As soon as they got home, Xie An’yu hugged Yu Feng, his body carrying the scent of wood, with a few wood chips still clinging to the back of his head.
Yu Feng loved the smell. He wrapped his arms tightly around Xie An’yu’s waist and gently nuzzling the side of his head with the tip of his nose.
Xie An’yu had cut his hair short, making him look even more like a student.
“You got a haircut?”
Xie An’yu hummed in affirmation. “It’s too hot.”
Previously, because of the photoshoot, Jiang Ting had repeatedly instructed Xie An’yu not to cut his hair, as it would make styling difficult. He had endured not cutting it for a long time, and the hair on his forehead had grown so long it could cover his eyelashes, irritating his eyes. With the weather getting hotter lately, he found it unbearable and finally went for a haircut a couple of days ago.
Yu Feng kissed his temple. “A few more snips and it’d be a buzz cut.”
“…It’s not that extreme, is it?” Xie An’yu hesitated. “Does it not look good?”
“With a face like yours, even a shaved head would look good.”
Xie An’yu’s current hairstyle was just a bit longer than a typical student cut—the perfect length, making him look bright and full of vitality.
Yu Feng released Xie An’yu, who frowned and touched his neck.
“It’s fine, it’ll fade in a few days.” Yu Feng’s bag was on the cabinet in the entryway. He opened it and took out a small wooden box.
From the box, Yu Feng retrieved a small gourd pendant, also carved from wood. It was short and chubby, looking particularly adorable. The little wooden gourd was two-toned, with light coffee-colored specks embedded in black, blending together like ink spreading on rice paper. A cloud motif was carved at the bottom.
Yu Feng had found this little gourd in an antique shop. The owner was Chinese, and although the item wasn’t expensive, it caught his eye and had a good meaning.
Xie An’yu touched the little gourd and said, “African blackwood[mfn]紫光檀 (zǐ guāng tán): Dalbergia melanoxylon (African blackwood, grenadilla, or mpingo) in French Grenadille d’Afrique is a flowering plant in the subfamily Faboideae of the family Fabaceae. The dense, lustrous wood ranges in colour from reddish to pure black. It is generally cut into small billets or logs with its sharply demarcated bright yellow-white sapwood left on to assist in the slow drying so as to prevent cracks developing. Good quality “A” grade African blackwood commands high prices on the commercial timber market. The timber is used mainly because of its machinability, density, dimensional stability, and moisture repellence. African blackwood is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world, along with sandalwood, pink ivory, agarwood and ebony.[/mfn].”
Yu Feng hummed in affirmation. “You really are an expert.”
The gourd was so adorable, and it was polished from two-toned African blackwood. Xie An’yu couldn’t put it down. “Did you buy this in Milan?”
“Mm, for good luck—to wish you peace and safety,” Yu Feng said. “Find a place to hang it, maybe on your backpack.”
Xie An’yu looked up at Yu Feng, then hugged him and whispered in his ear, “Brother, I wish the same for you.”
Yu Feng stroked the back of his head and hummed softly.
***
Ever since Xie An’yu had gone to his aunt’s place for a meal last time, she had been contacting him frequently, asking when he could bring Yu Feng over for a meal. Yu Feng had been quite busy lately, fulfilling commitments made months ago. He was slowly catching up on his backlog and didn’t have time to visit Xie An’yu’s aunt for the time being.
A long time ago, Xie Li had asked Xie An’yu about his current address. At the time, Xie An’yu hadn’t told her because he and Yu Feng were still in a ‘tenant’ and ‘landlord’ relationship, and it didn’t seem appropriate to casually disclose the landlord’s address. Later, Xie Li hadn’t brought it up again.
Months later, Xie Li once again asked about Xie An’yu’s address. She couldn’t hold back any longer—who could feel at ease knowing their own nephew was living with a man who might have homosexual tendencies, especially when her nephew might already be romantically involved with him?
Xie Li kept asking, and Xie An’yu couldn’t avoid the question every time. He had no choice but to seek Yu Feng’s opinion.
Yu Feng was quite surprised that Xie An’yu still hadn’t told his aunt where he lived. No wonder his aunt never came to visit him.
“This is your home, after all,” Xie An’yu said. “Telling her would be exposing your privacy, wouldn’t it?”
“It’s your home now too. Go ahead and tell her. It’s normal for her to worry about you living alone outside.”
After consulting with Yu Feng, Xie An’yu told Xie Li his address. Xie Li was in such a hurry that she said she’d come over the next day.
Xie An’yu had to go to the wood carving studio during the day and didn’t have time.
“Then I’ll come over in the evening and bring you dinner.”
His aunt’s intentions were kind, and Xie An’yu couldn’t refuse.
Because his aunt was coming, Xie An’yu left the wood carving studio early today. Normally, he would stay until past nine before heading home.
It was Saturday, and Xie Li didn’t have work. She arrived at five, carrying thermal containers filled with food. The upscale residential complex didn’t allow outsiders to enter freely, so Xie Li was stopped by security at the gate. She didn’t have to wait long before Xie An’yu returned.
After opening the door and entering, Xie An’yu brought the food into the dining room. Xie Li looked around the house—it was spacious and luxuriously decorated. The thought of Xie An’yu living in such an environment brought her great relief.
Xie An’yu brought two sets of bowls and chopsticks. “Auntie, have you eaten?”
Xie Li snapped out of her thoughts. “I’ve eaten. All this food is for you. Go ahead and eat.”
Xie An’yu opened the containers. “So much…”
Xie Li walked over. “I brought enough for two. What about your… friend?”
“He’s at a class reunion today, eating out.”
“Then you eat. Leave whatever you can’t finish.” Xie Li sat down across from him. “What does your friend do?”
“He’s a photographer.”
Xie Li nodded. “Is he quite wealthy? This place looks huge.”
“Mm, he is quite well-off.”
Xie Li pursed her lips, stared at Xie An’yu for a moment with a complicated expression. “You told me before that you met him on the street, and he helped you?”
Xie An’yu looked up at her.
“With no relation between you, why is he so good to you?”
Xie An’yu lowered his head. “He’s a good person.”
“Even if he’s a good person, he wouldn’t be this good, would he?” Xie Li frowned. “Could he have some ulterior motives?”
Xie An’yu frowned, gently set his chopsticks on the table, and looked up at his aunt. “He’s a really good person, Auntie. I told you that a long time ago.”
Xie Li looked troubled. “I know you told me a long time ago…”
Xie An’yu vaguely sensed something. “Auntie, what are you trying to say?”
Xie Li looked at him with a serious expression, deciding not to beat around the bush any longer: “Is he… gay?”
Xie An’yu didn’t know how his aunt had found out. Regardless, she already knew, and he didn’t think it was a secret that needed to be kept. He hummed in affirmation. “Yes.”
Xie Li suppressed a breath. “You knew he was gay and still live with him… why?”
She was afraid to hear Xie An’yu’s answer, but she had to ask.
“Just because he’s gay, I can’t live with him?”
Xie Li frowned. “An’yu, that’s not what I mean… I’m not discriminating against gay people…”
Xie An’yu said, “You’re just prejudiced.”
Xie Li stood up, her tone becoming urgent. “I’m worried about you!”
“Worried about what? Worried that he, a gay person, might have ulterior motives on me?” This was the first time Xie An’yu had spoken to Xie Li in such a tone, every word carrying a soft barb.
Xie Li’s hands were trembling.
“If he had any intentions toward me, we would probably have been together a long time ago,” Xie An’yu said, staring at the food in his bowl.
Xie Li looked at him in disbelief. “You…”
“We’re already together.”
Xie Li deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping into her seat, her voice growing hoarse. “How old are you? How old is he? He’s eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice!”
From Xie Li’s perspective, her concerns weren’t unfounded. In her eyes, Xie An’yu was still a child. To her, Xie An’yu suddenly being with a man was likely due to living with a gay man for too long, being subtly influenced, chasing novelty, or a momentary lapse in judgment.
She didn’t understand Yu Feng, so she naturally speculated about his intentions from an elder’s standpoint. Her concern for Xie An’yu had bred this prejudice.
Xie An’yu understood Xie Li’s concerns, but he felt these worries were built upon slander against Yu Feng. He was actually a bit angry, but he couldn’t bring himself to say harsh words to Xie Li. He could only tell her: “I was the one who asked him to be with me. I’m the one who likes him. I like him a lot, very, very much.”
Xie Li’s face turned pale, and she was speechless.
Xie An’yu picked up his chopsticks and continued eating. “Auntie, please don’t speak about him like that in front of me anymore. I don’t like hearing it.”
“Don’t think of him that way either,” Xie An’yu added. “I’m not a child. I have judgment. He’s a good person, the best person I’ve ever met.”
Xie An’yu finished the meal in silence. Xie Li didn’t say another word afterward—what more could she say? Xie An’yu had made himself perfectly clear. Xie Li wasn’t an unreasonable person; if she had been slightly more assertive, she might have gotten into an argument with Xie An’yu right there.
But an argument couldn’t happen, because every word Xie An’yu spoke was calm yet filled with conviction.
***
After having dinner with his high school classmates, Yu Feng went to a karaoke bar with them. He hadn’t really wanted to go, but since everyone else was going, it would have been a buzzkill if he alone skipped out. Plus, Zhou Yi kept pestering him on WeChat, telling him not to run off right after dinner, so he ended up tagging along.
The one organizing the gathering was the richest second-generation heir from their class back then. The heir hadn’t even finished high school before going abroad to study and had now inherited the family business, becoming a first-generation wealthy man himself. With money and power, he covered all the expenses for the dinner and karaoke, not letting anyone else pay.
About two-thirds of their class showed up for the reunion. Most of them were married, but there were plenty of singles too. The wealthy heir counted the number of single people and called in some hostesses accordingly, without informing the group. When a line of stunning women walked in, Zhou Yi was dumbfounded and turned to ask him, “What’s going on?”
“What do you mean, what’s going on? You singles need some company, or else won’t you be bored?”
The wealthy heir, Li Xiu, was used to the world of fame and fortune, constantly navigating various social occasions. For him, singing, drinking, and calling hostesses were routine—so much so that he instinctively brought that vibe to a reunion with old classmates.
“Are you insane?” Zhou Yi stared at him. “We’re all respectable citizens here.”
Li Xiu sneered. “Almost forgot you’re a civil servant teacher. Country bumpkin, they’re just here to keep you company while drinking, not to sleep with you. They’re legitimate conversationalists, not escorts.”
He glanced at Yu Feng. “Hey, not to be rude, but with a face like yours, how come you’re still single? You’re not gay, are you?”
Yu Feng took a sip of his drink, glanced at him, and said, “You didn’t know I’m gay?”
Li Xiu’s eyelids twitched: “What…? You’re fucking gay?!”
Back when Yu Feng was rumored to be homosexual, it had caused quite a stir in the school. He thought everyone in the class knew about it.
“Oh,” Yu Feng remembered, “you had already gone abroad by then.”
“…You there.” Li Xiu beckoned to a waiter. “Go get us a handsome guy instead.”
As they spoke, Yu Feng’s phone vibrated. He picked it up and walked out, heading to a quiet corner to take the call.
Xie An’yu’s low, husky youthful voice came through the phone: “Brother, are you done? When are you coming back?”
“Still need a while longer. Keeping them company at the karaoke bar for a bit.”
Yu Feng had drunk some alcohol during the dinner earlier, making his voice deeper than usual, his tone lazy and relaxed.
“Did you drink?”
“Mm.”
“Don’t drink too much, or you’ll have a headache in the morning.”
Xie An’yu’s voice was incredibly pleasant, making Yu Feng feel a little more intoxicated. He replied, “Okay, Baby.”
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