WBAI Chapter 33

When Zhou Yi returned, he was carrying a watermelon and two boxes of pre-cut pineapples. Yue Lai’s grandfather, who thought he had gone to buy cigarettes, stood up when he saw the fruit in his hand and exclaimed, “Didn’t you say you were going to buy cigarettes! How come you bought so much fruit instead!”

“Not much, just two things,” Zhou Yi replied with a smile, placing the pineapples on the table. “Where’s the kitchen? I’ll go cut the watermelon.”

“No need, no need, let Yue Lai handle it,” Yue Lai’s grandfather said, patting Yue Lai on the shoulder.

Yue Lai nodded understandingly and carried the watermelon into the inner room. Xie An’yu stood up to follow, wanting to help, but Yue Lai waved him off, signaling that it wasn’t necessary and that he should go back and sit down.

So Xie An’yu sat back down.

“He may be deaf, but it’s not like his hands or legs are broken,” Yue Lai’s grandfather said. After a few drinks, his aged cheeks tinged with a faint flush, his face wearing a weary smile. “The child isn’t as fragile as you might think. He’s doing well… everything’s doing well.”

“Grandpa Yue, was Yue Lai born deaf?” Zhou Yi asked.

Yue Lai’s grandfather glanced at Zhou Yi over his drinking cup. “How old are you, calling me ‘Grandpa’ like them? You should call me ‘Uncle’.”

The old man had drunk quite a bit, and his eyes had become sharp, his words equally so.

Zhou Yi chuckled. “What are you saying? I’m not even a full generation older than them. How could I call you ‘Uncle’? That would mess up the generational order. If I call you ‘Uncle’, what would Yue Lai and Xiao Xie call me? ‘Uncle’ too?”

“I don’t care about that. Just don’t call me ‘Grandpa’; it sounds awkward,” Yue Lai’s grandfather said, sipping his liquor with a smile. “You’ll make me feel old.”

Zhou Yi laughed heartily. “Alright, alright, whatever you say. I’ll call you ‘Old Uncle Yue,’ how’s that?”

“You just had to add the word ‘old’!”

“Uncle Yue, Uncle Yue,” Zhou Yi immediately corrected himself.

Yue Lai’s grandfather set down his drinking cup and sighed deeply, staring at the cup on the table. “My Yue Yue has had a hard life since childhood. He hasn’t had much joy living with me.”

“His right ear was like that from birth—he couldn’t hear with it. The left one… his father beat him deaf.”

“Beat him deaf?” Zhou Yi was incredulous. How could a father do something so monstrous?

“What about Yue Lai’s parents?” Yu Feng asked. “Are they not around?”

“His father’s dead, and his mother—who knows where she is.” Yue Lai’s grandfather picked up his drinking cup and took a sip. “His mother left him at my doorstep. That bastard Yue Zhongming fooled around outside and somehow ended up with a child. If I hadn’t stopped him back then, Yue Lai would’ve been dumped in an orphanage by his father. They even did a paternity test—confirmed he was his biological son—but he never raised him properly. Gambling, drinking, beating the child when he was drunk…”

Yue Lai’s grandfather gave a cold laugh. “Good thing he died early. Serves him right. The biggest mistake of my life was having him with his mother.”

The old man wiped his face, his eyes reddening. “The child could speak at first, but with both ears deaf, he slowly lost the ability. It’s my fault. I didn’t have the means. If I’d had the resources to send him to a special school earlier, he wouldn’t be like this now…”

“How could it be your fault?” Zhou Yi frowned deeply. “You’ve already done more than enough. Look how well you’ve raised Yue Lai.”

Yue Lai’s grandfather sniffled and quickly wiped his eyes. “Can’t let him see me like this, or he’ll cling to me again when sleeping. So annoying.”

Zhou Yi couldn’t help but chuckle.

Yu Feng and Xie An’yu remained silent the whole time.

Yue Lai brought over some watermelon. Fortunately, Yue Lai’s grandfather was able to control his emotions well, so Yue Lai didn’t notice the subtle shift in the atmosphere. Xie An’yu sat there, lost in thought, clearly distracted. Yue Lai picked up a slice for him and held it to his lips.

Xie An’yu snapped out of it and took the watermelon from his hand. After Xie An’yu took a bite, Yue Lai signed to him, “Sweet?”

Xie An’yu nodded. He couldn’t understand Yue Lai’s sign language—he was just guessing.

Suddenly, Xie An’yu glanced at Yu Feng.

Yu Feng’s face showed no emotion. Earlier, when Yue Lai’s grandfather was recounting Yue Lai’s past, Yu Feng had kept his eyes lowered the entire time. Xie An’yu couldn’t shake the feeling that Yu Feng was hiding his emotions, which was why he appeared so calm.

There are more lonely people in this world than stars in the sky. That brother of Yu Feng’s, unrelated by blood, must have also endured long stretches of solitude in his silent world.

The most heartbreaking part? He really had become one of those stars in the sky.

***

On the day of Xie An’yu’s photoshoot, Jiang Ting arrived punctually at nine at the clothing store Jiang Xiaotian had mentioned. Jiang Xiaotian had spoken so highly of Xie An’yu that Jiang Ting initially thought he was exaggerating—until she saw Xie An’yu in person and realized she’d underestimated her little brother’s eye for talent.

A print model doesn’t necessarily have to be drop-dead gorgeous, but their face absolutely must carry a sense of narrative and sophistication. The person her brother had recommended had both. Seeing him in person, Jiang Ting even thought Xie An’yu looked better than in photos.

Since they weren’t shooting in the studio today, Xie An’yu didn’t go to the warehouse. At nine, he briefly met the boss lady at the clothing store.

“I’ve printed out the contract I sent you on WeChat. Double-check it, and if there are no issues, just sign it,” the boss lady said, handing the paper contract to Xie An’yu. “After signing, head down to the warehouse for makeup, then we’ll go to the shoot location.”

It was still early, so there weren’t many people in the clothing store. Jiang Ting pretended to browse clothes nearby, eavesdropping on every word of Xie An’yu’s conversation with the boss lady. She put down the garment, stepped outside, and immediately called Jiang Xiaotian.

“Jiang Xiaotian, can you get your facts straight?” Jiang Ting fumed, barely containing her anger.

Jiang Xiaotian had just arrived at the office, halfway through a yawn at his desk when Jiang Ting’s call startled him. “Huh?”

“I followed your lead, came to the wholesale market, and saw the person you mentioned,” Jiang Ting said, glancing back into the store and lowering her voice as she held the phone. “Did you not know he’s already taken?”

Jiang Xiaotian was momentarily confused, then realized. “Oh, you mean that…”

Jiang Ting felt like she’d just plunged from the peak of a rollercoaster. She’d finally found a candidate even better than the original, only to discover someone else had gotten there first.

“I heard it loud and clear just now—he’s already signed with them. And it’s not a one-off deal. What, are you telling me to poach him?”

“No, he didn’t sign a long-term contract…”

“He didn’t? You sure?”

“I’m sure. What he signed was a labor contract, a temporary one.”

“Then is he signed with an agency?”

“Shouldn’t be.”

If he had signed with an agency, there should have been a manager handling his work collaborations. Xie An’yu even went to the audition by himself, so it was unlikely he had signed with any company.

“…An amateur?” Jiang Ting was shocked. “With those looks?”

“The photos I showed you last time were taken during his audition. He wasn’t in this industry before—this is probably his first time doing a modeling shoot.”

“First time?” Jiang Ting was a bit surprised. “I thought his performance in front of the camera was decent.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even mentioned him to you.”

“Guess I haven’t spoiled you for nothing—you’re actually useful at critical moments.” Jiang Ting sighed. “The problem is, how do I approach him?”

“Didn’t I tell you to pretend to be a talent scout?”

“How am I supposed to do that when he’s about to go for a photoshoot? I can’t just poach him right in front of the boss lady, can I? Why don’t you help me make the connection?” Jiang Ting said. “It’s not like this is some shady deal. Speaking up for me shouldn’t kill you, right, little bro?”

“No, sis… I really have my reasons. I truly can’t directly introduce you to him.”

Jiang Ting sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Fine, I’ll just go for it this once. Whether it works or not is up to fate.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“What else? I’ll just talk to him directly.”

“Tsk, that’s my big sister for you.”

After today, there was no telling when she’d run into him again in a public setting. Jiang Xingtian was also being evasive and unwilling to help, and she didn’t have Xie An’yu’s contact info. Even if Jiang Ting wanted to pose as a talent scout and recruit him, she had to act today—opportunities like this wouldn’t come twice.

Still, she couldn’t bring this up openly in front of the clothing store owner. That would be asking for trouble, and Jiang Ting wasn’t about to do something so reckless.

Jiang Ting took a business card from her bag and stood outside the store, watching discreetly. Xie An’yu came out after signing the contract—he was heading to the warehouse for makeup.

Seeing him emerge, Jiang Ting quickly called out, “Excuse me, could I have a moment?”

Xie An’yu stopped.

Jiang Ting walked straight over and handed Xie An’yu the business card, getting straight to the point: “Hello, I’m an editor for the fashion magazine 《Charm》. I’d like to invite you to model for us. Here’s my business card—if you’re interested, you can contact me.”

Jiang Ting didn’t have time to go into too much detail. She was worried the clothing store owner might come out any moment, so she had to keep it brief and to the point.

Xie An’yu hesitantly took the business card from her hand.

“Don’t worry, I’m not a scammer. The company name is printed on the card—you can look it up online. Everything checks out.” Jiang Ting said with a smile. “If you’re interested, just call the number on the card, and we can discuss the details later.”

Xie An’yu nodded and slipped the business card into his pocket. “Okay, thank you.”

They say sincerity is the ultimate weapon, but Jiang Ting felt that wasn’t necessarily true. The other party’s calm yet polite demeanor left her unsure what expression to wear on her face.

She put on a professional smile. “I hope we get the chance to work together.”

***

Xie An’yu’s first official photoshoot went quite smoothly, though changing into dozens of outfits[mfn]T/N: Unrelated, but in China, I’ve seen models in broad daylight outside posing and changing clothes in the blink of an eye. Like, it was crazy fast. Here’s an example: Link.[/mfn] in one day left him utterly exhausted.

Online store clothing photoshoots didn’t require high standards—the focus was on showcasing the style and fit of the clothes, not artistic or visual appeal. With Xie An’yu’s great looks and physique, it was hard to go wrong no matter how he was shot. His photos turned out impressively strong.

Working with a model like him also made the photographer’s job much easier—no need to painstakingly search for the perfect angle, and minimal post-production editing was required.

Xie An’yu spent the entire day like a marionette, with the photographer guiding him step by step on how to pose and position himself.

Although Xie An’yu’s commission was based on sales, the percentage wasn’t high. After all, he wasn’t a professional model. Considering shooting efficiency and results, the store couldn’t offer him top rates right off the bat.

Xie An’yu wasn’t familiar with industry standards, so he had no idea whether the payment was high or low. In any case, it was definitely more than he’d ever earned from any previous job, and he was quite satisfied.

Xie An’yu was in a good mood today. After finishing his shift as an NPC at the haunted house, he still went for his usual night run downstairs, adding a few extra laps until he was drenched in sweat.

He had bought a new pair of sneakers when he went to the wholesale market with Yu Feng to buy clothes, but he hadn’t worn them yet. He planned to put them on tomorrow.

After showering, Xie An’yu brought his old sneakers into the bathroom, set up a small stool, and filled a basin with water to wash them.

The weather was a bit hot, so Xie An’yu sat shirtless on the stool, scrubbing the shoes vigorously.

Ding Xiaofei called him on video. Xie An’yu couldn’t free up his hands, so he could only point the phone camera at the ceiling.

“Where are you?” Ding Xiaofei’s voice came through the phone.

“I’m washing my shoes. Can’t hold the phone.”

Xie An’yu didn’t contact Ding Xiaofei very frequently, but they always stayed in touch. They occasionally called each other, though video calls were rare—the last one had been over a month ago.

“Xiao Dao, I have a girlfriend now.”

Xie An’yu knew there had to be something important if Ding Xiaofei suddenly video-called.

“Congratulations.”

“Your congratulations are too perfunctory.”

Xie An’yu smiled silently, his hands still busily scrubbing. He said, “I’m not being perfunctory, I’m very sincere.”

“What about you? You’ve been in Beicheng for a while now—have you met anyone you like? The girls there must be pretty, right? After all, they’re from the big city.”

“Haven’t really paid attention.”

“Hey, my girlfriend is so fair-skinned, looks just like a city girl.” Ding Xiaofei rolled around on his bed, his tone slightly dreamy.

Xie An’yu laughed softly. “What’s this ‘city girl’ thing? Don’t they all have two eyes and one nose?”

“It’s different! Look at the girls on our island—all tanned. How many of them are fair-skinned?”

“That’s from the sea wind.”

Ding Xiaofei laughed twice. “I just like fair-skinned girls.”

“Are there a lot of people pursuing you in Beicheng?” Ding Xiaofei asked again.

“No one’s pursuing me.”

“How’s that possible?” Ding Xiaofei sat up on the bed. “What, people in Beicheng don’t like your type?”

Xie An’yu laughed. “Can we talk about something else?”

“There’s nothing else good to talk about…”

Xie An’yu realized that Ding Xiaofei had grown an extra brain—a love-struck brain.

“If there’s nothing good to talk about, go chat with your girlfriend.”

Ding Xiaofei lay on his bed, grinning foolishly. “She’s asleep. Let me tell you, she goes to bed super early every night—such a disciplined girl…”

Xie An’yu continued talking with Ding Xiaofei for a while longer. Most of the conversation revolved around Ding Xiaofei’s girlfriend, but Xie An’yu listened patiently without annoyance. He wasn’t bothered—seeing Ding Xiaofei so happy made him happy too.

***

When Yu Feng entered the house, the living room lights were off, but there was light coming from the bathroom. The bathroom door was open, and the sound of running water could be heard inside—though it didn’t sound like someone was showering.

Yu Feng walked over, pausing briefly when he reached the bathroom doorway.

Xie An’yu stood shirtless in front of the sink, scrubbing shoelaces. He wore only a pair of sweatpants, his bare upper body completely exposed. From Yu Feng’s angle, he could even see the front of Xie An’yu’s body reflected in the mirror.

Yu Feng instinctively averted his gaze, just as Xie An’yu happened to spot him in the mirror.

“Brother…” Xie An’yu’s expression was slightly awkward—though, aside from awkwardness, there was no other emotions. Unlike Yu Feng, who reflexively averted his gaze, Xie An’yu didn’t instinctively cover himself.

He wasn’t gay. He wouldn’t feel embarrassed just because he was shirtless in front of another man.

“Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”

“It’s a little hot, so I took it off.”

Yu Feng hummed, glancing at the basin of water and shoes on the floor. He asked, “Washing shoes?”

“Mm.” Xie An’yu continued scrubbing the shoelaces in his hands.

Yu Feng walked over, removing his wristwatch as he did. He stopped beside the sink, and Xie An’yu watched as Yu Feng took off his watch, placed it on the shelf, then rolled up his sleeves, saying, “I’m going to wash my hands.”

Xie An’yu immediately stepped aside. Yu Feng held his hands under the faucet, letting the water run over them.

Xie An’yu stared at Yu Feng’s hands, suddenly recalling the conversation he’d just had with Ding Xiaofei. If he had to name someone with fair skin around him, he’d say Yu Feng definitely qualified.

Yu Feng’s hand was very beautiful and fair, especially when compared to Xie An’yu’s, it appeared even whiter.

Without thinking, Xie An’yu remarked, “Brother, your hands are really white.”

Yu Feng froze for a second, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of Xie An’yu’s collarbone. A faint scent of body wash still lingered on Xie An’yu’s skin.

He knew Xie An’yu’s comment was innocent, free of any ulterior meaning—unlike his own thoughts right now.

Yu Feng just wished Xie An’yu would give him fewer of these ‘innocent’ moments in the future.

“White?” Yu Feng rubbed his hands lightly. “Not really.”

“Whiter than mine.”

Xie An’yu had grown up on the island, exposed to wind and sun since childhood, giving him an even, sun-kissed complexion. Yu Feng actually liked his healthy complexion.

Yu Feng scoffed softly. “What, are you envious?”

Xie An’yu chuckled. “Not really. I think my skin tone’s fine the way it is.”

Yu Feng hummed in agreement, thinking to himself; more than fine—it’s sexy.

Yu Feng turned off the faucet and dried his hands on a towel. As he lifted his arm, Xie An’yu noticed an irregular scar on the inside of Yu Feng’s left forearm. It was about four or five centimeters long—quite noticeable—but since it was below the wrist, it was hard to see unless he raised his hand.

“You can wash your shoes on the balcony next time. There’s a sink there for cleaning stuff,” Yu Feng said to Xie An’yu.

“Brother,” Xie An’yu looked at Yu Feng’s arm. “That scar on your arm… how did you get it?”

Yu Feng turned his arm slightly to glance at it. “My mom hit me with a vase.”

Xie An’yu’s expression stiffened.

Truthfully, Xie An’yu knew very little about Yu Feng. All he knew was that Yu Feng lived alone and worked as a photographer. Beyond that, he knew nothing.

He didn’t know where his parents were, that he had a younger brother, or why he struggled to sleep every night. These were all Yu Feng’s private matters, and since Yu Feng never brought them up, he had no right to pry.

Yu Feng glanced down and noticed a droplet of water sliding down Xie An’yu’s collarbone—he had splashed quite a bit while washing his shoelaces earlier.

“You can continue washing,” Yu Feng said before stepping out.

Once outside the bathroom, Yu Feng closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He didn’t want to deny it—the moment he walked in and saw Xie An’yu, his mind had briefly stalled, and his breath had hitched uncontrollably.

He also knew that the only reason he’d gone through the extra trouble of washing his hands next to Xie An’yu was because he didn’t want to appear unnatural in front of him.

Yu Feng felt like he’d never committed such foolishness before.

He let out a quiet sigh.

[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 33″]
暮氣沉沉 (mù qì chén chén): apathetic; dismal; gloomy; lethargic; lifeless; describe a state of listlessness and lack of vitality.

喪心病狂 (sàng xīn bìng kuáng): frenzied; crazy; ridiculous; deranged; demented; berserk (idiom); frantic; perverse; unscrupulous; to lose one’s mind, as if one has gone crazy. Describing words and deeds as chaotic, cruel, and absurd to the extreme.

清清楚楚 (qīng qīng chǔ chǔ): be crystal clear; be absolutely clear; clear; distinct; clear and organized.

支支吾吾 (zhī zhī wú wú): to prevaricate; to falter; to hum and haw; to stall; to stammer; to mumble; equivocate; make an ambiguous statement; hesitate in speaking; to be evasive, hesitant, or ambiguous when speaking.

機不可失 (jī bù kě shī): one must not lose a good opportunity; no time to lose (idiom); don’t let such an opportunity slip; opportunity not to be missed. This idiom means that when you encounter a suitable opportunity, you must not miss it. It describes the need to seize opportunities and take on responsibilities without hesitation. Part of the idiom 機不可失，時不再來 (jī bù kě shī , shí bù zài lái), opportunity seldom knocks twice; opportunity knocks but once; the chance may never come again; now or never; there is no time like the present; opportunities are rare and precious, and must be seized in time.

開門見山 (kāi mén jiàn shān): lit. to open the door and see the mountain; fig. to get right to the point (idiom); come straight to the point; without preamble; speak/write on a subject directly without beating about the bush; one can see the mountain when one open the door. It is a metaphor for talking or writing about the topic directly without beating around the bush.

不厭其煩 (bù yàn qí fán): to not mind taking the trouble; to take great pains; to be very patient; not to mind taking all the trouble (idiom); with unflagging patience; spare no trouble; never tire of it; not to be bothered by trivial matters and troubles, used to describe patience.

一覽無遺 (yī lǎn wú yí): to take in everything at a glance; be plainly visible; to have an uninterrupted view; have an uninterrupted/unobstructed view of; all at a glance; all the scenery is in sight at a glance. It can be used to describe the vastness of geographical space without obstructions, or to refer to the straightforwardness of poetry or the lack of layered changes in architectural structure.
[/dropdown]

Check out my completed & current project at my carrd. If you like my translation, you can buy me coffee at Ko-fi~ Thank you.