Chapter 10 Looking up, looking down...
Li Jiacong, afraid of startling Li Sheng, took a step back to leave, but still disturbed Li Sheng. Li Sheng opened his eyes, his brows furrowed deeply. Li Jiacong stood there awkwardly, saying, "Did I wake you up?"
Li Sheng cleared his throat and sat up: "I woke up because I sensed someone was there."
“You’re a light sleeper.” Li Jiacong sat down on the edge of his bed. His proximity made Li Sheng shrink back half an inch and start rummaging through his shirt.
Li Jiacong: "I have something to tell you. The criminal has been caught. The police replied yesterday that he has been sent to the detention center."
"You went there again?"
"Yes, I went yesterday."
Li Jiacong went to the police station to report for duty. The thug, whom he hadn't managed to catch that day, ran back to his workplace. The police went to find him and arrested him. Once at the police station, he began to defend himself, downplaying the severity of his actions, and unsurprisingly, he kept insisting that he had been assaulted and demanding that the police deal with the assailant.
The police had seen too many scoundrels like this before, so they ignored him. The man persisted, his mouth churning with yellowish teeth and a booming voice: "His background is even worse than mine! His father is a rapist. Who knows what he's up to by hitting me! What right does he have to hit me?"
A policeman asked, "Then who is qualified?"
"Everyone else has it, except him!"
Li Jiacong looked at this scoundrel with disdain, cursing him a hundred times in his heart: Trash. This kind of person still looks down on Li Sheng because of his so-called background.
The policeman smiled and patted Li Jiacong on the shoulder: "This is the factory director's son, why are you calling him a criminal?"
"What?! It wasn't him! It wasn't this one! It was Li Sheng! That brat Li Sheng beat me up!"
The police officer glanced at Li Jiacong: "Was this person even here at the time?"
Li Jiacong shook his head monotonously: "That's my brother, we look alike. He probably got them mixed up. I'm sorry, officer, I did hit him."
The policeman waved his hand, pointed at the man, and said, "You'd better confess! Explain your own affairs clearly first!"
After their interrogation, the testimonies matched, and Li Ai's mother expressed her unwillingness to forgive, so the person was sent to the detention center that same day. In the past, Li Jiazong would never have gotten involved in such trouble, but this time, perhaps out of sympathy for Li Sheng? Or something else, he couldn't bear to see Li Sheng hear any more vulgarities in the police station.
How unexpected! This Li Sheng made his heart ache a little. For him, this was more serious than anything else—he had always thought he was heartless.
He didn't need to boast to Li Sheng, but he wanted to tell Li Sheng his attitude towards him.
Li Jiacong said naturally, "I remember now, it's about our childhood."
Li Sheng suddenly laughed, a vertical line appearing on his very thin cheek, revealing one of his canine teeth, but it was a pathetic laugh: "Because of what that person said to me, you remembered."
Li Jiacong frowned. "Yes," he admitted, "but I think you are you. That doesn't change anything."
“Yes, I am me,” Li Sheng murmured, his tone somewhat strange. He knew this was something someone had said to him many times before. But the reality couldn't be changed; what good was knowing this distinction?
Family is something one cannot escape; for some, it becomes a halo, for others a burden. People often get lost in the fog of material background, blood ties, and rights. Looking up at wealthy families evokes admiration and covetousness, while looking down reveals a chain of contempt. Even if one forcefully distinguishes between the individual and the family, it may work in words, but it cannot in reality.
Li Jiacong sensed the weariness in Li Sheng's tone and felt a sudden surge of displeasure—after saying that, he seemed like a naive, foolish son of a wealthy landowner. That wasn't right!
Li Sheng: "Is Li Ai alright?"
“I don’t know,” Li Jiacong said. “She should be fine. She’s so young, she probably won’t remember these things when she grows up.”
“Maybe,” Li Sheng said. “The first time I was called a bastard was when I was five years old.”
Looking at the person before him, Li Jiacong saw that the person huddled in the corner of the bed seemed to have reverted to the appearance of a five-year-old. The calmness in those eyes was like a deep pool of water. He then said, "I hope Li Ai can forget."
Li Jiacong bit his lip and continued to stare at Li Sheng's face.
"Um..." Li Sheng changed the subject, "Get up for a moment, I need to put on my clothes." Li Sheng had been searching for a short-sleeved shirt for a while when Li Jiacong sat down on him.
Li Jiacong glanced down, and the next second, he suddenly grabbed Li Sheng's hand. Before Li Sheng could react, his fingertips touched extremely unfamiliar skin, soft and pulsating with blood.
— Li Jiacong placed his hand on his neck.
Li Sheng instinctively tried to pull his hand away, but Li Jiacong gripped it tightly. Li Sheng: "...What are you doing?"
“You are innocent.” With a resounding voice, Li Jiacong moved his hand down, across his collarbone, across his chest, and pressed it against his heart, where the young heart was beating.
Li Jiacong added, "There's nothing you can't go in, nothing you can't see, and nothing you can't touch."
Li Sheng's pupils trembled. The savior had descended once more, not declaring that all people were guilty, but this time, granting him an exceptional pardon.
He tried to pull his hand back, but Li Jiacong wouldn't let him. The more he tried to pull away, the more Jiacong would take advantage of him, leaning his whole body closer.
Li Sheng: "Let go."
Li Jiacong: "Why?"
Li Sheng: "I understand what you mean."
Li Jiacong: "Then why are you hiding?"
Li Sheng: "I'm not used to it."
Li Jiacong: "Then you'll get used to it gradually."
He acted like a twisted freak, forcing others to put their hands on him. Li Sheng's reaction was awkward, even overly awkward; he kept trying to dodge, turning his body towards the wall.
Li Jiacong felt like he was a wriggling worm, and let go, laughing: "Li Sheng, did your hand deform after being on me for a while?"
Li Sheng remained silent.
Li Jiacong pulled out a short-sleeved shirt from under his buttocks—the one Li Sheng had given him—and was about to toss it onto the table next to him when Li Sheng immediately turned around, stretched out his arm, and grabbed it: "Give it to me!"
Li Jiacong held it up so he couldn't reach it, and questioned him, "Didn't you understand what I said?"
Li Sheng stopped and looked at him. The two were so close that their breaths could touch each other's faces: "I... understand."
Li Jiacong said to himself, "I don't have any particularly good friends at school, but I consider you a friend. Just because you beat up that person that day. You saved Li Ai, so you shouldn't be trapped here, and you shouldn't live like a sinner. It's so frustrating to watch."
Li Sheng nodded, snatched back his clothes, and hurriedly put his arm inside and over his head.
"Damn, do I really have to wear this in this heat?"
Li Jiacong was eager to get rid of those shackles. He grabbed Li Sheng's sleeve and said, "When I came, you weren't dressed. This is your home, why do you have to..."
Without realizing it, he noticed Li Sheng standing with his legs together and his back hunched. Upon seeing this, Li Jiacong's mind went blank, as if struck by lightning. He remembered Li Sheng avoiding his gaze, just like now. It was the cautious respect between a man and a woman.
He'd fucking made a stupid mistake again! Li Sheng's refusal to take off his clothes, touch others, and maintain distance was partly due to the prison imposed by that crime, but not looking at his naked body or touching him wasn't just because of those reasons—would Li Sheng have a physical reaction?!
Damn... does he... like men?
In the brief moment of Li Jiacong's stunned silence, Li Sheng knew he had seen it. He wanted to explain by saying "I just woke up," but that "just" had passed too long ago.
Li Jiacong sat back down, staring blankly.
Li Sheng's voice remained calm: "If you mind or feel disgusted, I won't appear in front of you. If Grandma wants you to come, I'll cover for you. And thank you for what I just said." He paused, then added, "Thank you so much, Brother Cong."
Li Jiacong blinked, took a deep breath, and slowly came back to his senses, thinking about Li Sheng's words.
Was it disgusting? Not really. Li Sheng's preference for men or women wasn't really a big deal to him. It was just a bit surprising; he'd seen this group in movies and expected them to have some feminine characteristics, but Li Sheng didn't have that aura.
Li Jiacong was simply curious: "Is it because you're afraid to touch women, so you prefer men?"
Li Sheng frowned slightly: "No."
"Oh, okay then." Li Jiacong's tone was very nonchalant.
He pulled something out of his pocket, held it out to him, and on his outstretched palm was a small piece of candy—the same malt candy he had as a child, crisp and not very sweet, but this one had a different packaging and was a bit pricey; one yuan could only buy two.
Li Jiacong: "I didn't expect the convenience store to still sell it."
Li Sheng took it: "...Thank you."
Li Jiacong peeled one open, twirled it in his mouth, his cheeks puffing out, and squinted his eyes, as if he was thinking about something.
Li Sheng assumed that Li Jiazong was staying because he couldn't find an excuse and was embarrassed, so he said, "I have something to do later, you can go back first."
Li Jiacong raised an eyebrow: "What do you want?"
Li Sheng stammered.
Li Jiacong then said, "What important thing could you possibly have to do? Let's go find Li Ai and take her out for a while."
…
The sky was clear and cloudless, and dragonflies hovered over the cabbage field.
Li Ai skipped and hopped as she took the candy from Li Jiacong and came out with them. She'd been locked up at home for days after the incident and couldn't stand it anymore. The first thing she did after being allowed out was to clamor to catch dragonflies.
Li Sheng used an iron ring to create a circle around the telephone pole, tied one end to a bamboo pole, and then used pliers to firmly secure it. This was the frame for catching dragonflies.
Li Jiacong frowned: "Where can I get a net? I threw away that old screen window from last time I was fishing."
Li Ai: "Stupid!"
Li Jiacong: "How can you talk like that, little girl?"
Li Sheng smiled and said, "Use a spider web."
Li Ai, holding a small net pole, began searching for spider webs in every nook and cranny, from the roof of pigsties to the corners of chicken coops and under the eaves of small storage rooms. She chased away the industrious spiders, pasting layer upon layer of web until the iron ring was covered in clean spiderwebs.
Li Ai, neck outstretched, ran along the road, waving the pole in her hand and screaming excitedly. She ran all the way to the vegetable garden.
Li Jiacong and Li Sheng slowly followed behind Li Ai.
Li Jiacong frowned in confusion: "Is the dragonfly that happy?"
Li Sheng: "Why don't you give it a try?"
Li Jiacong called out to Li Ai, "Hey! Can I borrow it for a bit?"
Li Ai glanced at him, her expression blank, as if pretending not to understand, and then continued running.
“…That little Li Ai,” Li Jiacong said speechlessly, “is like a tool that has been used and then discarded. I was the one who provided the pole and the iron ring.”
Li Sheng laughed: "Shall I make another one?"
"No need!" Li Jiacong pouted. Li Sheng plucked a handful from a passing bush and handed it to Li Jiacong. It was covered in black berries. He asked, "What's this?"
"Call me Tiantian. Never tried it before?" Li Sheng said. "Try it, it's sweet."
Li Jiacong looked at him with suspicion, but Li Sheng said sincerely, "I'm not lying to you, it tastes better than black rice."
Li Jiacong wanted to wash them before eating, but these were so small it wasn't worth wasting water. He rubbed them clean with his hands and popped them into his mouth. They were sweet. For the last few, he didn't even rub them, just popped them directly into his mouth. They tasted especially delicious, and he wanted more, but Li Sheng said, "There's only a little bit left. That's all."
Li Jiacong snapped out of his daze, realizing he was starting to adapt to this place—he wouldn't eat the fruit at home, yet he actually found these lousy berries delicious. He'd gone mad!
Li Ai walked to the end of the vegetable patch and turned back, but still found nothing. She ran back to them, dejected, and said, "Can't catch them! They're too high! They all got away!"
She moved closer to Li Sheng and said affectionately, "Brother Li Sheng, can you catch one for me?"
Li Jiacong commented on her: "She changes her expression very quickly."
Li Ai stuck her tongue out at him; in her eyes, Li Sheng was now a hero. Li Sheng didn't take it, but pointed to the net pole towards Jia Cong, meaning his chance had come.
Li Jiacong stylishly tossed his hair and said, "Come on! Let your brother Cong show you what he's got."
Li Ai forced a smile and reluctantly handed it to him, saying, "Don't break it."
Li Jiacong, having obtained the Dragonfly Net, acted as if he had obtained a racket from the stadium, swinging the club and smashing the ball, but in the end, he still caught nothing.
“…” Li Ai said, “Hmm…let Brother Li Sheng do it…”
Li Jiacong, unconvinced, squinted at the sky and said, "No, I think I've become nearsighted. I can't see clearly."
"Let Brother Li Sheng do it..."
Li Jiacong glared at her. "You've chased away all the dragonflies on this road. You're more vigilant now." He went down into the cabbage field. "Li Sheng, come here and help me check. Where are they?"
Li Sheng walked over to him, pointing to the edge of the ridge and the tall grass: "There's one sitting there. Don't swing too hard, or you'll easily get caught in the net..."
Before he could finish speaking, a dragonfly took flight from the tip of the grass. Li Jiacong saw it, swerved sharply, and couldn't stop in time. The bamboo pole lashed out, aiming straight for Li Sheng's face. Li Sheng covered his mouth, and Li Jiacong exclaimed in surprise, "Are you alright?!"
Li Sheng quickly released his hand from his hand and said, "It's nothing."
Li Jiacong leaned closer, grabbed Li Sheng's chin, and saw a clear bamboo stick mark on the right side of his lip, which was slowly turning red and swollen.
"I'm sorry, I'm fucking stupid..." He looked up in shame and met Li Sheng's gaze.
It was a look that made Li Jiacong's heart skip a beat. He realized that when he looked at Li Sheng's lips, it looked like he was about to kiss him, and Li Sheng was staring at him intently at that moment, his gaze, which was focused to the point of being almost affectionate, coming through his long eyelashes. Li Jiacong reacted for a moment, realized something, and took a half step back.
Li Ai ran down from the road: "Where's my dragonfly?"
"Got it!" Li Jiacong tossed her the net pole, on which was stuck a dragonfly with transparent, green wings.
Li Ai was amazed for a moment, then looked up and saw two brothers standing far away on either side of her, one with red lips, and the other...
"Jiacong, why is your face so red? Did you get sunburned?"
"Shut up, Li Ai."
A note from the author:
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