SG 8

The scent of citrus filled the air, covering the smell of damp grass from the roadside greenery. When Chu Baiyan saw Yan Anqing standing in front of him with a frown and a gloomy look, all the words he had prepared became useless. Before he could figure out why the other seemed upset, Yan Anqing had already given himself the reason.

“I’m not angry anymore.” The frown between Yan Anqing’s brows loosened the moment he saw Chu Baiyan. “I forgot to set a time with you. I won’t forget next time.”

Even though he had felt restless during the two days of waiting, he hadn’t thought it was Chu Baiyan’s fault. He believed it was because he hadn’t told him a specific time, which made Chu Baiyan come only after two days.

The man standing before him was still the same as when they first met. He wasn’t cold or withdrawn, and he didn’t speak sparingly. It felt as if they had known each other for a long time. Chu Baiyan still didn’t understand why he had been angry, but Yan Anqing was already smiling and saying his anger had gone.

As he followed behind him, the tied strings of Yan Anqing’s apron drew in his narrow waist. The ends of the straps hung loose and swayed in front of Chu Baiyan’s eyes as he walked.

Inside the workshop, several half-finished pieces were already laid out on the table.

“How much have you made?” Chu Baiyan looked around. The studio was tidy. Every item had its place. The table held several ceramic tool holders stuffed with small instruments for shaping and trimming. The pieces were small and varied, but nothing looked messy.

“I haven’t started yet.” Yan Anqing paused, then added, “I waited for you to come. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see the whole process.”

Chu Baiyan immediately understood the meaning behind “I waited for you two days” and the reason for his low spirits.

“You wanted me to come earlier?”

“Yes.”

Chu Baiyan felt a faint sense of regret. He explained, “I didn’t come the last two days because I didn’t want you to think I was rushing you.”

“You only get rushed if you eat too slow. Not for making pottery.”

Yan Anqing didn’t really understand what Chu Baiyan meant. In his experience, only when he ate too slowly would his grandma urge him to hurry, always saying that his hot food turned cold. But pottery didn’t turn cold, so no one ever rushed him. He didn’t dwell on it though. He was eager to show how he made a plate.

There were two stools in the workspace. One sat by the table, used when shaping or painting. The other was a short stool next to the pottery wheel. Yan Anqing sat on the low one for wheel work and told Chu Baiyan to sit by the table so he could see everything clearly.

He cut off a piece of clay with a wire cutter and kneaded it a few times on a wooden board until it formed a spiral pattern. Then he placed it in the exact center of the wheel.

When he worked, Yan Anqing stayed fully concentrated and his face relaxed. From the side, his thick eyelashes fluttered with every small movement of his hands, showing a smooth jawline and a pointed chin. Even sitting beside him, one wouldn’t feel bored. The precision in his movements made watching pottery-making feel like a performance.

Chu Baiyan watched him put the clay into the center of the wheel and then shape into a cone under his hands. Ceramics were everywhere, but it was the first time he had watched someone actually make one.

The wheel began to spin. Yan Anqing dipped his fingers into a bowl of water and sprinkled it over the clay. He lifted and pressed the clay down again and again with both hands.

“Why do you lift it up and push it down?” Chu Baiyan asked curiously.

“To press out the air bubbles.” Yan Anqing didn’t raise his head. He spoke while his hands continued moving until the clay stopped shaking and turned smooth and obedient in his grasp.

He wrapped both hands around the clay cylinder and lifted it again. He centered it and pressed his thumbs down to open a hole. To steady himself, he rested his elbows on his thighs, leaned forward, and pressed down with both thumbs. The clay instantly spread out.

It was like watching a magic show. Just a moment ago, it had been a lump of clay, and now a cup shape appeared. Even while he was staring straight at it, Chu Baiyan couldn’t see exactly how it happened.

Yan Anqing clearly knew every step by heart. The cup slowly turned into a bowl in his hands. One hand slid upward along the inside, while the other supported from the outside. The edge widened bit by bit until it took the shape of a plate.

He studied the curve carefully. One hand adjusted the form while the other rested on top to control pressure. He added water at intervals and used a sponge to refine the shape.

At first, Chu Baiyan’s eyes were on the clay, but they gradually moved to the pair of hands shaping it. Yan Anqing’s hands were beautiful. The slip of wet clay ran down his fingers, making his pale hands look as if they were carved from white jade.

The plate’s outline formed. The wheel slowed. Yan Anqing used a wooden knife to trim off the extra clay at the bottom. When the plate held its full shape, he brought over a dryer to set it. Then he used the cutting wire to separate it carefully from the wheel.

“Is it done?”

“I need to make it into a shell shape.” Yan Anqing supported the plate with his fingers and placed it gently on the worktable.

Seeing that, Chu Baiyan quickly moved his stool back and stood beside him.

Yan Anqing used a scraper from the holder to carve shell ridges along the rim.

From a lump of mud to a shell-shaped plate, Chu Baiyan still found it unbelievable even after seeing it with his own eyes.

“Alright. Now I can make you.” The shell plate was complete, and Yan Anqing’s voice lightened. He cut off another piece of clay and began shaping the figure.

He lifted his head to look at Chu Baiyan. It was different from before when glass and water separated them. Today, the “merman” was right in front of him. Every feature of his face was clearly visible.

Chu Baiyan wore a plain black T-shirt and jeans. His frame was tall and straight. Even through his clothes, Yan Anqing could picture the lines of muscle beneath.

The clay took shape in his hands. He first formed the head and body, then used the smallest knife to carve out the details.

When Chu Baiyan’s phone alarm rang, he realized it was already nine thirty. It was his usual wake-up time. Normally, waking then meant reaching the aquarium by ten. Today, he had come before eight, and an hour and a half had passed in seconds.

“Are you leaving?” Yan Anqing stopped his work.

“I can stay fifteen more minutes.” Chu Baiyan did a quick calculation. If he left at nine forty-five, he could buy breakfast on the way and still reach the break room with time to spare. Fifteen minutes wouldn’t be enough to finish the figure, but it would be enough to shape the outline.

“Come again tomorrow morning.” This time, Yan Anqing made sure to set the time clearly.