SG 4

On weekday nights, the number of customers was half of that on weekends, and Yan Anqing was happy to have some peace. The customer before had just left after buying a decorative plate. This kind of plate had a complicated shape and a high price, so few people bought it, and he usually made only a few. When he opened the cabinet under the wooden rack, only one was left in stock. He took it out, placed it in the empty slot, and adjusted its angle carefully. As he did, the bell at the door sounded, and the voice said, “Welcome.”

Chu Baiyan pushed the glass door open and entered. He looked around, and the layout matched the one in the photos. That confirmed it was the same shop. There were no other customers inside. He walked a little farther in and saw a figure at the end of the shelf. Even though he had never been there before, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.

The shop owner, who had his back turned, heard footsteps and turned around. The warm white light fell on his face. For a brief moment, they looked at each other, and both stopped moving. The blurred outline from memory suddenly became clear. For the first time, Chu Baiyan looked at him up close. His hair was soft and fluffy, his nose was high and straight, and his lips had a small natural bead at the center. His skin was pale and clear. He indeed had a face that left a deep impression. His brown-black eyes were filled with disbelief, and his gaze quickly moved away after meeting his.

“Where’s your tail?” Yan Anqing’s eyes moved from the man’s waist down to his feet. He was surprised that the “male mermaid” from the aquarium had somehow come into his shop.

It was the first time Chu Baiyan had heard such an unusual greeting, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. The other man had clearly recognized him, the same man who came to watch his first show every day.

Since he couldn’t tell if it was a joke, Chu Baiyan followed his words and said, “When I come ashore, the tail turns into legs.”

The other man nodded seriously, took two steps closer, and suddenly, yet very naturally, reached out and pinched his thigh. When Chu Baiyan looked down in shock, the hand had already moved away.

He had just pinched the “merman’s” leg, and it felt the same as his own, warm and real. Yan Anqing asked, “Does it hurt when you walk?” Without waiting for an answer, he quickly added, “Stay right there, I’ll bring a chair over.”

Chu Baiyan still hadn’t recovered from having his thigh pinched. Yet the other man’s eyes were clear, and his expression was sincere, as if he really only wanted to know whether it hurt when his tail became legs. Chu Baiyan, who couldn’t make sense of the situation, could only reply, “No need for a chair, I’m used to it, it doesn’t hurt.”

Yan Anqing didn’t doubt his words at all. Hearing that, he felt relieved and asked directly, “Did you come ashore just to find me?”

To be exact, Chu Baiyan had come on a whim. He wanted to see the plate in person and was curious about the ceramic artist who made it. On the way, he had imagined what that artist might look like, but he hadn’t expected the shop owner to be the same man who watched his show every day. After that strange beginning, he hadn’t even had a chance to speak before the conversation had gone completely the wrong way, far beyond what he imagined.

But when he saw the man’s eyes filled with excitement and expectation, mixed with a bit of urgency, every explanation became hard to say.

He didn’t want to see that sparkle in those eyes fade, so in the end, Chu Baiyan nodded and said, “Yes.”

Yan Anqing smile, and his face brightened with joy.

To keep the conversation from drifting again, Chu Baiyan picked up a cup near him and rubbed the smooth glazed surface with his thumb. He changed the subject. “You made all these ceramics?”

“Yes.” As soon as he mentioned his work, it was like someone had pressed a switch. Yan Anqing immediately lost all his energy.

The cup had raised strawberry patterns on the surface. Each seed was visible and could be felt as small bumps. The handle was shaped like a strawberry vine, and a three-dimensional strawberry was attached just below the rim. The red of the strawberry matched well with the green leaves, not gaudy but lively. It looked like a decoration and was pleasant to the eye.

“‘No Berry Troubles’ cup.” Chu Baiyan read the name softly from the tag beside it. On the same shelf, there were others too. The “Good Luck Orange” cup with oranges drawn on it, the “Everything Persimmon” cup with persimmons, and the “Peace and Joy Apple” cup with apples. Each was priced at 128 yuan, or 120 yuan each for two or more, with a note in parentheses saying “No bargaining.”

“This one has a three-dimensional design. The process is complicated, so it’s more expensive. There’s a flat version in front with the same pattern but cheaper.” Yan Anqing recited what his grandma had taught him as if he were repeating a memorized answer.

Chu Baiyan held the cup and walked slowly along the shelves. There were many kinds. Cups of different shapes, ornaments of different sizes, decorative plates, and bowls and dishes for daily use. Soon he saw the “cheaper” flat version of the “No Berry Troubles” cup. The picture was the same, but the handle had no vine design, and there was no raised strawberry. The price was 68 yuan.

After walking around, Chu Baiyan noticed that the items were arranged by price, with the cheapest near the door and the most expensive deeper inside. He picked up one of the flat “No Berry Troubles” cups and went to the counter. Finally, he saw the legendary “treasure of the shop.”

“Do you want both cups?” Seeing him take out his phone to scan the QR code, Yan Anqing asked.

“Yes, both look nice.” Chu Baiyan put them on the table. He planned to use the three-dimensional one at home and the flat one for work.

After paying, his eyes stopped on the “mermaid” plate on the table. It looked even better in person than in the photos. From up close, he could see that even the fine curves of the hair had been sculpted. He looked up at the shop owner and asked, “This plate is beautiful. Is that me on it?”

Yan Anqing’s dull gaze suddenly lit up. “Do you like it?” He lifted the plate carefully and placed it into his hands.

The weight of the plate rested against Chu Baiyan’s palm, and he remembered what the online comments had warned about, wasn’t it “For viewing only, don’t touch it!”? Now that the plate was placed in his hands, did that count as touching it or not?

Without noticing his hesitation, Yan Anqing asked again, “Do you like it?”

“I do.” Chu Baiyan didn’t know why he was so fixated on that question, but he answered honestly, then added, “It’s very detailed. Even the abs and tail decorations are made.”

His best work had finally received official recognition. In a great mood, Yan Anqing grabbed Chu Baiyan’s other hand naturally and pressed his finger onto the figure on the plate.

“All the muscle lines are there. Touch the arm.” He held that finger and guided it across the “merman’s” arm. The sculpted muscles kept the shape they would have in water.

Then he moved the finger down to the abs. “They’re not painted. I carved them little by little with a knife.”

“And here.” He guided that finger over the raised curve of the fish’s lower body. “It’s big. How do you take it out when you pee in the water?”

After speaking, he looked quickly at the part of Chu Baiyan’s body covered by clothes, curious whether the “male mermaid” used the toilet like he did.

The shop’s windows were blocked by shelves placed against the wall, so the cool breeze from outside couldn’t come in. Even though the air conditioner was on, Chu Baiyan still felt hot. The heat spread from the place where his finger was held up his arm, and soon even his face grew warm.

“What’s your name?” After showing off his favorite work, Yan Anqing let go of his hand, acting as if nothing had happened, as naturally as if his left hand had touched his right.

The other man looked completely calm, while Chu Baiyan’s fingers still burned.

“Chu Baiyan. Chu as in beautiful, Bai as in white, Yan as in flame.”

Rubbing his fingers, Chu Baiyan was glad to finally get a normal question. His name was given by his mother after consulting a fortune teller, who said he lacked the fire element in his five elements. That seemed accurate. He worked in water every day, didn’t that mean he lacked fire?