Chapter 11 *** ……
***
The stage for the wedding banquet was decorated with flowers and balloons on both sides, and roses hung from the ceiling. Li Sheng sat next to Li Jiacong, and the two of them looked at the beautiful bride in a white wedding dress in the center of the stage.
On stage, people took oaths, exchanged rings, and kissed. Li Jiacong's eyes were a little red. He turned his head, poured himself a full glass of wine, and clinked glasses with Li Sheng's.
Li Sheng picked up the cup and obediently drank it down in one gulp. He turned his head and saw that Li Jiacong's eyes were red and swollen. This was the first time he had ever seen Li Jiacong shed tears.
Over the years, Li Sheng had thought that Li Jiazong was someone he had buried deep in his memory, someone who could no longer stir up any waves, but that was not the case—
The wedding procession started at five o'clock this morning. Li Sheng slept in the groom's guest room the night before. When he woke up in the morning, Li Jiacong was sitting next to him in the dark and said, "There are still five minutes left. You can sleep a little longer."
There was an indescribable loneliness about that figure. Li Sheng asked him what he was doing, since Li Jiacong should have stayed in another room last night. Li Jiacong looked innocent and replied, "To tie your tie."
Li Sheng was speechless, got up and put on his clothes.
After filming the wedding banquet video, they went to Li Ai's hotel. The room was filled with people coming to pick up the bride and those accompanying her. Large red "double happiness" characters adorned the ceiling, and pink balloons hung close together. Li Ai, dressed in a traditional Chinese wedding gown, sat in the center of the wedding bed, her skirt flowing freely, her hair adorned with jewels. Li Sheng couldn't help but compliment her on her beauty.
"Come on! Best man, let's play a game!" They prepared some props, such as balancing plastic film on their faces, so that the groom wouldn't look bad and the best man would do it instead.
Passing the note—with your mouth!
"Whoa—" The crowd began to cheer and laugh.
Li Sheng tried to dodge to the side, but was immediately caught by the bridesmaid: "Don't run away! Everyone has to play!"
Li Sheng chuckled awkwardly. He glanced at Li Jiacong, and their eyes met. Li Jiacong seemed to suddenly perk up. After being rejected by him yesterday, this kissing game instantly made him radiant. He leaned closer and said, "Can I stand next to you?"
Li Sheng was about to leave when Li Jiacong grabbed him, saying, "If the piece of paper falls, it won't be appropriate for you to kiss anyone. I'm fine, I don't mind."
The room was too noisy, so he made sure his voice was inaudible to others, but Li Sheng could hear every word clearly. Li Sheng gritted his teeth and smiled, saying, "Okay."
Li Jiacong said, "It's not like when I was a child."
"What?"
Before Li Jiacong could answer, the game began. A piece of paper, about the length of an index finger, was passed around by sucking on it. Another groomsman handed it to Li Jiacong, who unceremoniously sucked it on. Then he turned his head, and Li Jiacong tilted his head back slightly, his eyes gleaming with ill intent.
Li Sheng approached, stood on tiptoe, and bent down to catch it. Just as he was about to touch it, the piece of paper fell as Li Jiacong had planned. Soft lips touched, and Li Sheng leaned back, but was pressed back by a hand with considerable force. Li Jiacong's hand was pressed on the back of his head.
This wasn't their first kiss, but the crowd around them gasped and laughed, watching them—it was their first time kissing in public!
It was just a game to make fun of someone else's wedding, and everyone would soon forget about it. However, a flood of memories surged through Li Sheng's mind, as if a hand had pulled him back to that summer, so hot and so dry, when he kissed someone he shouldn't have.
…
After the lengthy speeches, the dishes were served one after another, and the bride came around to toast the guests. Finally, it was their table's turn to thank the best man and bridesmaids for their hard work. Li Ai, having changed into a new dress, looked like a princess from paradise. Holding a glass, she walked to Li Sheng's side and said, "Thank you, Brother Sheng."
Li Sheng waved his hand.
"Not only thank you for coming today—I was too young before, and only when I grew up did I realize that I owe you a word that I haven't said, but I can't find you anymore. Today I must say it! Brother Li Sheng, thank you for protecting me."
It protected a girl's bright future, keeping her pure and untainted. It ensured that when she understood what had happened, she wouldn't be overwhelmed by the terrible, sordid memories. She would always remember: someone, a brave person, rushed in like a knight, and helped her drive away the bad guys.
Li Sheng drank the glass of wine, a faint smile on his face as always. At that moment, Li Jiacong nudged Li Ai's arm: "No one for me?"
Li Ai laughed: "What right do you have? I hated you the most when we were kids. You would steal my chicken leg, and when I asked you for a favor, you would make excuses and even complain to my mom. You're so much older than me, but you never gave me any leeway. However, in my memory, you did one decent thing: you told the police that you were the one who hit someone."
Upon hearing this, both Li Jiacong and Li Sheng were stunned. Li Jiacong hadn't expected Li Ai to suddenly bring it up, while Li Sheng was completely unaware of the incident. Li Jiacong awkwardly replied to Li Ai, "Okay, as long as you remember one good thing about me, that's enough."
After finishing their drinks, Li Ai, arm in arm with her groom, walked towards the others. Li Sheng stared at the glasses on the swivel table, his fingers curling up.
Taking the opportunity, Li Jiacong said, "What are you thinking about? Do you feel like you owe me a favor?"
"You think I owe you a favor, right?"
"That's one way to put it. Are you still going?"
Li Sheng smiled wryly: "Li Jiacong, stop playing around. Be more mature."
Regardless of what he said, Li Jiacong continued, "Given your personality, you'll definitely have to pay it back."
Li Sheng found him unyielding and gripped the cup tightly: "How do you want me to repay you?"
"Stay a little longer," Li Jiacong blinked, his clear black and white eyes and deceptive face revealing a hint of something more. "I'll treat you to dinner tonight."
After the wedding banquet, they helped pack up and took the makeup artist home. By the time they finished, it was already 3 PM. Li Sheng got into Li Jiazong's car, having agreed to the meal. As the car stopped, he looked up and saw a residential area. Li Jiazong knew what he was going to say: "Let's eat. I'll cook for you."
Li Jiacong bought his own house and lived alone. The room was messy, with clothes all over the sofa. Li Jiacong made room for Li Sheng to sit down, and then started rummaging through the refrigerator to prepare groceries.
"Go to sleep if you're tired," Li Jiacong said in the kitchen.
Li Sheng didn't move, sitting on the sofa waiting for him. The meal took nearly two hours to prepare, and by the time they finally ate, it was already dark. The streetlights outside were on, and the LED lights of the large shopping mall across the street covered most of the building, casting red and blue light into the room.
Li Jiacong poured him wine, his purpose was all too clear: he wanted to get Li Sheng drunk. However, Li Sheng did not refuse and drank glass after glass with him, but his face remained neither red nor white. Li Jiacong was secretly annoyed, he had never been able to drink so much when he was a child.
After they finished eating and drinking, Li Sheng sat with him for a while, chatting and agreeing to talk, but never asking any questions, as if he were just completing a task and waiting for it to end. After only three minutes of quiet, Li Sheng touched his coat and said, "That's enough, I'm leaving."
This was a case of "the drunkard's real intention not being the wine," as Li Jiacong only thought he was drunk. But as soon as he heard the word "leave," he immediately got up and grabbed Li Sheng without thinking. Only then did he realize that he was dizzy and fell on top of Li Sheng.
After Li Sheng helped him steady, he immediately stepped back and kept his distance.
"Don't go." Li Jiacong had no right to stop them, his tone almost pleading.
But Li Sheng still walked step by step toward the door.
How could he possibly keep him here? Li Jiacong thought, what if he could get up, stand on the windowsill, and threaten Li Sheng that he was going to jump?
***2002
Summer homework arrived by the postman on his bicycle, along with a letter addressed to Li Sheng. Li Jiazong carried several stacks of homework home, took out the letter, and was pondering it when Li Sheng arrived, holding plums from a tree at home, and asked him, "Want some? They're fresh."
"Put it aside—there's a letter for you, the messenger asked me to deliver it to you."
Li Sheng took it, stared at the address on it, and was stunned for a long time.
Li Jiacong looked at his expression and asked, "Is it another relative of yours?"
Li Sheng tore open the letter, quickly read it, and then quickly put it back. His expression became very uncomfortable.
Li Jiacong had a pretty good idea. He said, "Is it your other family members who are looking for you?"
Li Sheng was stunned, not expecting him to guess so accurately, and simply confessed: "She actually has... my address." But she has never seen him.
Li Sheng was sad for a moment, but quickly returned to the position of considering the other party's feelings. There was nothing wrong with not looking at him; looking at him was like looking at past traumas, which was too difficult for him.
Li Jiacong gave an "oh" and pulled out his homework. Flipping through the pages, he found a note in his father's handwriting, instructing him to finish it within a specified time and mail it back. Li Jiacong looked despairing: "This homework is so hard, I could never finish it."
Li Sheng snapped out of his reverie, picked up a book, opened it, and found it contained mathematics. He stared at it intently.
Li Jiacong: "You can?"
Li Sheng: "I'm not very good at it. I haven't learned these formulas."
Li Jiacong suddenly thought of something, took the math book from his hand, and threw the English and Chinese books to him: "You know these well, help me write them down."
Li Sheng: "Won't we be discovered?"
Li Jiacong: "The teacher definitely won't, but my mom will. She'll definitely check it." He yelled, "But I just can't fucking finish writing all of this."
Li Sheng smiled and said, "I'll imitate your handwriting."
"You're really going to help me?"
"Um."
Li Jiacong patted him on the shoulder: "Thanks, I'm penniless right now. If you come to the city to find me after school starts, I'll treat you to a good time."
As he was speaking, Li Sheng picked up a pen and said, "Write down some commonly used characters, and I'll take a look."
…
A small table was placed on the kang (a heated brick bed), and the two men wrote silently. Li Jiacong became restless and looked up at Li Sheng, who was sitting upright and meticulous. Li Sheng had been so willing to help him with his homework, so he felt he should reciprocate with a gesture of kindness, and asked, "What did the letter say?"
Li Sheng thought for a moment, then pushed the letter towards him. The letter didn't say much, only that he had learned of his grandfather's death and left a phone number for him to contact.
Li Jiacong: "The reason you're being asked to contact him is probably because he wants to reunite you with your family. What do you think? It's good to have family to rely on."
"Forget it," Li Sheng said. "I wouldn't recognize them on the street. Family members like that are just strangers I pass by."
A note from the author:
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