Chapter 25 – Stay Then

Due to the earthquake, school was closed on Monday, allowing Li Tang to have a long overdue lazy morning. Upon waking up and checking the news, he learned that there were only injuries reported and no fatalities, which lifted his spirits instantly.

After finishing his ablutions and heading downstairs, Li Tang was thinking about the sandwiches left in the fridge that he could take with him on the go. He had agreed to help Jiang Lou fix the cracks in his house walls last night, which meant another day spent with Jiang Lou. The thought brought a smile to his face that he couldn’t wipe away.

However, his good mood didn’t last long.

When Li Tang reached the ground floor and saw Li Yuanshan sitting on the couch, the corners of his mouth fell quickly.

Li Yuanshan also wore a stern expression. “You slept through the earthquake until noon. No wonder your grades aren’t improving.”

He must have heard about the results of the previous monthly exam.

Li Tang didn’t blame his mother for telling him; after all, the test papers had been laid out on the table during the parent-teacher conference. There was nothing that Li Yuanshan wanted to know that could be kept from him.

Li Tang remained silent and headed straight for the fridge.

When he saw Li Tang take out a sandwich, Li Yuanshan had an opinion. “I just got off the plane and haven’t eaten breakfast yet. Let’s eat together.”

Pausing momentarily, Li Tang had no choice but to put the sandwich back.

Ten minutes later, they sat down for the meal, and Zhang Zhaoyue joined them at the dining table, making it a rare gathering of the three family members.

During the meal, Li Yuanshan asked about yesterday’s earthquake, and Zhang Zhaoyue said, “Nothing serious. Earthquakes happen frequently in Xucheng, and the residents here are accustomed to them.”

Li Yuanshan snorted. “In my opinion, this place has bad feng shui. Fortunately, I didn’t move my office here. Yesterday, I couldn’t even buy a plane ticket and had to wait at the airport overnight.”

His words were laced with disdain for Xucheng, but Zhang Zhaoyue showed little reaction. Lowering her eyes, she scooped some porridge from her bowl with a spoon, her voice calm. “This small town can’t compare to the imperial capital. Next time something like this happens, don’t rush back home so anxiously. Safety comes first.”

Hearing these words, Li Yuanshan felt a sense of comfort. He then proceeded to inquire about the health check-up results from yesterday. Zhang Zhaoyue assured him everything was fine, and he nodded, turning to Li Tang. “School is closed today. Are you going out?”

Li Tang was chewing on a steamed bun like wax when he heard this and responded with a simple “Hmm.”

Li Yuanshan indeed didn’t want him to go out. “Aren’t you always clinging to your mother? Now you’re always running around outside.”

Li Tang thought to himself that Li Yuanshan used to complain that he was too clingy to his mother and didn’t act like a man. He had encouraged him to go out more and make friends.

When Li Yuanshan noticed the injury on Li Tang’s hand, his brows furrowed even tighter. “What happened to your hand? Did you get into a fight with a classmate at school?”

Before Li Tang could speak, Zhang Zhaoyue interjected on his behalf. “Yesterday, during the earthquake, he protected me and accidentally bumped into something. He’s such a good boy; how could he get into a fight with someone?”

Li Yuanshan’s expression relaxed, and his tone softened. “Then rest at home today. Even a minor injury is still an injury.”

Li Tang had no rebuttal and could only agree.

Fortunately, Zhang Zhaoyue helped him cover the lie; otherwise, Li Yuanshan would have dug deeper. Even if Li Tang explained it was due to his own carelessness, he wouldn’t have avoided a scolding. For instance—another fall? How can a boy be so delicate?

Li Tang didn’t know about other families, but in their household, Zhang Zhaoyue had always helped him “escape” trouble since he was young. Despite his hazy memories, Li Tang couldn’t forget how Zhang Zhaoyue would come to his defense when he was beaten as a child, or how she would plead for leniency when he was locked in a dark room, saying, “If this continues, it will ruin the child.”

With Zhang Zhaoyue around, Li Tang didn’t need to lie.

Although now, lying had become a habit of his.

Perhaps this was the reason why he couldn’t leave his mother and became a “mama’s boy.”

Li Tang lowered his head and scooped some porridge from his bowl, feeling relieved yet unable to hide his disappointment.

He needed to send a message to Jiang Lou, informing him that he couldn’t make it.

The unexpected holiday passed quickly. The next day, as Li Tang was heading downstairs with his backpack, he saw Li Yuanshan getting ready to leave at the entrance.

Just as he was about to ask where he was going, Li Yuanshan answered without prompting. “I’m going to school with you to meet your teachers.”

Zhang Zhaoyue unusually accompanied them to see them off. Once they were in the car, Li Yuanshan rolled down the window and said to Zhang Zhaoyue outside, “Everything will be taken care of. Don’t worry.”

Li Tang found it strange that Li Yuanshan already knew everything about his academic situation. What did he need to personally handle at school?

Clearly, Li Yuanshan had no intention of keeping Li Tang informed. At school, Li Tang led Li Yuanshan to the teacher’s office where his homeroom teacher was located. Li Yuanshan shook hands with Teacher Liu and exchanged pleasantries before they even began talking. Then, with a single glance, he said to Li Tang, “Go back to your classroom and study hard. Don’t always cause others to worry.”

“…”

Li Tang had no choice but to retreat from the office.

Later, Li Yuanshan left during the break between classes.

Before leaving, he stood outside Class 1, Grade 2 and scanned the room, looking not only at where Li Tang was seated but also glancing at the back row.

It was a familiar expression of impatience that Li Tang recognized, the kind that appeared when faced with troublesome matters.

But no matter how much Li Tang pondered, he couldn’t figure out what he had done to displease Li Yuanshan again.

Could Teacher Liu have told Li Yuanshan about his reluctance to participate in morning exercises?

It shouldn’t have come to that.

During the extended break between the second and third classes, Li Tang intended to meet Jiang Lou during the morning exercises. However, while lining up in the corridor, someone shouted loudly, “Jiang Lou, Teacher Liu wants to see you!”

Jiang Lou left the formation and headed toward the teacher’s office.

Li Tang grunted and puffed his way through the 1,200-meter run. By the time he returned to the classroom, Jiang Lou was already at his seat.

Taking out his phone, Li Tang sent a message to Jiang Lou: What did the head teacher want with you?

Jiang Lou didn’t reply, most likely because his phone was turned off.

The citizens of Xucheng, still shaken from the recent earthquake, had forgotten that it was Christmas Day. Only the young people who were enthusiastic about foreign holidays remembered, and during lunchtime, some classmates bought colorful balloons. After inflating them, they hung them on the classroom doors, window frames, and around the blackboard.

It came as a great surprise to the teachers when they entered the classroom in the afternoon. Teacher Liu rushed over upon hearing the news and lectured them about playing instead of focusing on studies. But despite his harsh words, he couldn’t help asking if there were any balloons left to decorate the teacher’s office as well.

Following that, he announced that there would only be one class during evening self-study that day.

The classroom erupted with excitement. In front of the homeroom teacher, students started discussing where they would go after school, and the sound of calling out friends filled the air. Teacher Liu feigned seriousness as he tapped the podium, “We’re letting you leave early because we’re afraid of aftershocks. We didn’t declare it a holiday!”

Of course, it was merely a pretense. With many festivals at the end of the year and young people loving to play, teachers, who had once been young themselves, didn’t want to dampen the students’ spirits.

During the evening self-study session, Li Tang finally received a response from Jiang Lou: Nothing important.

It was practically no answer at all. Li Tang pursed his lips and turned his attention to the matter at hand—the Christmas celebration. He didn’t press further.

He sought Jiang Lou’s opinion: After class, let’s go to the city center together, okay?

Earlier, he had checked on his phone and found that the malls in the city center hadn’t been affected and were still open for business that day.

And although they had been dating for over a month, they hadn’t had a proper date yet.

While Li Tang was naturally more of a homebody, he still wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to do what other couples did and spend time outdoors with Jiang Lou.

However, Jiang Lou seemed not to catch on to his intentions: Why go to the city center?

Li Tang reminded him: Today is Christmas.

Jiang Lou: Oh, a date.

Through the screen, Li Tang couldn’t gauge his thoughts—was he happy or unhappy? Did he actually want to go?

He had no choice but to probe further: We won’t watch a movie, just stroll around and find a place to eat.

After waiting approximately five minutes, Jiang Lou replied with two words: Sounds good.

To avoid other students, after class, the two watched two buses bound for the downtown area depart from the school’s back gate. They waited until there were almost no people coming in or out of the gate before boarding the third bus heading towards the mall.

The neon lights along the way sparkled brilliantly, and music echoed through the air. People dressed in thick coats and cotton-padded jackets bustled through the streets and alleys. The atmosphere was so lively that it was difficult to associate the current scene with the earthquake that had occurred just days ago.

Perhaps there was also a sense of relief after surviving the disaster.

Again realizing that humans were a species adept at forgetting pain, Li Tang slowly exhaled from his lungs, leaving a white mist on the window.

Unfortunately, he forgot that the festive atmosphere also meant crowds.

Arriving at the mall in the city center, Li Tang was startled by the surging sea of people even before entering.

All four entrances of the mall were open, and nearly every shop had a sign announcing that they would be open until midnight. However, this did little to alleviate the pressure of the crowd. Outside the mall, people were packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and inside, it was even more crowded. Li Tang and Jiang Lou took the escalator to the third floor, intending to find a restaurant for a meal. However, each restaurant was fully booked. When they asked the staff at the door how long the wait would be, they were given estimates of over two hours.

It was almost 9 pm now. Eating dinner at 11 pm was more like having late-night snacks than an actual dinner.

The video game arcade was even more crowded, with people fighting over the use of a single game machine as they passed by. Even the clothing stores were jam-packed, giving Li Tang the feeling of being in a tourist attraction during peak season.

He hadn’t forgotten that Jiang Lou couldn’t hear clearly in noisy environments and would experience anxiety as a result. Seeing that they had circled around without finding a place to sit, Li Tang decisively retreated, shouting to Jiang Lou, “Let’s go downstairs first!”

They took the stairs in the emergency exit to avoid the noise. A couple who feared the commotion was hiding and kissing on the staircase. As they walked past them, Li Tang was careful not to disturb them, barely breathing. When they reached the first floor and faced the full-length mirror on the wall, Li Tang realized that his entire face was flushed red.

At this time, more people were leaving than entering, so the first floor was relatively quiet. Embarrassed, he lowered his head and continued walking forward. However, when he heard the sound coming from the speakers, Li Tang stopped in his tracks.

Directly ahead was the main stage of the mall. Perhaps it was a performance arranged by the mall. At that moment, a dozen children were lined up in three rows on the stage, singing.

First, they sang “Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way,” followed by “We wish you a merry Christmas.” The children’s tender and melodious voices and their bright, sunny smiles easily calmed the agitation in Li Tang’s heart, bringing a sense of peace.

Li Tang paused in front of the stage to listen for a while, with Jiang Lou standing beside him.

As the second song came to an end, Li Tang turned his head and asked Jiang Lou if he had ever heard this song.

Jiang Lou leaned close to his ear and said, “Merry Christmas.”

Then, smiling at him, he asked, “Can the teacher please comment on whether this pronunciation is standard?”

It was certainly standard, so standard that Li Tang’s ears burned.

On their way out, Li Tang noticed that there were only seven or eight people in line at the outdoor window of the fried food store. Immediately, he asked Jiang Lou, “How about we have that? What do you think?”

Jiang Lou said yes, and Li Tang rushed over, hastily throwing out the words, “Wait for me here.”

Unfortunately, this time, his calculations were off again.

Although there were few people in line at the outdoor window, there were plenty of dine-in customers. Orders were prepared in sequence, so although Li Tang seemed to be eighth in line, there were actually more than thirty orders ahead of him.

Thus, Li Tang stood in the queue and waited…and waited. After a full twenty minutes, it was finally his turn to place an order.

It took several more minutes from ordering to receiving the food. Finally, after half an hour, he held the freshly cooked skewers of fried meat in his hands.

Li Tang ran all the way back but couldn’t find Jiang Lou.

Looking around, he couldn’t spot Jiang Lou anywhere.

Li Tang started to panic. He called out Jiang Lou’s name loudly, but the only responses were strange looks from strangers and the echoing emptiness in the depths of his heart.

He began weaving through the crowd, searching while simultaneously dialing Jiang Lou’s phone number.

There was no one in the stairwell, no one in the restroom, no one near the stage, and no one in the nearby shops…Reluctantly, he ventured outside. On the spacious square, people moved back and forth, making it akin to searching for a needle in a haystack to find one person amidst the crowd.

Listening to the busy signal on the phone, Li Tang suddenly realized that for seventeen years, he seemed to have been constantly searching for someone. As a child, he searched for his mother, and now, he searched for Jiang Lou.

He had once heard a phrase—those who truly love you won’t make you worry. But what was this? Why was he always searching and always afraid of losing?

When the call was finally answered, Li Tang felt a mix of relief and confusion.

He asked, “Where are you?”

There was no response on the other end of the line.

Someone patted Li Tang on the shoulder from behind. Turning around, he saw Jiang Lou, shrouded in a chill, holding a large, fluffy cotton candy.

They returned home by taking the bus, sitting in their usual spot at the back by the window.

Li Tang handed the paper bag containing the fried meat skewers to Jiang Lou. “Eat first.”

When Jiang Lou took the paper bag, his fingers touched Li Tang’s hand. He froze for a moment, not moving. Li Tang asked him what was wrong, and he regained his senses and withdrew his hand.

Li Tang finally had the chance to examine the cotton candy.

When he was younger, Li Yuanshan had strict rules and didn’t allow him to eat street vendor food like this. Therefore, Li Tang had only seen cotton candy but had never tasted it.

Twirling the wooden stick in his hand, Li Tang held his breath and focused his attention. He wondered how there could be food that resembled clouds, so soft and so light.

The texture was also incredible. It melted the moment it touched his tongue, leaving no trace except for the lingering sweetness in his mouth. It would make one feel as if they hadn’t eaten anything at all.

Jiang Lou was observing as well.

He saw Li Tang staring intently at the object in his hand, first circling it and then extending his tongue to slowly and solemnly lick it.

So focused, it was as if he wasn’t tasting a five-yuan street-side cotton candy but rather an expensive three-star Michelin delicacy.

As the cotton candy dissolved on his tongue, Li Tang’s eyes suddenly widened. Turning around, he exclaimed in delight, “It’s so sweet!”

The neon lights outside reflected in his pupils, and his radiant smile was dazzling to the point of blinding.

Jiang Lou disliked sweets and declined Li Tang’s invitation to taste it.

He opened the paper bag containing the fried food. Along with the oil fragrance, a strong spicy aroma rushed into his nose.

The smell was overwhelming, and eating it was even more stimulating. Jiang Lou took a bite and chewed slowly, then suddenly curled the corner of his mouth.

It was the level of spiciness he enjoyed. A normal person wouldn’t be able to tolerate a single bite.

Just how much seasoning did they add? Did they pour an entire bottle of chili powder into it?

By the time they reached the foothills of the mountain where Jiang Lou’s house was located, Li Tang reluctantly licked off the last bit of cotton candy, threw the wooden stick into the trash can by the roadside, wiped his hands clean with a tissue, and then followed Jiang Lou uphill.

Jiang Lou said, “No need to see me off. You should hurry back.”

Li Tang countered with four words: “I’m already here.”

Since he was already there, why not see him all the way to the doorstep?

An hour ago, the confusion caused by not being able to find Jiang Lou seemed to have been diluted by the pervasive sweetness. At that moment, Li Tang only wanted to stay with Jiang Lou, even if it was just for one more minute.

As if hearing his wish, the sky began to rain as soon as they arrived at the doorstep of Jiang Lou’s home.

Unlike the drizzle of the previous two days, this winter rain was fierce. The raindrops were large and dense, falling like hailstones. The wind was also strong, causing the windows to rattle fiercely.

Jiang Lou grabbed an umbrella from inside the house and opened it. “Come on, I’ll see you down.”

Halfway down the slope, they saw the convenience store owner waving a flashlight at them and shouting, “It’s slippery and dangerous. Don’t come down until the rain stops!”

They had no choice but to return the same way.

The earthquake two days ago had loosened the surrounding soil. The torrential rain at this moment washed the mud down, covering the few green stone slabs that served as footholds. It was even more slippery and rugged than when Li Tang first came here, making it difficult for him to take a step.

Facing the onslaught of the storm, the umbrella offered minimal protection. Even though Jiang Lou had tilted the umbrella toward Li Tang, Li Tang was still drenched by the rain.

Struggling back to Jiang Lou’s house, standing under the eaves at the entrance, Li Tang wiped his face and said somewhat speechlessly, “Other people have snow on Christmas, but we have a heavy downpour.”

Jiang Lou put away the umbrella, shook it, and placed it by the door. “That’s why I told you not to see me off. It rains for nearly half the year in Xucheng.”

Actually, Li Tang wasn’t complaining. He simply thought that snow and Christmas went well together. Since Xucheng didn’t have snow, how unfortunate.

He didn’t dislike the rain, especially when it allowed him to stay a little longer.

“What should we do…Brother,” Li Tang said. “I can’t go back.”

This was the first time he used the new term of endearment. His voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum, uncertain if Jiang Lou had heard it.

After saying it, he felt embarrassed first. Raising his hand, he touched his ear and looked away.

Jiang Lou heard it, heard it very clearly.

Because it was so clear, it made him recall the events at school during the day. His homeroom teacher had called him to the office and informed him that someone was willing to sponsor his full tuition until he graduated from university. The indescribable feelings he experienced at that moment came flooding back.

How could he not know who the sponsor was? That morning, when Li Tang and the man in the suit got off the car and walked into the campus, Jiang Lou had seen them clearly.

He also witnessed the man’s glance as he passed by the classroom door, as if looking at a beggar on the side of the road or excess garbage at a recycling station.

Who benefited from this “charitable sponsorship” was clear to Jiang Lou.

So he rejected it.

He found it disgusting.

Therefore, when facing the son of those two people, Jiang Lou couldn’t remain calm. He even set aside his plans and, for the sake of temporary pleasure, wanted to mess with him, make him cry, and make him sad.

But when standing outside the mall and seeing Li Tang frantically searching for him through the glass like a headless fly, with the phone ringing continuously in his pocket—it was Li Tang calling—he didn’t feel any joy or satisfaction. Instead, he felt it was meaningless and utterly boring.

Only tears weren’t enough. He should be made to sob uncontrollably, plunging from heaven into hell.

So Jiang Lou gave up halfway. He bought a cotton candy from the nearest stall and ended the game of hide-and-seek.

So, while standing under the pouring rain, depending on him, Jiang Lou heard Li Tang’s longing and responded accordingly.

Reaching out, he brushed aside the hair soaked by the rain and met the wet eyes of the little fox.

“Stay then,” Jiang Lou said.

Who made you so easy to please.

Who made your hands feel so cold.