Ordinary weekend
On the weekends in Shilong Town, the air was filled with the hustle and bustle of the approaching festival. As soon as Gu Yansheng's car turned onto the familiar street near the health center, his heart began to beat so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of his throat.
During the week they were apart, although they called each other every night, the longing brought by the long distance could not be alleviated by voice. Listening to Jiang Lin's low voice coming from the receiver, describing the trivial matters in the town and the preparations for the sacrifice to the sea god, Gu Yansheng always felt like a mollusk with all the bones pulled out, and he just wanted to curl up in that embrace with the smell of disinfectant and the unique cold breath.
After parking the car, he almost ran into the familiar white building of the health center. The smell of disinfectant hit him in the face, but it strangely made him feel at ease - this was the smell of Jiang Lin.
He found Jiang Lin's clinic with familiarity. The door was open. Jiang Lin was writing something with his head down. His white coat made the lines of his profile look even more handsome and stern.
"Jiang Lin!" Gu Yansheng's voice was filled with joy that he himself didn't even notice, like a small stone thrown into a calm lake.
Jiang Lin looked up at the sound. The moment he saw the familiar figure at the door, the usual layer of calmness in his eyes seemed to be melted by the sunlight, and warmth instantly flowed out.
He put down his pen and stood up calmly, but Gu Yansheng keenly noticed that his fingertips paused very lightly on the table when he stood up, revealing the same unrest.
"I'm coming." Jiang Lin's voice was deeper and more pleasant than on the phone, carrying a genuine warmth. He walked up to Gu Yansheng and naturally raised his hand, as if wanting to ruffle his hair, but just as he was about to touch him, he withdrew it with great restraint.
Then he handed over a bunch of keys, and his fingertips brushed against Gu Yansheng's palm lightly, causing a slight electric current.
"The dormitory key. Go and have a rest first. Wait for me for a while. I'll be off work after I finish treating the last two patients." His eyes carefully traced Gu Yansheng's face for a moment. Seeing his cheeks flushed from running and excitement, and his eyes that were surprisingly bright and unconcealed with joy, a corner of his heart softened.
"Yes! Okay!" Gu Yansheng nodded vigorously, took the key, and held it tightly in his palm. The coolness of the metal could not suppress the heat in his palm.
He tried hard to appear calm, but the slightly raised corners of his mouth, the fluttering eyelashes, and the brilliance that overflowed from the corners of his eyes and eyebrows could not be hidden.
Jiang Lin slowly withdrew his gaze after watching Gu Yansheng turn around like a puppy that had received permission and was about to run wild, and disappear at the end of the corridor with light steps. He turned back to the clinic, picked up the pen, but paused for several seconds in front of the medical record book before starting to write again.
Su Gu Yansheng opened the door with the key, and the familiar, clean and refreshing scent belonging to Jiang Lin hit him in the face. Once again stepping into here, his identity had an ambiguous role.
Gu Yansheng's heart was still beating strongly in his chest, reminding him that this wasn't a dream. He was in Jiang Lin's dorm, waiting for him to get off work. The air seemed to still hold the scent of Jiang Lin's departure that morning, causing the temperature in his cheeks to linger.
To distract himself from his excitement, he pulled out his phone. The screen lit up, revealing several unread messages.
Jiang Xinchen: Have you been to Shilong Town? Have you seen your iceberg? [Smirk]
Jiang Xinchen: [Video link: Explosive! Secrets to Heating Up Your Relationship: How to Create a Romantic Atmosphere]
Jiang Xinchen: [Video link: Must-see! Advanced guide to kissing techniques that will keep him coming back for more!]
Jiang Xinchen: Brother, this is all I can do for you! It's a great weekend, the right time, the right place, and the right people! Don't be scared! Go for it! [Come on][Come on][Smirk]
Jiang Xinchen: Where are the people? Aren't they already in a rage? [Sly laugh]
Gu Yansheng's face flushed bright red, even the base of his neck was stained crimson. He frantically opened the dialog box, typing rapidly, as if those links were hot potatoes:
Gu Yansheng: Jiang Xinchen! What kind of nonsense are you posting? Take it back now! [Frenzy][Frenzy]
Gu Yansheng: I won’t read this! You, you stop posting!
Gu Yansheng: We…we won’t do anything! We’ll just…just spend a normal weekend!!!
After sending it, he quickly put the screen of his phone on the sofa, as if he was afraid that the links would pop up on their own, and pressed it with his hand guiltily.
At this moment, her heart was beating faster, and her mind was flashing through some vague, hot images uncontrollably - the passionate kiss at the entrance, the uncontrollable entanglement in the study, Jiang Lin's hot palm and heavy breathing...
He shook his head violently, trying to get rid of those charming thoughts, but his cheeks became even hotter. However, the primitive desires of human beings made him unable to help but think that in this relationship, someone had to take the initiative to learn...
Jiang Lin probably wouldn't... He wouldn't learn... So would they hold hands forever?
Gu Yansheng, with a learning mindset, looked around, then silently picked up his phone, put on his headphones, and began his journey of learning for a happy and harmonious future...
The festival in Shilong Town, called "Sacrifice to the Sea God", actually originated from an ancient legend. There used to be a dragon pond deep in the town, which nourished all things and was revered as the "Shilong Sea".
Although the pond has now shrunk into a deep ravine, the ancient custom of praying for good weather and peace in the mountains has been preserved and has become the town's most lively celebration of the year.
It was dusk, and Gu Yansheng followed Jiang Lin through the bustling streets. Lanterns in the shapes of fish, shrimp, and conch shells, made from bamboo strips and colored paper, lined the narrow streets. Small vendors, usually barred from setting up shop, were now allowed to hawk mountain products, fried stream fish, glutinous rice cakes, and vermicelli noodles made with mountain spring water.
The town was suddenly filled with a bustling atmosphere. Gu Yansheng was in high spirits, his eyes sparkling as he looked around. Suddenly, his gaze settled on the nearby "Qiangzi BBQ." Zhao Qiang's arm was still conspicuously bandaged, but his movements were still nimble. Standing next to him, helping to collect money and pass things around, was Zhou Muyuan.
"Huh? It's Brother Qiangzi and Brother Muyuan!" Gu Yansheng tugged on Jiang Lin's sleeve in surprise. He still remembered the last time his car broke down outside the town, and it was Zhou Muyuan who passed by and helped him change the tire. He was so gentle and patient. He subconsciously wanted to go over and say hello.
Jiang Lin naturally saw it too. His eyes swept across the gauze on Zhao Qiang's arm and then fell on Zhou Muyuan. Zhou Muyuan greeted the guests with his usual gentle smile on his face, but there was a lingering trace of fatigue and alienation in the depths of his eyes.
When handing something to Zhao Qiang, his fingers deliberately avoided contact. Zhao Qiang seemed a little silent, occasionally looking up at Zhou Muyuan with a complicated look, with a sense of regret that he wanted to say but couldn't, and a hint of imperceptible flattery.
There was an invisible low pressure between the two of them, which was out of tune with the lively festive atmosphere around them.
Gu Yansheng also vaguely sensed that something was amiss, and he muttered softly, "They...seem a little weird?" Last time at the barbecue stall, the intimacy between Zhou Muyuan and Zhao Qiang seemed to have faded a lot.
Jiang Lin's eyes darkened slightly. He knew the reason—the argument over "the art of survival" and "recklessness" had clearly not been resolved. But he didn't want the couple's low mood to affect the rare holiday evening he and Gu Yansheng were spending together as lovers for the first time.
"Yeah." Jiang Lin responded vaguely, and the hand on Gu Yansheng's shoulder tightened slightly, and he naturally led him away from the direction of the stall. His voice was low and carried unquestionable gentleness, "There are too many people over there, it's crowded. I'll take you to see the altar. I heard that the 'Poseidon' made this year is very special." He cleverly diverted Gu Yansheng's attention with novelty and news.
Gu Yansheng was led away by Jiang Lin, and he turned back to glance at Zhao Qiang and his friends' stall. Zhou Muyuan happened to look up and saw them. He was visibly stunned for a moment, then a genuine, slightly surprised smile appeared on his face and he waved at them.
Gu Yansheng immediately responded with a happy wave of his hands, "Brother Muyuan!"
Zhou Muyuan put down what he was holding and walked over quickly. Zhao Qiang also saw them and looked over with a complicated look in his eyes. He didn't move, but just lowered his head and continued to flip the fish on the grill.
"Yansheng, Doctor Jiang, you are here too!" Zhou Muyuan walked closer with a gentle smile. His eyes moved between Gu Yansheng and Jiang Lin imperceptibly, especially lingering for a moment on Jiang Lin's hand on Gu Yansheng's shoulder.
"What a coincidence."
"Yes, I'll come over to play on the weekend." Gu Yansheng responded.
Jiang Lin stood aside, maintaining basic politeness, and nodded to Zhou Muyuan, "Teacher Zhou." His attitude was gentle but with a clear sense of distance, and he had no intention of having a deep conversation.
Zhou Muyuan keenly sensed Jiang Lin's reluctance to be disturbed. He looked at Gu Yansheng with a gentle gaze, "Have fun. The altar is beautiful over there, and there's a stream where you can light lanterns and make wishes."
He seemed to be talking to Gu Yansheng, but his eyes vaguely glanced at Zhao Qiang who was silent at the stall, with a hint of loneliness.
"Well! Brother Muyuan, you too..." Before Gu Yansheng could finish his words, Jiang Lin gently put his arm around his shoulders and took him away.
"Let's go and take a look ahead." Jiang Lin's voice was low, with a soothing and unyielding tone, and he did not stop.
Gu Yansheng was led forward and couldn't help but look back. He saw Zhou Muyuan standing there, the smile on his face faded, looking in the direction they left with a blank look in his eyes.
Zhao Qiang, standing behind the stall, had at some point raised his head and was staring intently at Zhou Muyuan's back, his eyes filled with struggle and pain. The two of them were clearly very close, yet there seemed to be an invisible wall of ice between them.
The "weird" feeling in Gu Yansheng's heart became more obvious, but before he had time to think about it, Jiang Lin's low voice sounded in his ears, with a warm breath.
"Try the fried glutinous rice balls here? They're coated with soybean powder." Jiang Lin successfully used a temptation that Gu Yansheng couldn't refuse to bring his thoughts back to himself.
Gu Yansheng's attention was instantly drawn to the delicious food and Jiang Lin's approach. His previous doubts were immediately thrown out of his mind, and his eyes lit up. "Yes!"
Jiang Lin looked at his eyes that lit up instantly without any gloom, and a barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. He liked Gu Yansheng like this, with only him in his eyes and his heart filled with the happiness of being with him.
Other people's disputes shouldn't disturb their night. He squeezed Gu Yansheng's hand tightly and led him through the crowd, toward the stalls filled with sweet aromas, completely isolating the suffocating atmosphere of the cold war between Zhao Qiang and Zhou Muyuan from the bustling festival crowd.
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