Chapter 26 "Grilled cold noodles."...
Li Jiacong rode his bike home for a week until a hailstorm made the ground slippery and his hands were freezing while riding against the wind, so he couldn't ride the bike anymore.
Li Sheng took the initiative to find him. After getting off work, he took a taxi and stood at the school gate to wait for him. He arrived just as school was ending and most people had left. Li Sheng stood there and became very conspicuous. Sometimes, a few students who were walking slowly would see him and ask Li Jiacong who he was.
It's explained, but it's still strange. Who would have a boy about their own age pick them up from school every day?
Especially after Qian He saw it, his mouth never stopped, and he immediately started to criticize Li Jiacong and make fun of their relationship.
Every evening after school, Li Jiacong would try to avoid Qian He, but Qian He was like a persistent ghost. Seeing Li Jiacong lingering in his seat, he would come over and chat with him, insisting on walking together.
Qian He put his arm around him: "Is your brother coming again today?"
This was just the beginning, and Li Jiacong already didn't like what he was hearing. He said irritably, "What do you want?"
"Hahaha, are you two up to something?"
When asked this, Li Jiacong had to come up with a plausible excuse, but he couldn't think of one for the moment. He shoved Qian He aside and said, "What's the big deal? He's just bored."
"Who the hell has the time to pick you up from school? I've seen it several times, just the two of you walking together, taking your time, wow, what a sight."
Li Jiacong took a deep breath and decided not to explain further. By this time, they had reached the door, but Li Sheng wasn't there. Li Jiacong said to Qian He, "Get out."
"It looks like he didn't come today."
"ill."
"We might not be the ones with the problem, Jia Cong, stop messing around with everything! Stop messing things up!"
When Qian He said these words, he wasn't serious at all. Most of them were just jokes meant to embarrass and leave Li Jiazong speechless. They often made such jokes, whether they were crude or not, and it was fine to say things that weren't true. But Li Jiazong felt guilty and didn't know how to react. He shook off Qian He at the school gate and disappeared into the alley, hiding in a dark apartment building, where he made a phone call to Li Sheng.
Li Jiacong: "Where are you?"
He had previously told Li Sheng not to get too close to the school gate, but now he was afraid that Li Sheng would end up walking right next to Qian He.
Li Sheng: "Behind you."
Li Jiacong turned around and saw that the narrow alleyway of the residential building was only lit by dim lights, which shone on Li Sheng's profile. He was carrying something in his hand and walking towards him.
Li Jiacong breathed a sigh of relief.
"Want some?" Li Sheng asked, offering him the food in his hand.
Li Jiacong frowned upon seeing it: "What is that?"
Li Sheng: "Grilled cold noodles."
It was a street vendor's product, something Li Jiacong had never eaten before. He didn't know who invented it, and he'd only just heard that cold noodles could be grilled. Before he could even pick up a skewer, Li Sheng handed it to him to feed him. Li Jiacong opened his mouth, took a bite, and after tasting it, said, "It's cloyingly sweet."
Li Sheng: "You don't like it?"
"Well enough."
Li Sheng was about to continue feeding him when Li Jiacong told him to stop: "I can do it myself."
They crouched in a dark corner, almost invisible unless you got very close. Li Sheng could barely see them either: "No one can see us here."
Li Jiacong glanced around: "Not necessarily. Better safe than sorry."
This feels like we're doing something wrong. Li Sheng smiled wryly and said, "Next time, let's both wear hats and masks to cover ourselves up properly."
Li Jiacong noticed something was off about his tone: "Next time we should meet in a room. It's getting colder and colder. Squatting here isn't a solution."
"you……"
“I’ll think of a way,” Li Jiacong said to him. “How about this, you can tell me which day you have time off, and I’ll skip evening self-study.”
“No,” Li Sheng shook his head, “You still need to study. The college entrance exam is coming up soon.”
"Do I care about a few hours?" For Li Jiacong, this was a question that...
"It's better not to..."
Li Jiacong clicked his tongue, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "You don't need to worry about me. How are you?"
"I'm fine, I got paid today."
Li Jiacong praised dryly, "Pretty good."
Li Sheng thought for a moment and then suddenly said, "After I save up for a few more months, I'll go out and rent a place."
Li Jiacong chewed on his grilled cold noodles, glanced at him, and said, "That works too. It would be convenient for both of us that way."
Li Sheng pinched his neck: "You're really enthusiastic about this."
Li Jiacong smiled and nodded shamelessly, admitting, "Anyway, just wait for my call. You don't need to come after school anymore."
Li Sheng hummed in agreement, and Li Jiacong suddenly became considerate, handing him a bite of grilled cold noodles, as if to feed him.
Li Sheng accepted it. Li Jiacong asked, "Does it smell good?"
Li Sheng nodded.
"Does it taste better when I feed it to you?"
Li Sheng chuckled.
Li Jiacong shuddered, feeling embarrassed by his own sentimentality. This wasn't really suitable for the two of them, but they found it quite amusing to banter like this every now and then.
After finishing their fresh grilled cold noodles, their meeting for the day was almost over. Li Jiacong took a taxi and brought some back to Li Sheng on the way.
-
Li Sheng had scheduled his day off for Tuesday. Shortly after sending Li Jiacong a text message, Li Jiacong gave him a hotel room number.
It was after Li Jiazong finished school. He still had a long day ahead of him. He took a shower at noon, but when he returned, someone came to his dormitory.
It was Zhao Cheng. He was chatting with Wang Dapeng when he saw Li Sheng and immediately gave him a warm hug: "Shengzi, are you doing alright here?"
Li Sheng was a little surprised and hummed in agreement.
I came here especially to see you!
Li Sheng forced a smile. He really had to thank Zhao Cheng for this job. Since Zhao Cheng had come, it was inevitable that he would treat him to a meal. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he started making arrangements.
Wang Dapeng was with them too—they were all the people who had "taken care" of him during this period.
After the meal, Wang Dapeng's attitude towards him improved a lot. He treated him like a brother at the dinner table and told him how to be a sensible person—you can't be stubborn when you're out in the world.
Zhao Cheng changed jobs and started working at a club near Yunji. He was supposed to be a bouncer, but he was really just a thug. The more "brothers" he had, the better.
“Shengzi, I’ll introduce you to my older brother next time,” Zhao Cheng said. “If you get tired of working at Yunji, come work for us. I’m hiring.”
Li Sheng: "Everything is fine now."
Wang Dapeng laughed: "With his looks and talent, you want him to work as a host? Do you think Brother Feng would even notice him?"
During their meal break, Zhao Cheng and Wang Dapeng had mentioned this "Brother Feng" more than four or five times. He sounded like a minor boss at the club. Zhao Cheng's approach to Li Sheng was like a junior member recruiting junior members, developing layer upon layer, and one day, he would become the boss.
But Li Sheng wasn't interested in these things. He was content with the money he earned with his own hands and politely declined Zhao Cheng's offer.
Zhao Cheng persisted: "A man has to have ambition! The salary over there is higher, and you have more face. You don't have to serve anyone. Sometimes Brother Feng gives you some side jobs, so you can earn extra money."
Wang Dapeng smiled, but it was unclear what he meant.
Zhao Cheng ultimately failed to persuade Li Sheng to come, but he didn't completely rule out the matter either, telling Li Sheng to come over and visit whenever he had free time, since it was nearby anyway.
It was almost four o'clock when they finished eating. Zhao Cheng ordered some alcohol, and Li Sheng couldn't avoid it, so he was forced to drink several bottles.
Li Sheng doesn't drink alcohol, but after drinking too much, he felt very uncomfortable and vomited at the restaurant. He was dizzy and unsteady. He parted ways with Zhao Cheng and walked back to his dormitory alone. Wang Dapeng didn't go back to his dormitory and no one knew where he went.
Li Sheng was thinking about his appointment with Li Jiacong, so he went back to his dormitory to rest for a while. When he went upstairs, he vomited for the second time.
He ran to the sink, turned on the flush, and experienced stomach cramps—a common symptom of someone who doesn't usually drink but has drunk too much.
He shivered, feeling the heat evaporating from his body. Suddenly, a gentle voice beside him asked, "Would you like some hot water?"
It was Huang Yin. She saw Li Sheng walking unsteadily in the corridor from her dormitory room, so she followed him.
She handed him a glass of water, but Li Sheng found the watery substance hard to swallow and shook his head, saying, "No, thank you."
Huang Yin gently patted his back, looking at him with concern in her eyes.
She was considerate without asking many questions.
Li Sheng didn't say anything. He wiped his mouth, his head was still spinning, and he unconsciously wanted to squat down, but Huang Yin supported him and led him little by little to the dormitory.
There was no one in the dormitory.
Huang Yin quickly tidied up an empty lower bunk and let Li Sheng lie down on it. Seeing how sad Li Sheng looked, she sat on the edge of the bed and didn't leave.
Li Sheng had only closed his eyes for about ten minutes when he suddenly opened them, took out his phone to check the time—it was almost five o'clock, and Li Jiacong would be getting out of school soon. He sat up.
Huang Yin looked at him and asked, "What do you need? I'll get it for you."
Li Sheng covered his head and said, "I have to go out."
Huang Yin: "Where are you going now? Where are you going?"
Li Sheng: "Meeting with...meeting with Li Jiacong."
His mind was racing, and he didn't bother to cover up Li Jiacong's identity. Huang Yin was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then realized that he must be the brother Li Sheng had mentioned.
But it's already like this...
Huang Yin said, "How about I call him for you and have him come find you?"
Li Sheng shook his head.
Seeing that his eyes were glazed over and he seemed to have a headache, Huang Yin was really worried: "Where are you meeting? I'll take you there."
Li Sheng opened his mouth, mentally reading the hotel's name, but a sliver of consciousness told him that he couldn't reveal where he and Li Jiacong were meeting. The first time was manageable, but if Huang Yin discovered that they had arranged to meet at a hotel, his relationship with Li Jiacong would be exposed.
He pursed his lips and shook his head: "I can do it myself."
As he spoke, he leaned against the wall and started to walk out. Huang Yin followed and tried to stop him, probably thinking he was acting drunk.
Despite feeling dizzy, Li Sheng clearly told her, "I'm fine, don't worry. Time is almost up, and I... don't want to be late."
This was quite clear. Huang Yin let go of his hand, her expression somewhat surprised.
Li Sheng didn't realize it at the time, but later he learned that Huang Yin had probably already discovered his feelings for Li Jiacong. Because Huang Yin simply couldn't understand—would pure brotherhood really be so precious and cautious about such a meeting?
Li Sheng stumbled and staggered his way to the hotel.
The timing was perfect; he even squatted at the door and waited for Li Jiacong for a while.
Li Jiacong, carrying his schoolbag, didn't look like a thief anymore. He had changed out of his school uniform and was wearing a windbreaker. He strolled in leisurely, looking very relaxed.
Reaching the door, he glanced down at Li Sheng, his expression incredulous, and said, "You've been drinking? What are you doing, having some fun?"
Li Sheng chuckled, stood up, picked up Li Jiacong, and they crashed into the door together.
Within minutes of lying in bed with Li Jiacong, Li Sheng felt his alcohol levels begin to sober up. It seemed that he didn't need any opening remarks or flirting to explore each other's relationship with ease.
While taking off his clothes, Li Jiacong took a moment to ask, "Who were you drinking with?"
After Li Sheng finished speaking, Li Jiacong said "oh" and didn't ask any more questions. He wasn't interested. Then, a series of delicate kisses landed on his lips, and they began to get to their next topic.
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