SG 51

Panting from the long journey, Grandma breathed heavily. She caught her breath, and since the workshop wasn’t a place to talk, she waved her hand to fan herself and said, “I’ll go upstairs to drink some water.”

“Okay.”

Yan Anqing let go of her hand and went upstairs with Grandma to unlock the door.

Chu Baiyan followed quietly behind them. He knew there was no way to avoid coming out today. From the moment his coworker noticed something, to the moment he sent Lu Ran the full surveillance video, Chu Baiyan had already been prepared to come out to the people around him.

He had planned to wait until things calmed down, then go with Yan Anqing to Grandma’s house and explain their relationship. He hadn’t expected Grandma to come over first and catch them directly. And the reason Grandma came here so early in the morning was most likely because she saw that video.

When he thought about that, his heart suddenly dropped.

As soon as they entered the house, Yan Anqing took his own cup and went to the kitchen to make Grandma a cup of fruit tea.

“Grandma, drink some water.”

“Baby even buys his own fruit tea now?” Grandma took the cup and looked around. The room looked completely different from the last time she came. There were traces of another person’s life here.

“He bought it.”

Yan Anqing looked toward Chu Baiyan.

There were only three people in the room, and Grandma knew right away he was talking about Chu Baiyan.

She looked at the slippers on Chu Baiyan’s feet, then the large-sized loungewear draped on the back of a dining chair. She controlled her emotions and asked, “Baby, your relationship with Xiao Chu is this good now? The house not only has his slippers but also his clothes.”

“We’re not just good friends now, we’re lovers.”

Yan Anqing didn’t hide anything from Grandma and answered honestly. Afraid that she wouldn’t understand, he explained, “Like the couples in movies, the kind that kiss.”

He didn’t suspect anything. He had planned to tell Grandma about this anyway, it just came out earlier because she came before they expected. Since he was little, Grandma had always supported whatever he liked or wanted to do. She would surely like the person he liked.

Just like when he was a kid, when he firmly believed that the “son of the sea” would come ashore to find him, Yan Anqing eagerly shared his happiness, held Chu Baiyan’s hand, and told Grandma with certainty, “I like him, and from now on we’ll be together, we’ll never be apart for life.”

The cup in Grandma’s hand slipped slightly and almost fell to the floor.

Yan Anqing’s words crushed the last bit of hope she had. What she had worried about since entering the house had now become reality. Her baby never lied, and no one knew better than her how much weight every word he said carried.

To others, “love” and “for a lifetime” might be mere romantic expressions uttered casually in love, but not Yan Anqing. He possessed an unwavering devotion to the things he loved, and his life was meticulously planned and rigorous.

When he classified someone as someone he liked and included them in his life plan, that person was already very important to him, someone he would never let go of. There was no reasoning with it, he only accepted what he wanted to accept.

She took a sip of tea. The sweet and sour taste calmed her nerves. Controlling her emotions, Grandma forced a small smile. “I understand, Baby. Go downstairs and make pottery. I’ll talk with Xiao Chu for a while.”

After the door closed and the sound of Yan Anqing’s footsteps faded down the stairs, Grandma finally turned to look at Chu Baiyan, who hadn’t said a word.

“You two…” She paused. “Is it really like what Baby said?”

“Yes. I’m with Anqing now, and it’s the kind where we’ll never separate for life.”

Chu Baiyan looked straight into her eyes and answered seriously.

“Xiao Chu, how old are you? And you’re talking to me about ‘for life’? Anqing looks like a ‘normal’ autistic patient, but he might always live in his own world. He might never be able to communicate or understand people like others do. I thought last time I came, I made myself very clear.”

“To gain something and then lose it hurts more than never having it. Once he knows what it feels like to have someone by his side, it’ll be hard for him to bear that person leaving. Have you thought about what’ll happen if one day you get tired, if you grow bored of this life, if you want to leave, what will Anqing do?”

Faced with Chu Baiyan’s sincerity, Grandma’s emotions slipped a little out of control. She didn’t deny that he was a good kid. She could feel from Baby’s emotions these past few months how much happier he’d been. Anqing didn’t think too much about things, when he liked someone, he just liked them, without conditions.

But Chu Baiyan was normal. Did he understand what it meant to be with Anqing? Did he know what responsibility came with it? Even normal couples, men and women who marry and have children, couldn’t guarantee “for life.”

They were both men, and one of them had autism. When he said “for life,” what could he use to prove it?

“Grandma, I know everything, I’ve thought it through, and I’m serious. I chose to be with Anqing because I love him, and I can feel the love he gives me with no reservation. It’s a kind of love even my parents never gave me.”

“Being with him isn’t about me only giving or taking care of him. I won’t get tired, and I won’t grow bored. I need him too. In some ways, Anqing also takes care of me.”

Chu Baiyan had also found healing in this relationship. Only with Yan Anqing did he feel like he was needed and cared for. Being filled with love, the cracks left by his past slowly healed, and his life became vivid and full of hope.

“You can trust me with Anqing. I don’t want to make fake promises, but whatever I have, whatever I can do, I’ll give it all to him.”

His voice trembled a little. This wasn’t a good day to come out, because Grandma had seen that video, which meant he hadn’t protected Yan Anqing well.

“Ha…” Grandma sighed. She had been a teacher for over 30 years and had seen countless people. She could tell when someone’s words were genuine or false, sincere or perfunctory.

“Xiao Chu, Baby was raised by me alone. No one knows better than I do how hard it is. Even his own parents couldn’t handle it. This is endless care, and he’ll never be able to give back like a normal lover. How long can you keep this up?”

“Even normal couples with marriage certificates and kids can’t make it for life. You two are men, and society’s opinion is harsh. Anqing has autism. How can I not worry?”

What she cared about wasn’t their orientation but how much determination Chu Baiyan had.

Even while she questioned him, her tone had softened a lot.

In this life, being able to see Anqing live independently without relying on anyone already made her feel at peace. If she had one more wish, it would be that when she and her husband were gone, there’d still be someone to stay with Anqing, to take care of him, to show him different sides of life.

So when she heard Chu Baiyan’s words, she couldn’t say she wasn’t moved. She wanted nothing more than for Anqing to live well and be happy. Her only regret was the fear that after she was gone, Anqing would be too alone in this world.

“My relationship with Anqing is about mutual attraction and mutual need. I’m not ‘enduring’ anything, I’m enjoying this love. He lives in his own world, but I’m part of that world.”

What he didn’t say was that his own world also only had Yan Anqing. Yan Anqing was never his burden, but his treasure.

“Anqing doesn’t care what others think, and I don’t care either. This is the path we chose ourselves. No matter how hard it gets, I’ll walk it with him.”

The sudden quiet made the space calm again. Chu Baiyan handed her a tissue.

Grandma dabbed the tears at the corners of her eyes and took a sip of water to moisten her throat. She didn’t continue the topic but returned to the reason she came today. “What’s with that video online? I came mainly to ask about that.”

Chu Baiyan explained what happened and showed her the footage from his phone.

Grandma took out her reading glasses from her small bag, watched the video carefully, and then asked, “Does Baby know?”

“Anqing doesn’t know. He didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t want him to find out. These days, I’ve been worried that daytime customers or vloggers might disturb him. He can’t handle that, so I told him to keep the store closed during the day and make pottery in the workshop. When I come back at night, we open again.”

After watching the video, Grandma finally felt a shiver run down her spine. If Chu Baiyan hadn’t arrived in time that day, Yan Anqing wouldn’t have been able to handle that situation. They’d only opened the shop so Anqing could have something to do, earn a little money, and enjoy life. They’d never thought he might run into such people.

“Maybe Baby should close the store and rest for a few days until things calm down. There are too many people at the shop, and the things they say might trigger him.”

She remembered how when he was little, after being mocked and pushed by others, he’d cover his head and scream. That memory was a thorn she could never pull out.

But this time was different. He wasn’t facing it all alone anymore. Someone stood in front of him and told him not to be afraid.

“I was thinking the same thing. The storefront’s too exposed. The place I rent is inside a community, and Anqing’s already moved there these days.”

“There’s security and access control in the community, regular people can’t get in. The situation’s still bad now, and before you came, I was already discussing with Anqing about closing the shop for a few days starting tomorrow,” Chu Baiyan said.

Grandma had wanted to suggest he move back home, but since Chu Baiyan had already arranged everything, she didn’t say more. “Good, as long as you’ve thought about it. Don’t worry about money. I’ll transfer him some when I get back.”

When Yan Anqing was eighteen, she and his grandfather had already gone to the notary office to make a will, leaving their savings and house to him. They had saved a lot of money from their retirement savings over the years, and they opened this pottery shop just so that Yan Anqing could do something he loved and have a better quality of life.

“No need, Grandma, I’m here. I can make money.”

Chu Baiyan waved his hand quickly.

Grandma looked at him and didn’t insist. She said worriedly, “What should we do now? That person is confusing right and wrong, and the news has spread all over the internet.”

“I posted a clarification video, but it hasn’t spread much yet.”

Chu Baiyan opened the video Lu Ran made and handed it to her.

From the day of the incident to the follow-up and the clarification online, Chu Baiyan had handled everything carefully. The things she thought of and didn’t think of, he had arranged them all properly.

From that perspective, there was nothing to criticize.

Grandma finished watching the video and took off her glasses.