SG 20

The neighbor said the leak had started a few days ago, but it wasn’t serious then, so it didn’t affect normal use. He had planned to tell Chu Baiyan about it when he had time, but the leak suddenly turned into a downpour today, so he had no choice but to come upstairs at night.

Chu Baiyan apologized repeatedly and promised he would deal with it as soon as possible. When he went back upstairs, he called the landlord to explain. The landlord took it seriously and said he would get a repairman to come the next day. It was the middle of summer, and no one could go without a shower.

But fixing bathroom waterproofing was a big job. They had to pry up all the tiles on the floor. They had to redo the waterproof layer, test it, then lay the tiles again. The whole thing would take at least a week.

That meant the bathroom couldn’t be used for a week, and with workers coming in, he couldn’t leave valuables in the house during the day.

The landlord asked when Chu Baiyan would be free and if he had friends or relatives he could stay with for a few days.

After hearing this, Chu Baiyan felt frustrated. If he agreed to fix it, he’d need to find somewhere else to live for at least a week, maybe longer. He didn’t have any friends or coworkers nearby he could stay with.

But if he didn’t fix it, every time he took a shower, water would rain down into the neighbor’s bathroom below. That would strain the relationship. The neighbor was still polite now, but in a few days they might complain or come argue.

This small studio had been bought by the landlord when he was single. The interior and appliances were all good, and he’d maintained it well. Later he moved in with his girlfriend after buying a new apartment, so he rented this one out.

Chu Baiyan was the first tenant. When he saw the place online, the size, location, and price all felt right, so he decided immediately. He had lived there comfortably ever since.

There was nothing else he could do. He thought about it and agreed to let the landlord bring workers to repair it. He would find somewhere else to stay. Since it had to be fixed, it was better to start early than drag it out.

After arranging everything, he turned off the light, took off his home clothes, and lay down. He grabbed his phone, planning to search for nearby places to stay, when he noticed a WeChat message from Yan Anqing that said “Good night.”

He checked the time. It had been more than ten minutes. Missing the message made him feel even worse. He wanted to reply, but he didn’t want to wake Yan Anqing if he was asleep.

While he hesitated, another message appeared under “Good night.” It said, “Are you asleep?”

“No, I just had something to deal with. I just got in bed.” After he sent it, he felt a bit relieved. The night had been full of annoying problems, but at least he hadn’t missed saying good night.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” He typed another line. Someone like Yan Anqing, who kept strict track of time, should’ve already been asleep by now.

“You didn’t say good night to me.” The usual smiling emoji with curved eyes had turned into a sad face.

Yan Anqing had already been ready to sleep ten minutes earlier, but because Chu Baiyan hadn’t replied, he couldn’t relax. He felt like something was unfinished, and the more he tried to sleep, the more his mind reminded him he hadn’t heard “Good night.”

Chu Baiyan’s bad mood faded. Somewhere only a few hundred meters away, someone was lying awake because of him. He thought of the feeling of Yan Anqing’s fingertips brushing his cheek that day, and it felt like something soft stirred inside him.

He picked a penguin sticker that said good night and sent a voice message, “Good night.” Soon, he received the familiar smiling-eyes emoji in reply.

Since he had already told the landlord the night before, he’d said he might not be near his phone during work hours, so the repairman should call after five. At seven that evening, he finally got the call. The repairman said he’d just finished another job nearby and would come check.

When the repairman arrived, they went downstairs to the neighbor’s apartment and removed the bathroom ceiling panels. After checking the water stains, he concluded that the waterproof layer under the shower area was damaged. The bathroom was small, barely two square meters, but to redo the waterproofing, the entire floor had to be torn up.

The repairman went outside to call the landlord to discuss the plan and cost. After half an hour, he came back and told Chu Baiyan, “The landlord agreed. But you can’t stay here while we work. Take your valuables with you. We’re not responsible if anything goes missing during the day.”

“I know.” The landlord had already said the same thing on the phone yesterday.

“Alright. Leave me a spare key. Pack up your things. Cover the bed with a sheet, because there’ll be a lot of dust. I’ll send workers tomorrow at eight in the morning to start tearing the tiles.”

After the repairman left, Chu Baiyan began packing. The workers would come in the morning, but he couldn’t use the bathroom that night anyway. He didn’t have much to take.

He packed his clothes into a suitcase, flattened the blanket, covered it with a sheet, then put a duvet cover over the sofa.

He cleared the desk, put small items into drawers, poured out the water from the “No Berry Troubles” cup and placed it in the wardrobe. He picked up the “Mermaid” plate and put it there too. When he closed the door, he felt uneasy, then opened it again and tucked the plate inside the suitcase between layers of clothing.

After checking the room to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything, he pulled his suitcase outside. When he stepped out of the elevator and left the building, he turned back. The windows of nearby homes glowed with light, but his own window was completely dark.

It was almost ten. The courtyard was quiet and empty. He pulled his suitcase toward the budget hotel outside the complex.

During the day he had looked up options online. He had thought about staying in a nearby homestay, but they only had large rooms, and the prices were high.

The budget hotel at the gate had discounted rooms. They had no windows and little space, but it was enough for sleeping at night.

The wheels of the suitcase made a loud sound against the pavement in the quiet night. The hotel was near “Starfish Pottery,” so it would be easier to visit Yan Anqing these few days.

He was thinking about that when he passed “Starfish Pottery” and looked up by instinct. His eyes met Yan Anqing stepping out the door, and his feet stopped.

“Why are you here now?” Yan Anqing turned off the shop lights and was about to lock the door. Through the glass, he saw Chu Baiyan walking toward him and rushed out.

“The bathroom at home needs repairs. I’ll stay at the hotel up ahead for a few days.” Even in the dim light, he could see the happiness in Yan Anqing’s eyes.

“Don’t stay at a hotel.” Only then did Yan Anqing notice the suitcase in his hand.

“Didn’t you come to see me?” He stepped forward and grabbed the handle of the suitcase, his voice sounded disappointed.