SG 56

“Did you get off work? I looked at the time and called when you were supposed to finish. Can you talk right now?” Lu Ran said.

“I got off work. I just came back with groceries and entered the complex.” Chu Baiyan switched the plastic bag to the hand not holding the phone.

“I saw several clarification videos during lunch. One of them looked really professional, and the angle wasn’t the same as the surveillance version you sent me.”

“There were two customers in the store at the time. They recorded it on their phones and posted clarification videos too, but most of them cut off the first part. We followed each other. I’ll send you his video.”

While he spoke, Chu Baiyan glanced around. There was a bench for residents not far under a tree. He walked over, sat down, and placed the groceries beside him. He opened the kind customer’s account and sent Lu Ran the video.

“The footage matches, but it’s not this version. The clarification video I saw was posted by a big account with over a million followers.” Lu Ran had his laptop open, and his WeChat was logged in on it. He clicked the video Chu Baiyan sent. It was the same one, but the version he saw had been re-edited later.

“Send it to me. I’ll ask that customer tonight and see if he knows anything.”

Lu Ran shared the video he saw and asked, a little awkwardly, “I haven’t visited recently. Is Yan doing okay?”

“The pottery shop’s closed for now. Too many people came just to take photos for clicks. He couldn’t stand being in there, so I told him to shut it down and rest for a few days.” Chu Baiyan sighed lightly. The ‘Closed for now’ sign on the Haixing Pottery door was something he printed and taped himself.

“That’s better. Peaceful. I figured he’s not someone who can handle messy stuff like this. It’s good you’re helping him. You two…” Lu Ran trailed off.

Chu Baiyan looked at the ornamental pond to his left. A few lotus leaves floated on the surface. He guessed what Lu Ran wanted to ask and said, “If you want to ask something, just ask. There’s nothing I can’t say.”

“You…” Lu Ran chose his words carefully because he didn’t want to sound abrupt. “Are you and him in that kind of relationship?”

He had already sensed something while making the video. No matter how close two friends were, they wouldn’t hug like that. When he saw Chu Baiyan punch that man for bullying the other, he could feel the emotional outburst through the screen. Friends could hug, but not like that.

Lu Ran hadn’t asked before because he knew Chu Baiyan’s mind was a mess. He didn’t want to add fuel to the fire. He only brought it up now because things were starting to turn around, and the moment felt right.

“Are you asking if we’re lovers?” Chu Baiyan finished his sentence and smiled. “Yeah. He’s my boyfriend.”

That answer was both expected and unexpected. Chu Baiyan had never dated any girl from high school through college. Lu Ran always thought it was because of his family, so he never gave it much thought. Now that he had the answer, he didn’t know what to say next.

“I didn’t tell you before, not because I wanted to hide it. I just knew you didn’t like gay people, so I didn’t want to disgust you by bringing it up.”

“Come on, that’s not disgusting. I said that stuff when I was young and stupid. I didn’t think before talking.” Lu Ran scratched his head awkwardly. He remembered how last time, when they saw two men kissing near the complex, Chu Baiyan had asked, ‘You still have a problem with gay people?’ He suddenly realized how deeply his careless words from freshman year had hurt.

“I never really hated them. It was that old roommate who annoyed me. He was too inconsiderate. Even if it was a guy and a girl, I wouldn’t want to see them making out in the dorm. People should have some awareness.”

Lu Ran rubbed his neck. He used to have trouble understanding gay people, but by junior year, when he rented a place off campus, he met a gay couple who were both alumni. They were normal, easy to get along with, and decent people. He learned that character and orientation weren’t connected.

“I really don’t mind you and Yan. Last time we had dinner, I even thought you two looked so natural together. There was this chemistry between you.”

Now that he thought about it, that was exactly what couples had. Lu Ran laughed twice. “No wonder you said dating doesn’t have to be with a girl. I’m thicker than a cable.”

There was no need for flowery words between brothers. Chu Baiyan could tell Lu Ran truly didn’t mind, and that was enough. He continued, “I just hope this whole mess ends soon. When you come over next time, we’ll take you out to eat.”

“I think public opinion’s about to flip. It’s like dominoes. Once the first one falls, the rest follow. Now that big accounts are sharing it, the reach is growing. That other influencer’s gonna get what’s coming.”

Lu Ran tried to comfort him. He had also shared clarification videos before, but they went nowhere.

When Chu Baiyan returned home, more than an hour had passed. He took off his jacket and grabbed the apron hanging on the side of the fridge. When Yan Anqing saw him, he hurried over from the chair to help tie the straps, naturally assuming Chu Baiyan couldn’t tie the back on his own.

Yan Anqing wasn’t nearly as skilled at tying knots as he was at pottery or drawing. He fumbled with the straps for a while and ended up with an ugly bow. The black apron almost covered the white tank top, showing his strong shoulders and arms. The strap was too tight, and his solid muscles filled the apron completely.

At first, Yan Anqing stood quietly watching Chu Baiyan wash vegetables and cut them. After a while, he couldn’t resist and leaned closer. He slipped his arms under the apron, wrapped them around his waist, and pressed his face against his back.

“I told Lu Ran about us,” Chu Baiyan said while cutting the vegetables.

“Hm?” Yan Anqing didn’t get what ‘us’ meant.

“I told him you’re my boyfriend.”

“Why’d you tell him?”

“Because being gay isn’t something most people accept easily. Lu Ran’s been my friend since childhood. I want him to understand.” After cutting ties with his family, Lu Ran was the only friend he had left. If he couldn’t get acceptance from family, getting it from a friend was still something.

“I’m the one who likes you. I’m the one who wants to be with you. I don’t need anyone’s approval.” When Chu Baiyan spoke, the vibration in his chest spread through his back, making Yan Anqing’s cheek tingle. Distracted, he reached under the tank top and touched Chu Baiyan’s abs.

“You still want dinner or not?” Chu Baiyan held his hand down.

Of course he wanted dinner. He was in a good mood after eating his favorite food. After they finished eating, Yan Anqing volunteered to wash the dishes. Chu Baiyan sat on the couch and opened Douyin. He had received several more replies from influencers willing to repost his message.

He opened the kind customer’s profile and asked about the video being re-edited and reposted by a big account. The person probably wasn’t online. He waited a bit but got no reply. Then he kept sending private messages to other influencers. Every repost brought him closer to turning public opinion around.

Half an hour later, the helpful customer replied with a voice message.

“The clarification video I posted didn’t get any views, so I asked a friend who knows this stuff to take a look. He said my version wasn’t good and had someone remake it. He also said my account didn’t have enough traffic, so he asked another person to post it.”

After saying that, he added, “You can just call me Xiao Xia.”

Fortunately he had asked Brother Xiao Ke for help. Professional work needed professionals. He had meant well but didn’t achieve anything on his own. After Brother Xiao Ke had the video redone and reposted, it immediately went viral. Xiao Xia had seen it everywhere that day.

“My coworkers and friends have all seen the clarification videos now. I don’t even know how to thank you for all your help.” Chu Baiyan hadn’t expected Xiao Xia to go that far, finding someone to remake the video and contacting a big account to share it. Gratitude wasn’t enough to describe what he felt.

“No need to thank me. If people stay silent when they see this kind of thing, it just encourages those freeloading influencers. Honest, kind people don’t deserve to be bullied. Shameless influencers like that deserve to hit a wall.”

Typing was troublesome, so Xiao Xia sent another voice message. Freeloading influencers acted arrogant because they had followers and traffic. They controlled the narrative and punished store owners who didn’t give in. All he did was a small favor.

“Brother Xiao Ke heard about Starfish Pottery and got interested in the handmade ceramics. He was disappointed when he learned the shop’s closed. He hopes things calm down soon. When it reopens, I’ll bring him to visit.”

“Alright. When it reopens, you’ll be the first to know,” Chu Baiyan replied.

“Can we add each other on WeChat? I don’t check Douyin much and might miss messages.” Xiao Xia sent his WeChat ID.

Chu Baiyan added him and noted that he was the boyfriend of Starfish Pottery’s owner. He figured Xiao Xia probably already knew their relationship. Since they were already connected privately, there was no point hiding behind the word ‘friend.’