Chapter 15
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Xu Er had only gone downstairs briefly to throw out the trash when he was suddenly attacked by a tree branch.
The whole thing started because, after taking out the garbage, he spotted a little wild cat he hadn’t seen in a long time. The cat was walking oddly, as if it had hurt its leg, so Xu Er decided to follow it and take a closer look.
Unexpectedly, this ungrateful creature didn’t recognize Xu Er at all after such a short time. It turned and ran away, and its leg didn’t look injured at all.
Xu Er instinctively chased after it a few steps but then tripped over a branch left on the roadside.
“That’s the whole story.”
Xu Er sent the entire incident in a voice message to Song Ruichi.
Song Ruichi asked, “Are you hurt?”
Xu Er sat on a chair and sent photos of his knee injury, the scratches on his calf, and the abrasions on his elbow.
Xu Er: “Just a little.”
Song Ruichi: “This is just a little?”
Song Ruichi: “Do you have iodine? Clean it up.”
Xu Er: “No.”
Xu Er: “It’s fine, I rinsed it with water. No big deal.”
Xu Er: “In the end, I still caught the cat.”
Xu Er: “It’s okay.”
Song Ruichi: “You’re the one who’s hurt.”
Xu Er: “I’m fine too.”
Song Ruichi was about to type more but thought better of it and put his phone down.
Having just finished showering, still damp and steamy, he wiped his hair with a towel while looking at himself in the mirror.
After a few seconds of meeting his own gaze, he sighed softly, went out and quickly blew his hair dry, then changed into clothes suitable for going out.
There was a pharmacy right at the neighborhood entrance. At first, Song Ruichi only intended to buy cotton swabs and iodine, but after browsing, he ended up buying a whole bunch of everyday medicines and even got a medicine box from the sales assistant.
Back home, looking at the fully stocked medicine box, Song Ruichi couldn’t help but shake his head and picked up his phone.
Then he ordered a same-city courier.
Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Song Ruichi grabbed the medicine box and opened the door.
"Wuhu~"
"Hello."
"Good evening, Song Song."
Song Ruichi: “...”
There they were, carrying bottles of alcohol, snacks, and board games.
Song Ruichi: “What are you doing?”
Shi Ziyi: “Someone’s heartbroken, so we’re here to keep them company.”
Song Ruichi: “Who’s heartbroken?”
Ying Jing: “Exactly! Who’s heartbroken? No wild guesses.”
Song Ruichi: “...”
He didn’t make way and just shut the door.
“Hey, hey, don’t do that,” Chen Yu blocked the door.
Ying Jing: “Come on, brothers came all this way to check on you.”
Shi Ziyi: “Yeah, I even stopped playing mahjong, you don’t know how much I was about to win.”
Song Ruichi: “Go back and play.”
“Wait, was that same-city delivery you called?” a strange voice suddenly appeared from the back.
Song Ruichi finally opened the door a crack: “Yes.”
Everyone made way for the courier.
When Song Ruichi announced the recipient’s name, the room echoed in unison: “Oh~~”
Song Ruichi: “...”
After the courier left, Song Ruichi quietly stepped inside, not wanting to talk.
Of course, his friends confidently followed him in, utterly oblivious to the awkwardness but chattering away anyway.
“What’s going on? Bringing a medicine box to the handsome guy?” Shi Ziyi grinned. “Is he hurt? Where? Is it serious?”
Ying Jing chimed in: “Why didn’t you deliver it yourself? Don’t like him?”
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Chen Yu: “Teacher Song is really kind.”
Song Ruichi stopped, turned, and pointed to the door: “Turn left, please.”
Of course, no one left left. They crowded in, quickly tidied the coffee table, and carried Soso into Song Ruichi’s arms.
Song Ruichi crossed his arms and watched his group of friends.
“What are you standing there for? Come on over,” Shi Ziyi said.
Ying Jing popped open a bottle: “Make yourself at home.”
Chen Yu: “Come, come.”
Song Ruichi: “...”
Everyone: “No need to be polite.”
Since he couldn’t beat them, Song Ruichi resigned himself and sat where they indicated.
No sooner had he sat down than the drinks, crayfish, and skewers arrived.
Song Ruichi: “You guys are ridiculous.”
Shi Ziyi even peeled the crayfish shells: “If it’s funny, then laugh more.”
Song Ruichi, of course, didn’t refuse. He ate the shelled crayfish and the skewers, and took a sip of the wine.
“So, what happened to Xu Er?” Shi Ziyi raised his glass with Song Ruichi. “Did he get hurt?”
Song Ruichi: “He fell and scraped himself.”
Seemingly aware that these guys couldn’t keep a decent comment to themselves, Song Ruichi immediately added: “If anyone talks nonsense, get out.”
The three instantly pretended to hold it in, then burst out laughing.
Ying Jing: “No way, no way, are we really that mean?”
Chen Yu: “Yes.”
Ying Jing: “You are.”
Chen Yu glanced at Shi Ziyi, who was smiling: “Don’t laugh, you’re guilty too.”
Ying Jing curiously asked: “So he really is straight?”
Song Ruichi: “Yeah.”
Ying Jing exclaimed: “I really didn’t expect that. Why has he been so clingy to you all along?”
Song Ruichi: “Good question.”
Shi Ziyi tossed a peeled crayfish to Song Ruichi: “Could it be a misunderstanding?”
As he spoke, Song Ruichi’s phone rang.
All four looked over. The screen flashed the name “Xiao Er Er.”
Song Ruichi slid the phone toward Shi Ziyi: “You ask him if I’m mistaken.”
Shi Ziyi, as if holding a hot potato, quickly backed away half a meter.
Song Ruichi declined the call.
The three friends fell silent instantly.
“Did you send me the medicine box?” Xu Er asked.
Song Ruichi: “Not me.”
Xu Er puzzled: “Huh? Not you? That can’t be. Then who else?”
Song Ruichi: “It was me.”
“See,” Xu Er brightened up again: “Why did you buy me so many things?”
Song Ruichi: “Commonly used medicines. Just in case.”
Xu Er: “Thanks, you’re so thoughtful.”
“You’re welcome,” Song Ruichi said. “Put on the medicine and show me.”
Xu Er laughed: “I know how to use it.”
Song Ruichi: “I want to check.”
Xu Er: “Okay, okay, I’ll send you pictures.”
After hanging up, the room seemed to press play again; the friends resumed their lively chatter.
But the next moment—
“Teacher Song is so thoughtful.”
“I want to check.”
Song Ruichi pointed toward the door.
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“Oh, oh,” Shi Ziyi grabbed Song Ruichi’s hand. “Enough, enough.”
Xu Er’s photos came through quickly.
Not knowing what was so interesting, Song Ruichi opened them, and the three friends immediately crowded around.
He held the phone up in his palm, offering it around.
“Have a good look, alright.”
“Hahaha.”
The three stepped back again.
“Honestly, what kind of straight guy sends flowers?” Ying Jing remarked.
Shi Ziyi nodded: “Yeah, and he even asked for your WeChat. What straight guy asks a guy for his WeChat?”
Song Ruichi ate while explaining: “Maybe he was helping his younger brother. His brother had known me for a long time and apparently likes me quite a bit.”
The three friends went, “Ah...”
Shi Ziyi: “That doesn’t prove anything. Just help the little brother fangirl and don’t get involved in all this mess.”
Song Ruichi bit into a skewer: “I’m not involved in any mess.”
Shi Ziyi objected: “The first day he met you, he was already interacting on your Moments back and forth. Isn’t that mess? That makes people’s hearts flutter.”
Song Ruichi poured himself some wine: “He didn’t do anything.”
Ying Jing: “Well, what I saw must be true, right? He’s like your little charm.”
Song Ruichi: “He’s just socially anxious.”
All three made a choked expression at once.
Alright, alright.
“Why are you still defending him?” Chen Yu laughed.
Song Ruichi laughed too, downing a glass of wine like a penalty.
Shi Ziyi: “Then why did he send you flowers? How do you explain that?”
Song Ruichi grabbed his phone: “You ask him, I want to hear it too.”
Shi Ziyi immediately backed off: “Forget I asked.”
But soon after, Shi Ziyi added: “Straight guys are really the worst, seriously.”
Song Ruichi had nothing to say.
He truly had nothing to say. He raised his glass, clinked it with everyone else’s, and drank it all down.
After that, there wasn’t much more about Xu Er. They hadn’t known each other long and had few stories.
So the conversation drifted elsewhere, chatting about anything and everything, playing games late into the night.
Everyone had good tolerance for alcohol and didn’t seem drunk, all still clear-headed.
As the night wound down, Ying Jing washed his hands and passed by the bouquet on the bar.
His mouth couldn’t help itself.
“These flowers are pretty nice,” Ying Jing said. “Don’t you think so, Song Song?”
Song Ruichi, his spirit still cleansed by the alcohol: “...”
Ying Jing chuckled: “But seriously, what does it mean when a straight guy gives another guy flowers?”
Chen Yu: “Yeah, we should ask around. That’s not normal.”
Shi Ziyi: “Exactly. If it were for winning an award or a holiday, that would be more understandable. But just a regular workday, and you’ve only known him a few days—why send flowers? Especially at such a sensitive time.”
Ying Jing: “Right.”
Song Ruichi glanced at the flowers and agreed: “Right.”
Everyone laughed together.
Ying Jing: “It’s late, and we’re teasing Xu Er so much. Wonder if his ears are burning?”
Shi Ziyi: “Why don’t you really ask about the flowers?”
Song Ruichi: “No.”
Shi Ziyi: “Why not?”
Song Ruichi: “If you want to ask, you ask.”
Shi Ziyi: “If he were here now, I’d totally ask for you.” He waved his hand dramatically. “Hey, you! Don’t bully our Song Song!”
Just then—
“Ding dong.”
The doorbell rang.