Chapter 19
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A minor rear-end collision occurred on a certain street in City A, and just so happened, Song Ruichi’s car was stuck on that road.
Just perfectly timed, this pause gave Xu Er a chance to speak his mind.
“I’ve been so busy these past two days,” Xu Er said as he closed the screen on his phone that showed a goodnight message sent two days ago. “Even working overtime. This client has so many details, I’ve been to the construction site multiple times in two days. I basically crash as soon as I get home.”
What began as an explanation gradually turned into a complaint.
“My boss went on a business trip, plus a colleague just quit, so I have tons of work on my plate, including things I’ve never dealt with before. I have to start learning all over again.”
He only intended to briefly mention how busy he was, but ended up saying much more.
As he finished, the cars ahead moved forward just enough to free a parking space.
Song Ruichi gently pressed the accelerator. “Looks like I’m the immature one.”
Xu Er chuckled. “Oh no, it’s not like that.”
Song Ruichi asked, “Why did you secretly pay for dinner?”
Xu Er hadn’t figured out how to respond when Song Ruichi added, “Are you trying to settle accounts with me?”
Xu Er quickly replied, “Of course not.”
He then launched into a new round of explanations: “You bought me so many things, so I wanted to treat you to a meal.”
Song Ruichi said nothing, clearly dissatisfied with that answer.
Xu Er thought for a moment and added, “Isn’t that what friends do?”
Song Ruichi finally spoke: “I’m not that kind of friend.”
Xu Er immediately asked, “Then what kind of friend are you?”
Song Ruichi remained silent.
Xu Er pursed his lips and discreetly, but quite obviously, turned his head to look at Song Ruichi before pursing his lips again.
“Are you mad?” Xu Er asked.
“Yeah,” Song Ruichi replied.
“You’re the kind of friend who gets mad.”
After saying that, Xu Er quickly watched Song Ruichi’s face, who seemed to twitch at the corner of his mouth but ultimately showed no expression.
No use!
Not funny!
Xu Er thought for a long time but finally blurted out, “So what do I do?”
Song Ruichi was silent for a moment before saying, “You figure it out.”
Xu Er nodded. “Okay, I’ll think about it.”
The silence that followed was Xu Er’s way of seeming to contemplate a solution.
In truth, he had no idea and was just killing time.
After a while, Xu Er tentatively called out softly, “Mr. So-So.”
No response.
“Mr. Rich?”
Still no reply.
“Song Song?”
Quiet still.
“Brother Song Song?”
Silence persisted.
“Brother?”
It had to be brother.
Finally, a smile appeared at the corner of Song Ruichi’s lips.
Xu Er seized the moment: “Brother, you smiled.”
Song Ruichi: “So what if I did?”
“That means you’re not angry anymore.”
“Does smiling mean I’m not angry?”
“Yes!”
“No way.”
Xu Er laughed out loud. “You swore.”
“So what if I did?”
“So cool.”
Song Ruichi genuinely laughed this time and called out, “Xu Xiao’er.”
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“Yes?”
“Do you have any conscience?”
“I do! I really do, plenty of it.”
“You don’t.”
“Wow, that’s so cool!”
“...”
Xu Er loved seeing Song Ruichi’s exasperated yet unwilling-to-talk expression.
The longer he knew this man, the more endearing he found him.
“Today’s Saturday,” Xu Er thought for a moment, “Do you work weekdays like us?”
“Not exactly,” Song Ruichi replied, “But go on.”
Xu Er stroked his chin. “I’m off tomorrow too. It’s not even 10 o’clock yet.”
Song Ruichi smiled slightly: “What, are you hinting you want to spend more time with me?”
“I think I’m being pretty direct.”
Song Ruichi chuckled: “Any ideas?”
Xu Er’s eyes darted around: “Not yet. How about you?”
Song Ruichi glanced at the sea of brake lights ahead. “Just give me some time to get out of this road.”
“Okay!”
The police car had arrived, so the wait wouldn’t be too long.
Horn honking filled the street, showing how impatient people stuck in the jam were.
Xu Er, however, felt none of that; he genuinely enjoyed being with Song Ruichi. They could just sit quietly, listening to music—it was very comfortable.
The two waited in silence.
After a while, Xu Er suddenly chuckled.
Song Ruichi turned around, confused.
Xu Er coughed to hide his smile and shook his head. “Nothing.”
Song Ruichi didn’t believe him for a second.
Xu Er continued, “I was just thinking... I feel like you’ve changed a bit.”
“Where have I changed?” Song Ruichi asked.
Xu Er thought carefully. “How to put it...”
Indeed, it was still the same Song Ruichi, with the same attitude toward Xu Er, but something was different.
“You seem more genuine now,” Xu Er finally concluded.
“Was I not genuine before?”
Xu Er pondered again, then said, “More genuine now.”
The car ahead finally moved, and traffic began flowing again.
Song Ruichi pressed the accelerator and tossed out, “No more pretending.”
“Pretending what?”
Song Ruichi laughed softly. “Nothing.”
After a moment, he asked, “Can you accept me as I am now?”
Xu Er nodded. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
Song Ruichi pressed his lips together.
The road cleared further.
Sure enough, once off that road, Song Ruichi’s idea came to him.
“A few days ago, a friend sent me some new coffee beans.”
Xu Er immediately brightened. “Great, great.”
Song Ruichi smiled. “See? You’re already happy.”
Xu Er: “You said invite me over to try the new coffee beans.”
Song Ruichi: “Did I?”
Xu Er: “This time I’ll make it for you. I want to try.”
Song Ruichi: “Xu Xiao’er.”
Xu Er laughed heartily. “What’s up, Song Song?”
Song Ruichi said nothing but reached out his hand.
His thumb and forefinger curled, clearly about to pinch Xu Er.
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Then go ahead and pinch me.
Xu Er leaned his face closer.
“I haven’t tasted it yet,” Song Ruichi said as he withdrew his hand after pinching.
“I haven’t tasted it either,” Xu Er replied.
Song Ruichi smiled again.
See? Xu Er felt he’d become much more humorous lately!
After driving a short distance, Xu Er’s phone rang. It was Xu Chen, who messaged that he had arrived at school.
Only then did Xu Er realize how much time the traffic jam had consumed.
He opened the message and replied, “Okay.”
Xu Chen didn’t end the conversation and continued: “Honestly, that wood carving is so beautiful, so delicate.”
Xu Er: “Don’t even look at who made it.”
Xu Chen: “True.”
He added, “By the way, your relationship is even better than I imagined.”
Xu Er: “There’s a lot you don’t know.”
Xu Chen: “Exactly!”
Xu Chen: “I just wanted to say, bro, you act so differently around him.”
Xu Er: “How different?”
Xu Chen: “Well, you’re way more relaxed and fun.”
Xu Chen: “And he really cares about you. What’s going on?”
Xu Er felt an inexplicable pride: “At 25, I landed a new big brother outright.”
Xu Chen: “Look at you, you’re hilarious now.”
Xu Er loved being praised for being interesting and funny; each compliment lifted his spirits immensely.
But he replied, “I guess I’m okay.”
Xu Chen: “Oh wow.”
Xu Er nearly twisted his mouth.
Xu Chen continued: “Since you’re so close, why not ask about the whole homosexuality thing?”
Xu Er: “...”
Xu Er: “Are you crazy? No way.”
Xu Er: “You have his WeChat. Go ask him.”
Xu Chen: “Are you crazy? No way I’m asking.”
Xu Er smiled and put away his phone, then said to Song Ruichi, “My brother said your craft is excellent.”
Song Ruichi: “Tell him thanks.”
Xu Er: “You’re welcome.”
Song Ruichi: “What about you? Aren’t you going to compliment me?”
Xu Er thought aloud: “I’ll savor it when I get home, then write a little essay for Teacher Song.”
Xu Er was now familiar with the way back to Song Ruichi’s place. He parked in the basement as usual and waited at the door.
Inside, he immediately saw So-So crouching by the entrance.
Knowing the origin of So-So’s name made Xu Er feel like he understood the cat anew. He scooped So-So up, calling out repeatedly, “So-So, So-So.”
“Then isn’t your name the same as the cat’s?” Xu Er asked Song Ruichi.
Song Ruichi: “I’m not called So-So.”
Xu Er: “You’re Song Song.”
Song Ruichi said nothing.
Xu Er stepped closer: “So you accept me calling you Song Song?”
Song Ruichi: “What if I don’t?”
Xu Er: “I’ll call you anyway.”
Song Ruichi gave him a look that said, “Doesn’t matter if I don’t accept it,” tapped his head, and went to the dining room.
Song Ruichi opened the fridge, took out some grapes first, then grabbed two bottles of water.
But before closing the door, he reopened it.
He swapped the two bottles of water for two bottles of wine.