competition, and this was the most intense, busiest phase.
“You’ve gotten thinner again,” Fang Chi said, driving onto the road back to the city, glancing at him.
“Isn’t that good,” Sun Wenqu yawned. “Saves you from worrying all the time that I’m getting fat.”
“Are you really that tired? Didn’t you say you just had to tell the technicians what to do?” Fang Chi asked.
“I still have to keep an eye on it, worried it might get overfired or not come out in the right color,” Sun Wenqu closed his eyes. “Mostly I just miss you.”
“I like hearing that,” Fang Chi immediately grinned.
He took Sun Wenqu to a small restaurant recommended by He Dongbao. Being a local, He Dongbao liked wandering around trying different food, so he knew these places well.
It was a riverside fish restaurant, the fish was especially good. Sun Wenqu liked fish, so Fang Chi thought he’d enjoy it.
After parking in the restaurant lot, Fang Chi realized Sun Wenqu had fallen asleep.
Every time he saw Sun Wenqu fall asleep in the car, he felt a bit of heartache. Someone like Sun Wenqu, who had grown up pampered and lived freely for so many years, suddenly being this exhausted, it made him anxious just looking at him.
Fang Chi didn’t rush to wake him. He just sat quietly after parking, not even daring to turn off the air conditioning. October wasn’t as hot as summer anymore, but for someone like Sun Wenqu, who needed blankets even at 20 degrees in summer, if the AC went off, he’d wake immediately.
He looked at Sun Wenqu’s profile.
Even though he had just felt that the past half month went by quickly, now that he was seeing him again, it felt like it had been a long time.
Every glance was familiar, and still made his heart race.
Good-looking.
No matter how much he looked, it wasn’t enough.
His heartbeat quickened, his breathing became uneven.
And he even… got hard.
Fang Chi sighed softly, a bit helpless. For him, Sun Wenqu was like a switch, constantly flipping him between a healthy young man and a shameless hooligan.
Fang Chi didn’t know how long he had been staring like a flag-bearer holding up a flag when Sun Wenqu finally frowned slightly, murmured twice, and opened one eye.
“Awake?” Fang Chi asked softly.
“We’re here?” Sun Wenqu closed his eye again and stretched.
“We’ve been here for quite a while,” Fang Chi said. “You were sleeping so well, I didn’t wake you.”
“I didn’t sleep much last night either,” Sun Wenqu smiled, sat up, and pulled out a wet wipe to clean his face. “I’m exhausted.”
“Then let’s eat first,” Fang Chi looked around. It was already past mealtime, the parking lot was mostly empty, open and exposed, but no one was around. He leaned over, grabbed Sun Wenqu’s arm, and pulled him closer. “Let me kiss you.”
Sun Wenqu smiled, lightly brushed his nose against Fang Chi’s, and kissed his lips.
The moment those soft, moist lips pressed against his, Fang Chi felt the “shameless hooligan switch” not only turn on, but crank up to maximum.
When his tongue slipped into Sun Wenqu’s mouth, his hand also slid under Sun Wenqu’s clothes.
The familiar scent, the familiar touch, made his breathing immediately go out of control.
Between lips and teeth, everything blurred into passion.
…
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