11
When Xia Yu returned, Zhang Peng, Hua Hong, and I were wolfing down our porridge. I ate three bowls, Zhang Peng two, and Hua Hong was even more impressive, already on his fifth bowl. We were all so hungry that we didn't care about anything else but eating, and didn't even see when Xia Yu entered the room. It wasn't until a plastic bag containing three white lunchboxes was waved in front of us that we turned around and saw Xia Yu covering his mouth and giggling.
"I'm back! You guys are eating so well. Would you like some more food?" Xia Yu smiled as she placed the lunchboxes on the table and slowly opened them.
We all nodded in agreement, and Xia Yu was amused by the three menacing expressions on their faces, which made them look like they wanted to tear the lid off the box immediately.
After dinner, Xia Yu called me to her room, locked the door, and asked me with great interest why Zhang Peng was there too. I sheepishly explained the whole story to her, and she laughed again. She nudged my head and said, "My mom really gave me a good name; it's so fitting for me: Xia Xiang, a complete airhead!" I felt a little embarrassed by her words, blushing and wanting to run away, but she wouldn't let me. She pulled me back and asked if I was going to settle down with Zhang Peng and live a good life together. I said, "Yes, now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, of course we should be together. Why would I waste my time overthinking things?" Xia Yu nodded in agreement, telling me not to let Zhang Peng down, saying that a man with such good qualities and a willingness to care for me is hard to find these days. I understand everything she's saying. It's already difficult enough for people to meet, let alone live together. I'm not stupid; how could I not cherish this hard-won connection? When she talked about Hua Hong, Xia Yu got even more excited, insisting I report to her twice about what happened with Hua Hong after she left that morning. Knowing Hua Hong had cleaned the house, Xia Yu kept saying he was a good man of the new generation. But when I told her Hua Hong was actually gay, her expression immediately changed. She looked very serious. My smile was a little forced; I completely understood her reaction. Although she was joking with me this morning, Xia Yu is still just a woman, an ordinary woman, a woman who can't understand what we're thinking. But as it turns out, I was wrong again. Xia Yu's seriousness stemmed from her concern for me. She cupped my face and said solemnly, "Brother, if you want to have a good relationship with Zhang Peng, don't get too close to Hua Hong. The word 'friend' is a very vague concept for your group. Everyone says there's no true friendship between men and women, is it the same for people in your circle? Maybe you think I'm being nosy and prejudiced, but you're my brother, we share the same blood. Besides Mom and Dad, all I want in this world is for you to be well, what others do is none of my business, do you understand?"
Hearing this, I hugged Xia Yu without hesitation. "Thank you, thank you. I will definitely live a good life. You should too, live a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life. I'm waiting for you to get married and have your godson."
Xia Yu hugged me back and asked, "Brother, are you really not going to find a woman to marry? Are you really not going to have your own children?"
I patted Xia Yu's head, looked up at the incandescent light on the ceiling, and said with a smile, "Why should I drag others down? Aren't I doing fine as I am now? Child... I have thought about it, but Pengpeng and I can't have children, so what can we do? If you don't mind, you can have another child and adopt them into our family."
Xia Yu hugged me for a long time without saying a word. After a while, she seemed to have thought of something and burst out laughing. I asked her what she was laughing about, and she said, "My child is so lucky. Everyone else has one dad, but he has three! The parent-teacher conferences are so lively. Hahahaha." Hearing this, my eyes welled up with tears.
I ruffled Xia Yu's pretty short hair and said, "Girl, you really are a good woman."
As Xia Yu stepped out of her room, Zhang Peng came to greet her.
"Have you explained everything to your sister?"
Looking at his gentle expression, I held his hand in my palm.
"You little devil, nothing escapes your eyes."
"Hehe, do you even need to ask? Don't you realize how well I know you? By the way, when are we going home? It's getting late, and I have to go to work tomorrow."
"Hmm... Let's say hello to them and then head back."
"good."
I looked at Hua Hong; he was sprawled on Xia Yu's favorite deep red sofa, his long legs dangling precariously, swinging idly. He held the TV remote, the screen's light casting flickering red, yellow, and green hues on his smooth profile, while his gaze remained fixed on me, quiet and enigmatic. It was as if he had something to say to me, yet also as if he didn't. I didn't know what he was thinking, so I smiled at him and walked over.
Sitting on the armrest near Hua Hong's head, I asked, "Aren't you going home?"
"You want me to go home?" he replied, his eyes still fixed on the spot where I had just been standing.
"You'll have to go back eventually, won't you? That's your base of operations."
After several seconds, Hua Hong replied weakly, "...Yes, we have to go back eventually."
"I'm leaving in a bit. Where do you live? I can give you a ride if it's on my way."
Hua Hong sat up abruptly, and for some reason, his face was full of smiles, as if he were extremely happy.
"Hey, how can I find you in the future?" he asked.
"What? You want to go clubbing?"
"No good? Hehe, you're not a really bad dancer, are you?"
"Pshaw! Me, bad? I'm pretty amazing!"
"That's settled then. How can I contact you?"
“xxxxxxxx”.
I gave him my phone number, and Hua Hong quickly took out his phone and wrote it down.
Zhang Peng walked over, holding tulips in his hands, and gestured for me to go home.
I nodded knowingly and called out to Xia Yu in the room, "Xia Yu, I'm going back." After a few seconds, she replied, "Go ahead, but don't forget to close the door. I'm online, I don't have time to see you off."
Turning back, I asked Hua Hong, "Where do you live? I'll take you there."
I just said I'd give him a ride since it was on my way, but I don't know why it's changed to "I'll give you a ride." I have a vague feeling of reluctance and worry. Where will he go if he doesn't go home?
Hua Hong stood up with a smile, patted me on the shoulder and said, "Dude, I can tell from your house number that you live in the opposite direction from mine, on a different road. I can go back by myself."
After hearing what he said, I didn't know what to say.
Finally, we parted ways at the entrance of the residential area. Hua Hong went south, and Zhang Peng and I went north.
Hua Hong said goodbye and turned to leave first. Zhang Peng and I stood there, watching him cross the road before he turned and walked north.
The night breeze was cool, and the tulips carried a faint fragrance.
I hailed a taxi, and as I opened the door, Zhang Peng asked me with certainty, "You'll miss him, won't you?"
I thought about it for a moment and said, "Yes, but if he doesn't contact me, I'll forget about him after a while."
Why not ask him for his phone number?
"I don't know, um...maybe it's because I don't have money to pay my phone bill."
Zhang Peng looked at me intently, and I looked back at him intently as well. Then he shoved the tulips into my lap and got into the car first. Patting the seat next to him, he laughed and said to me, "Silly boy, how long are you planning to stand there? Aren't you going home?"
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