SG 9

The shop door opened from inside and closed again. Chu Baiyan stepped out right at the last minute and hurried toward the aquarium. It was supposed to be just an appointment to keep watching the making of the plate, yet for some reason, he felt like he was going on a date.

Yan Anqing continued refining the figure on the worktable. The sculpture he had started couldn’t wait until the next day to continue. Even with perfect storage, the surface of the clay would still lose its texture over time. Once it hardened slightly, the lines carved later would no longer match those carved before, and after firing, there would be visible breaks in the pattern.

The image of that person was already fixed in his mind. Even without Chu Baiyan there, he could still use his knife to reproduce his features precisely. When the face took shape, he examined it carefully. It was more detailed than the first version, every part nearly perfect.

By the time his alarm rang, an hour had passed. The head of the “merman” was complete. He placed it in a sealed box to keep the moisture. Then he stood up, washed his hands, changed clothes, and walked through the long underground passage. Less than an hour after parting, the two met again.

The next day was Saturday. Chu Baiyan arrived even earlier than the day before. He was not usually an early riser, but since he kept thinking about it, he woke up naturally before the alarm rang. When he heard the sound of “Welcome” again, and he entered “Starfish Pottery,” Yan Anqing turned his head briefly through the glass, looked at him once, and then went back to his work.

Yan Anqing was taking the fired ceramics out of the kiln. When Chu Baiyan came in, several finished pieces were already lined up on the table.

“Do you need help?” Chu Baiyan picked up a mug decorated with cherries. The shape was the same as his “No Berry Troubles” cup.

“What’s this one called?” It looked like it belonged to the same series, but he hadn’t seen this pattern on the shelves before.

“‘Cherry Because of You.’”

Chu Baiyan laughed and turned the mug in his hand. “You’re really good at naming these.”

After removing the last piece from the kiln, Yan Anqing looked at the cup in his hand and explained seriously, “A customer suggested it. She wanted six, but not two of the same. She asked me to design a new one called ‘Cherry Because of You.’”

Then he picked up another. “And this one–‘Peach Your Heart.’”

Chu Baiyan took the peach-patterned mug from him, his smile reaching his eyes. Yan Anqing was too honest.

“Help me pack these finished pieces with the trays on the second shelf against the wall and put them in the cabinet outside.” Yan Anqing didn’t think there was anything funny about the cups. Since Chu Baiyan had offered to help, he didn’t hesitate to assign him a task.

To be exact, the word “polite” didn’t exist in his mind. He only said what he meant. Likewise, when others spoke, he always took their words at face value.

The table was full of ceramics of various sizes, enough to fill two trays. Normally, Yan Anqing had to make two trips, but with Chu Baiyan there, they finished in one.

Chu Baiyan held both ends of the tray carefully, taking small steps so he wouldn’t drop and break anything.

The lower part of the display shelf had been built as a cabinet with doors. Most customers focused on the upper shelves, and few bent down to look near the floor, which also reduced the risk of accidentally kicking the items. As cabinets, they became practical storage. Chu Baiyan looked closely and thought the design was clever.

Yan Anqing crouched, set the tray down, opened the cabinet, and began placing the ceramics inside one by one. He didn’t mix everything in one space but sorted them according to their display section, so each type could be restocked easily.

Normally, after organizing the kiln pieces, Yan Anqing would go eat breakfast. But today, there was Chu Baiyan.

“I’m going to eat breakfast.”

“Perfect. I haven’t eaten either. Let’s go together.” In his mind, that meant buying food at one of the stalls across from the complex, and he thought he could treat Yan Anqing today.

“I eat upstairs.”

Only then did Chu Baiyan realize he had misunderstood, and he felt a little awkward.

After a pause, Yan Anqing said, “You can come upstairs and eat with me.”

“Upstairs?” After that misunderstanding, Chu Baiyan didn’t dare assume anything this time.

“I live upstairs. Breakfast’s ready.”

Many shop owners divided their storefronts into two levels, but Chu Baiyan hadn’t expected Yan Anqing to live alone in his store. He had just said he hadn’t eaten and suggested eating together. Refusing now and saying he’d buy food outside would sound too forced.

There was a staircase in the workshop. Since the lower area was used for shelves and unfinished ceramics, it was easy to overlook the staircase at first glance.

After opening the door for him, Yan Anqing changed into slippers and looked at his shoes. “Can you take your shoes off? It’s hard to mop.”

Chu Baiyan stepped onto the wooden floor in socks and looked around. The space above was the same size as the shop below. It was spotless. From the doorway, he could see the entire layout. There were no walls, just a row of wardrobes dividing the bedroom and living area. The floor’s low height limited sunlight, but the furniture was all in pale colors, making the room look clean and bright.

The kitchen was right by the entrance, separated by a folding glass door. The buns were already steamed in the electric steamer. Yan Anqing used chopsticks to take out two, placed them on a plate, then took two more from the refrigerator, put them in, and pressed the button again. Two eggs sat inside an egg cooker. One was meant for lunch, but he could always boil another later.

“Help me carry the mung bean soup.” He turned and called out.

Chu Baiyan quickly walked to the counter. Two bowls of mung bean soup were already waiting there.

Yan Anqing took out a jar of rock sugar, added some to his own bowl, then spooned a little into Chu Baiyan’s. “A bit of sugar makes it taste better.”

He wasn’t asking for agreement. He just assumed that if he liked it, the other would too. His grandma used to drink it unsweetened, but when he tried it once, it tasted terrible.

When Chu Baiyan carried the bowls to the table, Yan Anqing had already set down a plate of buns and two eggs. Chu Baiyan hadn’t expected him to cook for himself.

“You made the buns?” He bit into one. The minced pork filling had bits of diced mushroom. The flavor was rich and light.

“Grandma made them. Aunt Zhou brought them to me yesterday.” Yan Anqing stirred his soup to dissolve the sugar, then took Chu Baiyan’s bowl and stirred it for him too.

Chu Baiyan became more curious. From what he said, his grandma lived in the same city.

“You don’t live with her?”

“This is my home.” Yan Anqing took a big bite of his bun. His cheeks puffed up like a small squirrel’s.