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Chapter 14: Half Sugar Milk Tea
On Saturday morning, Yue Zhishi woke up earlier than he usually did and helped Lin Rong prepare breakfast. His slight cold from yesterday still lingered, and he coughed for a while after drinking some milk. He listened to Lin Rong’s urging and took some flu medicine. After a little while, Song Yu came downstairs and departed after eating some pieces of shaomai. Yue Zhishi immediately left the kitchen once he heard the front door close.
“Aunt Rong, I’m leaving now too.”
Lin Rong hurriedly came out. “You don’t want to eat some more? Or are you guys going to a fancy place for lunch?” She noticed Yue Zhishi’s deep black zip up hoodie and facial mask and said, “Darling, are you going to someone’s birthday party or to a fight?”
“I’m going to be late, can’t talk!” Yue Zhishi gathered all of his stuff and ran out as fast as he could.
This city’s breakfast culture was engraved deep into each person’s bones — it was always busiest during the early morning. No matter what street or alleyway, there would be breakfast stores of varying different sizes and their endless stream of customers waiting for their favourite meal.
Small shops didn’t have much space to begin with, so naturally there weren’t many rules on where to sit or stand. People casually stood on the street with their bowls of food, chatting while they ate. Students rushing to go to class would even hold a bowl of dry noodles or beancurd and eat while they walked, finishing their meal right before they got onto their buses or trains. That was their unique ability to survive.
Passing through a street full of smoke and chatter, Yue Zhishi finally saw Song Yu at the streetlights.
Maybe because he needed to make a speech, he wore a formal black shirt tucked into his pants with the cuffs half rolled up. His long legs and narrow waist were even more obvious in this outfit, making him particularly conspicuous in the crowd.
Yue Zhishi didn’t want to attend his classmate’s birthday party to begin with, so once he knew Song Yu needed to make a speech, there was almost no way he would’ve attended the celebrations. But since Song Yu had refused to let even his parents come along, there was no way Yue Zhishi would’ve been allowed either.
So Yue Zhishi had no choice but to stoop to secretly following him. The venue should be full of people anyway, and there was no way Song Yu would be able to find him hidden in the midst of so many people.
The light turned green, and the two people walked forward with ten metres of distance separating them into the subway station. Initially Yue Zhishi had worried Song Yu would call a taxi, but thankfully Song Yu decided to take public transport — or else he would’ve been like one of the actors in the movies and have to tell his taxi driver to follow the car in front of them.
Yue Zhishi managed to cram into the train carriage right behind Song Yu’s at the very last moment. He hid behind an old man’s head and peeked at Song Yu, the old man curiously following his gaze before turning back to look at him with a face full of suspicion.
Yue Zhishi pulled up his hood and took half a step back. He then pulled out his phone and changed his cover from just hiding behind the old man to pretending to be another office worker browsing on his phone.
The city’s Line 2 carriages were all decorated with girly pink colours. Even the poles were pink, so Song Yu standing in the train with his black clothes had a very strange sense of subversion around him, like his own natural barrier isolating him to the rest of the world. Yue Zhishi kept looking over and didn’t realise that he himself was also standing there with his own black clothes.
They were pretty much two obvious little black dots in the midst of pink bubbles.
The bubbles burst when the two little dots needed to exit. The older one was in front, with the younger one hid behind crowds of people as he followed. They got off at a subway station with many exits and just as many people. When going up the stairs, a young mother was in front of Yue Zhishi, and she was carrying a large backpack, one hand pulling an even larger suitcase and the other pulling at a three or four-year-old child. There were several times she needed to pause and rest.
“Ah really… excuse me, please let me through.” A white collar office worker behind them said a few words, clearly annoyed, and detoured around the mother to keep rushing upwards.
“I’m sorry.” The young woman pulled her child closer and turned sideways. “You guys can go first.”
Yue Zhishi was initially very far back, but he had followed those hurrying to leave and had quickly climbed the stairs until he finally reached the young mother. “Let me help you.” He directly lifted the suitcase and walked next to her. The young mother kept thanking him, and the child was also very cute, little face leaning over to say thank you.
The stairs were very long. By the time Yue Zhishi reached the top, put down the suitcase and looked ahead, he already couldn’t find Song Yu.
Damnit, I completely forgot about following him.
In his field of vision, people were hurrying about, the entire area in a panic. Yue Zhishi stretched out his neck and looked all around him, but was completely unable to find even Song Yu’s shadow. He tried walking forward a little bit and turned around in circles again and again until he unexpectedly reached a chain milk tea store near the subway station exit. There was a lost and found counter next to the store, but unfortunately he didn’t lose anything. There was no staff at the counter either.
He’d just lost the person he was following.
Guess there was no way he can watch the speech now.
Yue Zhishi tried very hard to cheer himself up and not let himself get too disappointed. Sweets were great at making people feel better, so he decided to buy a cup of milk tea before going home and pretending this trip was an early walk.
“Welcome, what would you like to order?”
“Hm…” Yue Zhishi looked at the menu. “Green milk tea with pearls and coconut jelly, half sugar.”
After he ordered, he reached into his pants pocket only to find it was empty.
It seemed like he left his cellphone on the couch.
Seeing the shop assistant was already busying around with his order, Yue Zhishi frantically searched his entire body, hoping he accidentally left some money in these clothes the last time he wore them.
But no matter how he searched, his pockets were empty. At this very moment, he wished a big hand would appear behind him, pick him up and wildly shake him around just to have something fall out.
The shop assistant pushed his milk tea towards him with both hands. “Hi, here’s your milk tea.”
“Ah, thank you.” Yue Zhishi didn’t know whether he should take the drink or not, his hand pausing in midair.
A slight smile appeared on the shop assistant’s face. “How would you like to pay today? Cash, Alipay or WeChat?”
Yue Zhishi’s ears started to heat up. It looked like he was seriously pondering his options, but in reality his entire brain was evaluating the possibility he would be allowed to return home to get some money before coming back. “Uh…”
“WeChat.”
A familiar voice came from behind him.
He abruptly turned his head and saw Song Yu holding out a barcode on his phone, face cool. After he scanned his barcode, he took the milk tea, pushed through a straw and drank a big mouthful. He then turned around and left, acting as if Yue Zhishi didn’t exist at all.
“Hey…” Yue Zhishi circled around him. “My milk tea…”
Song Yu frowned slightly, stopped and looked at the cup of milk tea in his hands with a bit of dislike. “So sweet.”
Is half sugar still considered sweet. Yue Zhishi didn’t make a noise and only watched as Song Yu extended out his hand and pushed the milk tea over. Yue Zhishi immediately took it with both hands and closely followed behind him. “How come you’re here?”
Song Yu pointed at the counter next to the milk tea store behind him. “Lost and found.”
Yue Zhishi glanced over quickly before immediately turning back. He saw Song Yu raise an eyebrow and ask, “Why were you following me?”
“I…” Yue Zhishi’s words were momentarily caught in his throat. But he’s never been able to hide anything from Song Yu, so he said, “I just wanted to come have a look. I wouldn’t have bothered you before going home by myself afterwards. You didn’t let Uncle or Auntie come, so you definitely wouldn’t have let me come with you either. I had no choice but to secretly follow you.” He then said in a small voice, “Besides, you didn’t even tell me.”
They left the station together side by side, the bright sunlight falling onto their bodies and causing Song Yu to squint. “Tell you what?”
“That you were participating in the city’s Best Three election speech.” Yue Zhishi took a sip of his drink. “I almost didn’t find out.”
Song Yu calmly said, “I don’t notify people who have prior engagements.”
Yue Zhishi felt like Song Yu’s words held a double meaning, but his first reaction was to deny them. “I didn’t!” He got a bit angry at the reminder and stubbornly, straightforwardly continued on, “I didn’t say I would go. Song Yu gege, you always misunderstand me, just like last time at the school infirmary…”
A bicycle raced past the sidewalk where they were walking. Song Yu’s eagle eyes saw the bike coming and swiftly grabbed Yue Zhishi’s forearm to pull him towards his body in order to dodge the danger.
“I know.” Song Yu let go of his arm. “Watch the road, you little social butterfly.”
Song Yu was mocking him, right. He has to be.
Just as Yue Zhishi was about to explode from anger, Song Yu said, “Next time you stalk me, make sure you bring your cellphone.”
Song Yu gazed at the faraway traffic lights and stepped forward when the lights changed colour. “I won’t look for you if you get lost again.”
Hearing the word ‘again’, Yue Zhishi’s anger completely disappeared.
When he was five-years-old, he once followed Song Yu to the park to play. He had wanted to eat some ice cream, so Song Yu had gone with him to buy some for him. A man selling balloons had passed by, hand holding a bunch of beautiful balloons. A fish-shaped balloon had caught Yue Zhishi’s attention, and he’d followed behind that man. By the time Song Yu finished paying and turned around, Yue Zhishi had completely disappeared.
If Song Yu hadn’t found a park worker to broadcast Yue Zhishi’s name, it was unknown if Yue Zhishi could’ve been found.
That experience taught Yue Zhishi the fear of getting lost and being alone. But he didn’t actually know what kind of memory it left for Song Yu.
He only remembered that when the park worker held his hand and brought him to meet his gege, Song Yu’s face was still wet from his tears.
That was the first time, and only time, he saw Song Yu cry.
The city’s Youth Association Auditorium was chosen to be the venue for the day. Workers sat at the entrance to check people in, everyone lining up to enter. A pair of parents accompanying their daughter stood in front of Yue Zhishi.
“We’re her family. Yes, we’re her mom and dad.”
After they left, the worker looked at the two of them, staring especially at Yue Zhishi’s face for a few seconds.
Song Yu produced his identification, and the worker nodded before pointing at Yue Zhishi. “And this is your…?”
“Family member,” Song Yu said.
Yue Zhishi thought about that pair of parents. They were the real family, and he actually couldn’t be considered as part of Song Yu’s. But it felt like there was no better way to describe him — if Song Yu said he was his younger brother, that even narrower description would fit even less.
The worker’s face was slightly suspicious, but he nodded his head anyway and gave Yue Zhishi an observer pass. “After you go in, the volunteers will lead you to your seat.”
“Thank you.”
Yue Zhishi sat in the back, surrounded mostly by parents. His presence was particularly noticeable.
After Song Yu helped settle him in, he prepared to leave the spectator seats to head towards his own area. Yue Zhishi saw two people appear behind Song Yu, both of them good-looking. The one on the left was especially handsome, and two small tiger teeth peeped out when he smiled. He looked particularly bright, his good lucks and aura completely opposite of Song Yu.
That person soundlessly walked to Song Yu’s side and bumped his shoulder with his own. “I haven’t seen you in a while!”
Song Yu looked over, face unmoving. “Xia Zhixu.” He then glanced further backwards and noticed the refined and clean looking boy standing next to Xia Zhixu. He nodded, and the boy returned the same motion.
They greeted each other so peacefully.
“You and Xu Qichen both came. Jingjian took up two spots with one class?” Song Yu asked.
“Don’t recklessly accuse people~ Qichen and I split up in 2nd year, he’s humanities stream and I’m science stream. If other people heard what you said, they’ll think our Jingjian High was shady,” Xia Zhixu said, holding familiarly onto Xu Qichen. “But we were in 1st year last time I saw you in the high school basketball tournament, so it makes sense you don’t know about us separating.” He moved his gaze to Yue Zhishi after he finished speaking, his face still carrying a smile.
Yue Zhishi could feel the interest in that gaze. He stood up from his seat. “Hi, senior.”
“This is…” Xia Zhixu looked at Song Yu and waited for a response.
Yue Zhishi didn’t wait for Song Yu to reply and mimicked what he said earlier. “I’m his family member.”
He sneaked a look at Song Yu right after, but he couldn’t catch anything from his expression.
“Family member?” Xia Zhixu found something funny in those words and didn’t refrain from laughing until Xu Qichen nudged him with an arm. “Sorry, my thoughts just went a bit skewed. It’s just that the two of you don’t look similar at all. This little brother should be mixed, right? He’s so pale, and his eyes are so pretty.”
He looked at Song Yu as he spoke, words probing. “Maternal cousin? Or paternal cousin? Don’t tell me he’s a child from your next-door neighbour.”
“I live with his family,” Yue Zhishi rushed to answer. But his thoughts were still stuck on the part of the conversation he didn’t understand, so he frankly asked, “What skewed thing did you think of?”
Song Yu gave him a look, and Yue Zhishi added a ‘senior’.
“Well… you know.” Xia Zhixu attempted to change the topic of conversation. He quickly looked at Song Yu before turning to say to Xu Qichen, “It would be great if I had such a cute little brother. I’ve always wanted one.”
Yue Zhishi said he wasn’t Song Yu’s little brother, but unexpectedly, no one responded. The silent Xu Qichen suddenly spoke to Xia Zhixu, “Me too.”
The topic of little brother seemed to be unavoidable. Yue Zhishi gave up trying to explain.
Xu Qichen looked at him with a slight smile on his delicate, pretty face. “You still haven’t said your name.”
Yue Zhishi kept thinking this older brother’s eyes were quite hazy, almost like those characters in manga with sad backstories. His brain hunted for a better description for a few seconds. The word ‘melancholy’ seemed more appropriate.
Seeing how Yue Zhishi didn’t immediately respond, Xu Qichen introduced himself again and even reached out a hand. This was quite serious to Yue Zhishi, as there weren’t many 3rd year high school seniors who would introduce themselves like this to a junior high school student.
He immediately held his hand and honestly confessed, “I’m sorry, I got a bit distracted just then.” He then replied, “I’m Yue Zhishi.”
Xu Qichen lightly repeated his name, the smile in his eyes growing deeper. “Good rain knows the right season.”
“I like that verse too, but I wasn’t born while it was raining,” Yue Zhishi said.
Song Yu glanced at him.
You weren’t born while it was raining, but you arrived here in the rain.
Xia Zhixu interrupted them. “You really need to stop analysing people like you always do. If I have to say,” he said, pointing at Yue Zhishi. “You two are ‘stones from other hills’,” and then pointed at Song Yu, “‘may polish jade’!”
Yue Zhishi widened his eyes. It felt as if he understood something incredible and was very happy about it.
“What are you babbling about.” Song Yu used the upcoming speeches to stall Xia Zhixu’s follow-up teasing, and the three of prepared to leave, leaving behind Yue Zhishi who was still enjoying Xia Zhixu’s words.
“Just sit here. Don’t go anywhere,” Song Yu said before leaving.
Yue Zhishi sent them off and then returned to his seat. Xia Zhixu and Xu Qichen walked very closely together, arm brushing against arm. They looked like the popsicles he used to eat when he was younger, two sticks stuck together needing to be split in half before they were willing to separate.
He looked at Song Yu again. He was the one solitary stick left by himself after being split in half.
The election speeches weren’t as exciting as he imagined. Everyone simply went up the stage and said the things they prepared. The city’s Best Three were all very talented students, and this included Xia Zhixu and Xu Qichen. One spoke with a natural, sunny disposition that tended to be well-liked, and the other spoke slowly and gently, encouraging the audience’s desire to continue listening.
But in Yue Zhishi’s eyes, Song Yu was different from everyone else as soon as he went up. He couldn’t say where he was different — it just felt that even the lights from the stage naturally gathered on his shoulders.
The examination committee sitting below the stage didn’t have many reactions. Once the final student finished their speech, they informed the students that the results would be released within two weeks.
The whole process took up the entire morning. Yue Zhishi’s legs were a bit numb from sitting so long, and his throat wasn’t too comfortable either from forcing down the sounds of his coughing.
It was close to 11:30am. The audience slowly dispersed, and Song Yu walked towards him from the front with the other two boys from before.
It suddenly began to rain heavily outside, and all four of them didn’t have umbrellas. No one could stay in the venue, so Xia Zhixu suggested heading across the street to eat in the Japanese restaurant in order to possibly wait out the rain.
“We’ll rush ahead first!” Xia Zhixu took off his outer jacket and very naturally covered Xu Qichen’s head with it, his hand pulling Xu Qichen into his arms and holding onto his shoulder as they rushed into the rain.
Watching this entire process, Yue Zhishi was strangely hypnotised and wanted to imitate those actions. He unzipped his hoodie, took it off and gave it to Song Yu.
Song Yu frowned and looked like he didn’t understand his movements. “What is this for?”
“To be like them.” Yue Zhishi gazed at him, his tone pure and simple. The look on his face said, I have a jacket too, I can block the rain for you.
“We’re not like them.” Song Yu stood under the roof and didn’t stretch out his hand to take the hoodie.
“Why?” A childish naivety unintentionally appeared in Yue Zhishi’s large eyes. He attempted to understand the reason for Song Yu’s refusal. “Is it because they’re friends, and we’re brothers?”
Song Yu took the hoodie and grabbed Yue Zhishi’s arms to pull them through the hoodie. He then even adjusted the hood to sit nicely on top of Yue Zhishi’s head. His right hand slid down the top of Yue Zhishi’s head, before the back of his hand stopped at his forehead for two seconds.
“They’re not friends. We’re not brothers either.”
The author has something to say:
Xia Zhixu and Xu Qichen are the main characters in my first novel ( BE Crazy Demon Survival System ). You don’t have to read it to understand this novel, they only cameo and provide an important assist to the gong. They don’t have many scenes, and even those scenes are pretty sporadic. (But in saying that, in this chapter they’re still in the hotly crushing on each other phase in their relationship)