SG 35

After hanging up, Chu Baiyan shared his apartment address. Lu Ran replied with an “OK” emoji. The previous chat record was still from Lunar New Year, when Lu Ran had sent a “Happy New Year” message.

Chu Baiyan scrolled further up. Almost every message between them was just holiday greetings. Saying they had drifted apart because they went to different universities was only a polite excuse they both used for a friendship that had faded.

So much time had passed that the real reason no longer mattered. No matter what had happened, they still grew up together. Since Lu Ran came to see him, Chu Baiyan had no reason to refuse.

After the last afternoon performance, he took a shower and changed his clothes. When he came out, he saw a message from Lu Ran saying that he had already gotten on the subway forty minutes ago.

Chu Baiyan hurried back. Before he even reached the entrance of the complex, he saw Lu Ran sitting on his suitcase and waving at him from afar.

“You’re still the same, haven’t changed at all.” Lu Ran stood up and jokingly punched him on the shoulder.

“How long have you waited?” Chu Baiyan swiped his access card and walked inside the complex with him. Lu Ran looked more muscular than before, but his face hadn’t changed much.

“I just got here. The subway exit’s right next to your place, it’s pretty convenient.” Lu Ran wiped the sweat from his forehead. Late July was the hottest time of year. Even in the evening, the air was heavy with heat.

People were returning from their outings. The complex buzzed with noise, full of families walking together.

“Looks like a lot of people live here.” Lu Ran followed him into the elevator.

After pressing the twentieth floor button, Chu Baiyan explained, “There’s an ocean park across the street. Many people rent out rooms here for tourists. It’s summer vacation, so the complex gets crowded.”

When they entered the apartment, Chu Baiyan took two bottles of water from the fridge and handed one to him.

“You still haven’t got a girlfriend?” Lu Ran put his suitcase down and looked around. Everything about the place screamed single life. He unscrewed the cap and gulped down half the bottle. His throat burned after not drinking water since getting off the train.

“Don’t worry about me. What about you? You two were doing fine, why’d you break up?” Chu Baiyan changed the topic. He had met Lu Ran’s girlfriend once during their freshman winter break when he’d gone to visit. They had dated through college, and Lu Ran had even chosen to stay in the same city for work because of her.

“Ah…” Lu Ran let out a long sigh. “It’s complicated. We’ll talk while we eat. It’s been ages since we met.”

“Wash your face. I’ll take you to dinner.” Chu Baiyan took a new towel from the wardrobe and tossed it to him.

They left the complex, and Chu Baiyan first went to a nearby restaurant to pack a portion of stir-fried noodles with egg and a bowl of pumpkin porridge.

“You bringing that home?” Lu Ran glanced at the food in his hand. It didn’t look like enough for two people.

“It’s for a friend. I’ll drop it off and tell him first.” Chu Baiyan had bought it for Yan Anqing. If Lu Ran hadn’t come, he would’ve eaten dinner with him as usual.

He hadn’t called earlier because Lu Ran wasn’t just staying one night, and he knew he’d have less time over the next few days. He preferred to explain in person.

“This way.” When they arrived at Starfish Pottery, Chu Baiyan tilted his head slightly toward the door and went in first.

The familiar “Welcome” rang from the sensor at the entrance. Yan Anqing looked up. He had been waiting for Chu Baiyan.

“Was it busy this afternoon?”

“Yeah, three groups of customers came one after another.” It was the busiest time of day. Seeing him come back late made Yan Anqing happy anyway.

“Baiyan, the shop owner’s your friend?” While Chu Baiyan greeted him, Lu Ran walked around the store. It was full of handmade ceramic pieces.

Yan Anqing had been focused entirely on Chu Baiyan. When he heard another voice, he finally noticed the man standing behind him, partly hidden by a shelf.

“This is my childhood friend, Lu Ran. He’s looking for work. We’re going out for dinner tonight. I didn’t want you to wait, so I came to tell you first.”

Chu Baiyan gave a brief introduction and carried the food box into the back room. “I brought dinner for you. Eat first. I’ll watch the shop until you’re done, then I’ll go.”

“Come have a drink with us. We’re all friends here.” Lu Ran looked at the shop owner. He seemed about their age, so he figured Chu Baiyan must have met him recently.

“The shop can’t be left unattended.” Chu Baiyan declined for him. More importantly, he knew Yan Anqing could never sit in a crowded bar.

“Are you coming back tonight after dinner?” Yan Anqing opened the food box and took a bite of noodles.

“After dinner, I’ll take Lu Ran to the hotel. If it’s still early and you haven’t closed, I’ll come back.”

“What hotel?” Lu Ran looked confused.

“I booked one for you. It’s nearby.”

Lu Ran slapped his shoulder. “Come on, what’s with the formality? We’re brothers. Why waste money? I’ll crash at your place for a few days.”

Yan Anqing stopped eating. He stared at Lu Ran’s hand resting on Chu Baiyan’s shoulder.

“I only have one bed.” Chu Baiyan’s apartment was just over thirty square meters. The sofa was a small two-seater, not big enough to sleep on.

Lu Ran laughed. “Back in high school, when your dorm roof leaked, you crashed in my bed. A single bed fit both of us. Your bed’s big enough for two guys.”

He didn’t even know yet if he’d find a job, so he didn’t want Chu Baiyan wasting money on him. He knew Chu Baiyan just didn’t want to seem rude, but to him, it didn’t matter. Two men sharing a bed was no big deal.

“No.” Yan Anqing spoke quickly, forgetting about his meal.

Chu Baiyan had been thinking of how to refuse without making it awkward, but that one word from Yan Anqing froze both him and Lu Ran.

“You can’t share a bed with him. You can stay at my place.” Yan Anqing didn’t mean it as a suggestion. It was a statement. He said exactly what he thought.

Lu Ran looked at him again, confused. Even if they were good friends, wasn’t this a bit much?

“Alright. I’ll stay there tonight. Finish your food.” Chu Baiyan agreed right away. Since Lu Ran had already refused the hotel, and he couldn’t share a bed with him either, staying at Yan Anqing’s was the best solution.

When they left Starfish Pottery, Chu Baiyan found a nearby barbeque stall that had good reviews. They sat down and ordered a pile of skewers and six bottles of beer.

“Your shop-owner friend’s interesting.” Lu Ran opened a bottle and filled both glasses.

“His name’s Yan Anqing. The ‘Yan’ from color, the ‘An’ from peace, the ‘Qing’ from bamboo. He owns that pottery shop. He’s a craftsman. His personality’s like that, but he’s a good person.” Chu Baiyan gave a short explanation without going into detail.

“If he invites you to stay at his place, you two must be close.” Lu Ran raised his glass and drank.

“It’s been more than two years since we met, right?”

“Yeah. Last time was the summer after sophomore year.” Condensation formed on the cold glass. Chu Baiyan rubbed it away with his thumb.

Lu Ran already knew about the fight with the stepson. He had gone to see him before Chu Baiyan left home and told him to ask for help anytime. Since then, Chu Baiyan had never gone back and had never seen him again.

They stayed silent for a while. That summer had been one of the worst memories for Chu Baiyan. He had never liked talking about anything related to his family.