SG 36

The silence was broken when a variety of skewers of meat, fragrant with cumin and chili peppers, arrived on a sizzling iron plate. Lu Ran picked up the roasted pork belly and slurped the whole thing into his mouth. “This place is delicious.”

“Try the grilled chicken gizzards. They’re marinated before grilling, so they’re very flavorful.” Chu Baiyan loved the texture of their grilled gizzards.

Lu Ran ate another skewer of gizzards. He lifted his glass and poured the rest of his beer into his mouth. Then he picked up where he had left off that afternoon. “I went to Xing Yue’s hometown during New Year. Her parents weren’t very happy with me.”

Chu Baiyan didn’t interrupt. He refilled Lu Ran’s glass.

“They didn’t ask for much. They just wanted me to buy an apartment in the city where I work. You already know what my family’s like. My parents have been working odd jobs for years. The family housing got demolished and compensated with one apartment. All our savings went into adding space and decorating it.”

His face dimmed when he said it. His parents had wanted him to go back home after graduation since the house was already there. Staying in Haicheng had been something he had fought hard for, but when it came to buying a house, his parents couldn’t help him at all.

Some things couldn’t be explained in a few words. Even after talking for hours, Lu Ran couldn’t sum it up clearly. Aside from the house, Xing Yue’s parents had also been unhappy with his job.

Once cracks appeared, every little thing made the crack wider. Both of them were trapped between two sets of parents.

After chewing a few skewers to calm himself, Lu Ran sighed and said, “It’s all in the past. Xing Yue went home. Her parents found her a stable job.”

He took another big gulp of beer. After a pause, he said slowly, “That’s good.” He took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and passed the pack to Chu Baiyan.

“I don’t smoke.” Smoking affected lung capacity, and Chu Baiyan, who dove every day and needed to hold his breath for long periods, couldn’t afford that habit.

“So what made you come to Jindu for work?” He grabbed the opener and opened another beer.

“My parents want me to go back. Go back for what? I haven’t even returned yet, and they already sent me two blind dates on WeChat. They told me to start talking to them.”

Lu Ran shook his head and exhaled smoke. “I don’t want to start anything new right now. If I went back, they’d nag me to death every day. Staying away means they can’t control me.”

“My seniors said our field’s doing best in Jindu. Most of the top companies are here. The pay’s good too. So I came to try. And this city’s nicer to live in than Haicheng.”

“How are you doing here?” Lu Ran only knew that Chu Baiyan had come right after graduation. He had posted once on social media, but Lu Ran didn’t know the details.

“Not bad. I work at the ocean park across the street.” Chu Baiyan took a sip of beer but didn’t go into details.

“No wonder you live here. You can walk to work.” Lu Ran raised his glass to him. “You’re going to have to put up with me for a while.”

“There’s no putting up with anything. I can’t help much besides giving you a place to stay. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll stay at Yan Anqing’s for now. His place has two rooms.”

“You always make things complicated. Two guys could’ve just shared your bed.” Lu Ran felt a bit touched. Out of all their old classmates and seniors in Jindu, only Chu Baiyan would let him stay like this.

Chu Baiyan smiled. “The apartment’s tiny. Two people can barely move inside. You’ll sleep better alone. I stayed at his place before too, when my bathroom was being repaired.”

Lu Ran didn’t argue. What he said was true, and it was thoughtful of him to arrange things so neatly. More skewers came, and they kept eating as they talked.

Although they were no longer as close as they were before college, it didn’t mean they had nothing to talk about just because they hadn’t been in touch for a few years.

“Now I’m single too, and you’re the only one I know here. I’ll come to you for drinks. Don’t get sick of me. It’s been forever since I talked this freely.” Five empty bottles already sat on the table. Lu Ran opened the last one and poured them both another glass.

Back in college, he had spent all his time on his girlfriend. That good friendship had ended up reduced to holiday greetings, and he knew part of the blame was his.

“When your shop-owner friend’s free, ask him to join us sometime.” Lu Ran’s head was getting light, and his words came faster.

“Oh, and by the way, I might as well tell you. I guess karma’s real.”

He ate a skewer of grilled potato slices. “Your dad and his second wife had a daughter. She’s just over one year old. The stepson from before’s been fighting about it nonstop. My mom mentioned it when we talked.”

Chu Baiyan’s face didn’t change. “He’s afraid no one will bury him when he dies.”

They talked a bit more. When they finished the last beer, the skewers were almost gone too.

“It’s late. Let’s head back.” Chu Baiyan checked his phone. It was past nine. He called the waiter and paid the bill.

The summer night breeze blew past them, cooling off the leftover alcohol. When they passed a convenience store, Lu Ran went in and bought a few daily necessities.

By the time they returned to the complex, the windows of the buildings were all lit up. The families out for walks had gone home. The area was quiet except for a few people walking down the tree-lined path.

“Damn, people here are bold. Two guys making out right on the street.” Lu Ran nudged him and motioned ahead with his chin at the pair of men embracing and kissing in front of them.

Chu Baiyan saw them too. He said calmly, “You still have such a problem with gay people.” Lu Ran’s words pulled him back to four years ago.

During the first winter break of their freshman year, his university had ended three days earlier than Lu Ran’s. Lu Ran had invited him over to hang out before going home together. That was when Chu Baiyan had met Lu Ran’s girlfriend, Xing Yue, and had dinner with them.

While serving her food, Lu Ran had said, “You have no idea how unlucky I am. There’s a gay guy in our dorm.”

Chu Baiyan had blinked. “So what? How does that bother you?”

“He’s got a boyfriend. Since they’re both guys, the dorm supervisor doesn’t stop them. They lock the door and shower together in the bathroom all the time. Who knows what they do in there? It’s disgusting.”

Lu Ran hadn’t noticed the change in his face. He had finally found someone to rant to and didn’t stop.

“Man, just thinking about it makes me sick. If I see him on the street now, I turn the other way.”

In high school, Chu Baiyan had already suspected he wasn’t like other boys. When Lu Ran watched adult videos with excitement, he never reacted. When other boys started chasing girls, giving flowers and gifts, he felt nothing like that.

He confirmed it during freshman year. There was a gay student in his class whose boyfriend was in another department. They ate together and studied together. He came out to everyone without shame. That was when Chu Baiyan realized he might like men too.

He never forgot the look on Lu Ran’s face when he said, “Just thinking about it makes me sick.” That winter break, he had planned to come out to his best friend before going home together. But after hearing that, he decided not to. There was no point in disgusting him.

After that, he kept his distance. Lu Ran had been busy with his relationship anyway, so the friendship had naturally drifted apart.

When Chu Baiyan finished, Lu Ran laughed awkwardly. “I didn’t mean it like that. Back in college, I was stupid and narrow-minded. Now I get it. Who someone likes doesn’t affect me.”

The couple ahead of them had already disappeared from view. They entered the elevator, and Chu Baiyan didn’t continue the topic. He knew that if the couple had been a man and a woman, Lu Ran wouldn’t have reacted at all. He would’ve thought it was normal.