SG 6

The strawberry-patterned mug sat on the desk beside the bed, bringing a bright touch of color to the plain room. Before going to shower, Chu Baiyan opened his hand, took out his phone, and took a picture of the name written in his palm. Only then did he realize that he had forgotten to add Yan Anqing on WeChat. But since the pottery shop was right outside his residential complex, he thought it wouldn’t be too late to get it next time.

Standing under the shower, warm water soaked his hair and flowed down his neck, washing away the soap on his skin. Chu Baiyan’s fingers brushed over the faint bruises left by fish bites, and he thought of the way Yan Anqing puffed his cheeks to blow air on them. Since his mother’s death, this was the first time someone cared whether he was in pain.

Playing a “mermaid” wasn’t nearly as easy as it looked. During dives, he had to breathe with his diaphragm, and the muscles would ache. The ten-pound tail created huge resistance in water, and to move gracefully depended completely on his waist and abdomen. When he first started training, his abs ached every morning after. Underwater vision was blurry, and he still had to manage his facial expressions and interact with visitors. His eyes often grew sore from inflammation. Getting bitten by fish or bumping into the artificial rocks underwater happened so often it wasn’t worth mentioning.

When he came out of the shower, the black ink of the three characters written in his palm had blurred. The water had spread the strokes outward in small fuzzy lines, like that tuft of hair that always stuck up from Yan Anqing’s head. Chu Baiyan lifted the strawberry mug, took a sip of water, lay down on the bed, and loosely closed his hand around the characters again before shutting his eyes.

Chu Baiyan soon fell asleep, but Yan Anqing hadn’t entered sleep mode yet. He turned back and forth in bed. He had a mild sleep disorder, though it had improved with age. He followed a fixed routine to fall asleep and had to carry it out exactly. It began with saying “goodnight” to his starfish, then turning off the lights and going upstairs. He had to use bergamot-scented shampoo and body wash. He stuck to the same products he liked, and if the scent changed, his whole body felt wrong.

The curtains had to be closed. Since his apartment was on a low floor, he got scared when the shadows of swaying tree leaves appeared on the wall at night. He left a small nightlight by the foot of the bed, because if it was too bright or too dark, he couldn’t sleep. Finally, after lying down and holding one corner of the blanket, he would close his eyes and rub the pointed corner of the cover with his fingertips until he fell asleep.

But tonight it didn’t work. His mind was too alert. When he said goodnight to the merman figure on the plate, he realized that he should have said it directly to Chu Baiyan. Then, while showering, he remembered that he hadn’t set a specific time to meet.

In his understanding, every schedule had to be fixed and precise. Even though they had made a pinky promise, he hadn’t asked exactly when Chu Baiyan would come. That made him restless. Even after going through every step of his bedtime routine, he couldn’t sleep.

He thought about getting up to call his grandma, but when he looked at his phone, he saw that it was too late, and she would already be asleep. Maybe Chu Baiyan would come in the morning. He decided on a time for himself, shifted around a few times in bed, and his thoughts slowly faded.

When Chu Baiyan opened his eyes in the morning, he saw the strawberry mug on the desk beside his bed. The morning light through the window gave it a golden glow. “No Berry Troubles.” Remembering the cup’s name made his morning feel bright.

After breakfast at the complex entrance, Chu Baiyan drove straight to the ocean park. Of course he hadn’t forgotten their promise, but he couldn’t go the very next day after Yan Anqing had just said he’d make a new plate. That would look like he was rushing him. He decided to go on the third day instead, using the time to think about what gift he should give in return.

It was ten when he reached the break room. Preparation for the show started at ten-thirty, so he still had plenty of time. He took the other strawberry mug out of the paper bag, planning to wash it with hot water, but a female coworker walking in noticed it first.

“New mug?” She looked at the cup in his hand with surprise. “That’s not really your style. It’s so cute.”

As soon as she spoke, she noticed the paper bag on the desk. “‘Starfish Pottery’? Isn’t that the place that makes those ‘merman’ plates?” She had seen the logo often on social media.

“Yeah, that’s where I bought it.” Chu Baiyan confirmed her guess.

The mention of the shop instantly caught everyone’s attention. The coworkers in the room – those eating breakfast, scrolling through phones, or watching dramas – stopped what they were doing and crowded around him.

“Did you see the owner? Is he good-looking? A bunch of bloggers said he’s a super handsome guy.”

“Did you see the shop’s ‘treasure’? Did the owner realize you’re the model?”

“Where is that pottery shop? Is it far from here?”

Human curiosity was the same everywhere. They all talked over each other, and Chu Baiyan didn’t know which question to answer first. He had more than just seen the owner, the man had even given him that plate. But that was between him and Yan Anqing.

“It’s not far, just across from the complex, in the row of shops outside. There’s an underpass that connects, it’s close. I saw the plate. It deserves its reputation, it looks even better in person. And as for the owner, he’s every bit as good-looking as you’ve heard.” Chu Baiyan gave only the parts he could share, leaving out everything that happened last night.

“Oh no, now I want to go even more. I’m going after work. Might as well make use of proximity, right? Anyone coming?” One of the female coworkers raised her hand, and several others quickly joined in.

That morning, Yan Anqing followed his usual routine. He opened the kiln and started working on ceramics. He waited until ten-thirty, but Chu Baiyan still hadn’t come. He felt a little disappointed, but he continued following his plan as always. But he quietly moved the “merman” plate farther back on the shelf, thinking that he would wait to make it when Chu Baiyan came.

At eleven, through the aquarium glass, Yan Anqing saw Chu Baiyan again, just like always, slowly swimming down from the surface. Every time Chu Baiyan appeared, he became the only thing in Yan Anqing’s sight. Chu Baiyan waved at him from the water, and he waved back. In his heart, he told him, I waited for you all morning and you didn’t come. You have to come tomorrow.

At his usual spot, Chu Baiyan saw that same familiar figure again. Now, whenever he greeted or interacted with the audience, the image of Yan Anqing appeared in his mind. So that was what Yan Anqing had looked like all this time while standing there watching him.

After the day’s shows ended and before leaving work, Chu Baiyan asked a few female coworkers, “What kind of gifts do people usually give?” He had no experience with such things.

“Not bad, Xiao Chu. You’ve only been here two months, and you already have a girlfriend?” one coworker teased.

“No, for a male friend.” Chu Baiyan smiled faintly and didn’t explain further. He would never have a girlfriend in his life.

“Well, depends on what he likes. Guys are simple. Just ask what he’s into and get something he likes,” another suggested.

“But if you ask, it won’t be a surprise,” said a male coworker who had just come in after changing. “If he’s your buddy, just see what his hobbies are. You can’t go wrong with that.”

Chu Baiyan had wanted to get some advice, but after hearing them, he felt even less sure where to start.