Su Tang stayed with Qian Zhu for nearly half a month, and he ate and played everyday, unrestrained. He acted just like an Emperor and was always together with Qian Zhu, a first-class beauty. In the end, Su Tang nearly forgot about his mission.
There were two rocking chairs in the courtyard and Su Tang laid on one of them. His whole body was soft like liquidâhe looked just like a hamster that had eaten its fill and was turning into water.Â
Flowers continuously fell, and his body was soon covered by yellow petals, but Su Tang didnât want to move. It was only when Qian Zhu reminded him did he slowly turn his body over. As if this movement exhausted all his strength, he let out a soft sigh of relief and then continued to lie down like a hamster in its liquid state.
Qian Zhuâs heart slowly filled with happiness as he continued to stare at him; this was his first time seeing someone like Su Tang, who spoke in a soft and sticky tone and even laid down like his whole body was soft. It was adorable beyond words.
Su Tangâs eyes were half-lidded when he felt like there was someoneâs gaze on him. When he opened his eyes to check, he realised it was Qian Zhu. Qian Zhu was probably staring at him because of how lazy he was, and so Su Tang embarrassedly explained, âTurning over is too tiring, en.â
Qian Zhu gave him another look, his expression unreadable. Su Tang thought he was being criticised and grew anxious. His self-confidence decreased, but what was said had already been said, and he had no choice but to continue on. âIt could be that because Iâm growing, itâs easier for me to get tiredâŚâ
Su Tangâs face turned red. He felt that the lie heâd told could be easily seen through, since even he himself didnât believe what he said.
In the end, Qian Zhu nodded his head and said, âThen you need to rest well.â
Su Tang didnât think Qian Zhu would agree with him, and his mind went blank. When he returned to his senses, he felt that Qian Zhu was only saying that to let him save face1.
âThank you. Iâll pay attention.â Su Tang awkwardly said.
âEn.â Qian Zhu nodded.\n
Then the two didnât say anything after that.
Quiet and peaceful times always passed quickly. After Su Tang woke up from a short nap, he realised the sun was about to set. His body was covered by a piece of clothing that belonged to Qian Zhu. It was clean, without a single flower petal on it.
His mind was still groggy, so he didnât think much of it and slowly got up. Only then did he realise that the petals surrounding the rocking chair were unusually high. It was obvious that Qian Zhu had helped him sweep away the flower petals that had fallen.
His heart suddenly felt a surge of warmth, and when he wanted to say something to Qian Zhu, he found that the other had already left the courtyard without his knowledge. Su Tang wasnât worried. Instead, he squatted and used his hands to fiddle around with the petals on the ground.
The accumulated volume of petals was very thick and traces could be seen when written with his finger. As he snapped out of his daze, Su Tang realised that heâd unknowingly written out Qian Zhuâs and his own name together.
He was stunned and wanted to quickly wipe them away, but then he remembered that Qian Zhu wasnât around, thus he continued to admire his handiwork.
His own name was smooth and upright, unable to be considered either pretty or ugly. And yet, it couldnât be compared to Qian Zhuâs knife-like font. It matched with his own name, but for Qian Zhuâs name, it looked extremely awkward.
âNot good, not good.â Su Tang muttered to himself, using his hand to rub away Qian Zhuâs name. Though he wanted to write it again, he didnât because he couldnât translate Qian Zhuâs power into his name.
Su Tang started to grow confused. Even after recalling the strokes needed to write Qian Zhuâs name, he only made several gestures and didnât actually write it. Just as he was about to give up, a pair of slender hands held his.
The hands had a familiar temperature and smell, so Su Tang didnât even need to turn around to know who it was.
âWhy donât you make a sound when youâre walking?â Su Tang asked.
âI was afraid to disturb you.â Qian Zhu replied. âWhat do you want to write? Iâll teach you how.â\nâDidnât⌠I didnât really want to write anything.â Su Tangâs focus was on the hand Qian Zhu was holding and his mind was in chaos. For whatever reason, he couldnât bear to tell Qian Zhu that he actually wanted to write his name.
âBut I saw you write and then erase it. You were preparing to write it again.â Qian Zhu said.
âNoâŚâ Su Tangâs voice got weaker when he thought that Qian Zhu might have seen all of his little movements, but he also wasnât sure if the other saw what he wrote, hence his unwillingness to answer.
âOh?â Qian Zhu raised his eyebrows and said, âCould it be that you were writing the name of the person you admire and shyly hid it away so that even brother Qian Zhu canât see it?â
Su Tang heard what he said and his face turned extremely red. He was just writing Qian Zhuâs name casuallyâhow could it be admiration? But if it wasnât admiration, why was he so ashamed to let Qian Zhu see?
He seemed to be in an endless loop he couldnât escape; Qian Zhu and the word âadmirationâ were looped together, and though he wanted to seperate them, he realised he couldnât.
Qian Zhu saw Su Tangâs confused appearance and couldnât hold back his laughter. He had great vision and had long seen whose name Su Tang was writing. His heart was filled with joy and he wanted to tease Su Tang a little; before, heâd found that not teasing Su Tang was fine, but after teasing him, he realised that it was interesting.
To Qian Zhu, this matter was like the heavens had dropped a pastry on his head, and it left him dizzy for a while. After he recovered, he felt that he should carefully hide this pastry away and then secretly eat it later.
It was a pity that his little pastry would say one thing and mean another2. No matter how he asked, the little pastry was unwilling to speak the truth. Qian Zhu knew that he couldnât be too hasty with his actions, nevertheless, pushing when suitable was still necessary.Â
He bent down and looked at Su Tang with a smile, âOkay la, I wonât tease you anymore. Come, brother Qian Zhu will teach you how to write those two words.â
Su Tangâs face was red and he hurriedly raised his head. He wanted to take back his little hand but Qian Zhu held it tightly. Qian Zhuâs hand covered Su Tangâs as he lifted his wrist and exerted some force before writing âQian Zhuâ3Â with thin, powerful strokes.Â
âDo you remember how to write it now?â Qian Zhu asked.
\nQian Zhu was smart, therefore he could tell what Su Tang was thinking from the start. In his heart, he wanted to laugh but couldnât. He wanted to tell Su Tang directly, yet he didnât know how to say it.
He suddenly remembered a time in the human realm when heâd seen a child drawing stick men, so he did just that and drew two stick figures under their names.
Su Tang watched him draw and had his curiosity piqued. He looked on for a while before laughing. Who would have thought that the cold and aloof Qian Zhu knew how to draw these little things?
He soon became unable to laugh because Qian Zhu drew them tightly holding each otherâs hands. 6
âThisâŚâ Su Tang couldnât speak for a while.
Qian Zhu raised his head and said, âEn?â
âThis drawing is so ugly.â Su Tangâs face turned red and he refused to look at the other.
Qian Zhu only smiled and softly laughed, not calling out Su Tangâs obvious lie. He said, âJust wipe it away.â
âDonât!â Su Tang hurriedly grabbed Qian Zhuâs hand. He wanted to say more, but then realised the other was just playing around. When he grew unhappy and furrowed his eyebrows, Qian Zhu said, âDonât be angry. If you like it then thereâs no need to erase it forever.â
âIâŚâ Su Tang wanted to keep speaking but didnât dare to. In the end, he bent his head and looked at the drawing of the two stickmen holding hands, along with the two names written above them. His heart started to race.
Qian Zhu clasped his hand and laced their fingers together, holding it gentlyâjust like the two stickmen.
Sunlight scattered all around them, and two figures stood in the orange light; their silhouettes made it look as if a young boy was holding another boyâs hand and kissing his face.