Additional Inheritance - Chap 22
Chapter 22
Trigger warning: Jokes about rape
After Luo Rui got back, they arranged to meet for dinner that Saturday. Wen Xiaohui was extremely happy, and as soon as he returned to Luo Yi’s house from the studio, he went to wash his face and apply makeup.
Luo Yi asked him, “What’s up? Do you have plans for tonight?”
“Xiao Ma is back. He’s my childhood friend whom I mentioned before.”
“You’re off to see your childhood friend? Then why are you dressing so meticulously?”
Wen Xiaohui gave him a sidelong glance and said, “For photos – Xiao Ma is really good looking, and I need to look better than anyone in the same photo as me.”
Luo Yi broke into laughter; he was in such a pleasant mood that he continued to watch Wen Xiaohui sticking his bottom out while applying mascara. Although Wen Xiaohui was skinny, he worked out over a long period of time to achieve his shapely bottom. This was connected to a slender waist above and a pair of straight and long legs below. It was definitely the kind of figure that would make people’s thoughts run wild.
Wen Xiaohui thought of something out of the blue and turned around. “Even though I like to apply makeup, I don’t want you copying me because this is my preference.”
“How come? Why is it a problem?”
“It’s not a question of it being good or bad, but I’m gay and you’re not. Few girls like men wearing makeup.” Wen Xiaohui picked up the lipstick. “In fact, a lot of 1s1 don’t like effeminate men that wear makeup.”
“Then why do you still wear makeup?”
“As long as I’m happy, I don’t care what others think.” Wen Xiaohui looked at his face reflected in the mirror, to which he had been applying makeup with great care and precision2. “I just love this beautiful appearance of mine.”
Luo Yi raised his head to look at him and smiled faintly. “I like how you’re so confident.”
Wen Xiaohui blew him a kiss and made a run for it after he grabbed his bag. “Bye.”
——————-
When he arrived at the coffee shop where they’d arranged to meet, he rushed through the doors and saw an effeminate man who was checking himself out in the mirror. “Xiao Ma!” Wen Xiaohui was so excited that he ended up shouting.
Luo Rui lifted his head up with a face full of surprise. “Baby3!” They hugged each other and squealed, which earned them many stares of disdain from all around them.
Wen Xiaohui held Luo Rui’s face and gave him a peck on the forehead. He said in an exaggerated tone4, “I miss you to death.”
Luo Rui gave Wen Xiaohui’s head a rub. “I miss you so much too. I felt so lonely in France.”
“How are you lonely? Every day you’re out and about enjoying the pleasures of life5.”
“Who said I’m enjoying the pleasures of life? I’m seriously and diligently learning, okay?” Luo Rui said with excitement, “I’m planning to open a patisserie. You can help me design it when the time comes.”
“No problem at all!”
Luo Rui took out a large gift bag from under the table. “Come here, I got you something.”
Wen Xiaohui’s eyes lit up and he opened it to see that it was a genuine leather backpack. “Ahhhhh! I love you to bits, Xiao Ma.” He blew several kisses towards Lui Rui.
Luo Rui grinned and said, “I bought two of the same sort so we can wear them out together.”
“Hurray! I guarantee that I can find you a handsome guy of 1.8 metres.”
“Get lost! I’m only a few centimetres off 1.8 metres myself.”
Wen Xiaohui said happily, “I was really bored when you weren’t around. You’re not allowed to leave again.”
“Of course not. I went to France to learn how to make Western style pastries and I returned to open a shop. I don’t like being abroad at all; it’s fine for a visit, but I wouldn’t be able to live there permanently.” Luo Rui poured Wen Xiaohui some tea, and turned the handle towards Wen Xiaohui’s dominant hand. The folded napkin was placed to Wen Xiaohui’s left, and he’d cut the sandwiches into small bite-size pieces for him.
Wen Xiaohui teased, “Did you get together with any handsome French guys?”
Luo Rui replied shyly, “There was one guy that I quite liked, he was my classmate. However, I decided that I couldn’t get with him as I was planning to return to China. It’s better to forget about it. Furthermore, he’s a foreigner so the language and cultural barriers are insurmountable.”
“Young lady, you’ve been outside China so why are your views still so old-fashioned? Aren’t we competing to see who loses their virginity first?”
Luo Rui chuckled, “You’re the type that’s always mouthing off. Besides, you know what I’m like, I want a serious relationship and not a casual fling. If I can’t find a nice guy who I can settle down with for the rest of my life, I’d rather stay single.”
Wen Xiaohui pinched Luo Rui’s cheek. “You were born with the wrong gender, otherwise you’d be fought over by thousands of families seeking a daughter-in-law.” From primary school to secondary school, they were either in the same class or at least at the same school. They got on well with each other and had similar interests. They were both gay, and supported each other through the long period of their bewildering teenage years. Luo Rui was definitely the most gentle and meticulous school boy that he’d ever met, and he was also handsome with a good family background. If Wen Xiaohui were a 1, he’d give up everything to pursue Luo Rui. However, Luo Rui was even more conservative than a young lady and he had high expectations, which meant that he’d never been in a relationship to date. Although Wen Xiaohui made fun of Luo Rui, he actually admired his serious attitude to love.
“Tell me about you. How have you been this year? Are you getting on well at work?”
“It’s alright. I’ve learned a lot of things at Juxing.” Wen Xiaohui grasped Luo Rui by the chin. “Come to the studio tomorrow, I’ll give you a makeover.”
“Yay! Haven’t you met the one yet?”
“Nope, otherwise I wouldn’t be shouting in the group chat and asking for help to find a boyfriend. Who were you planning to introduce to me?”
“He’s a friend of a friend. Oh yeah, the Weibo post that you uploaded last time – which relative of yours is going to X University? I’ve known you for so long, how come I never knew you had a relative who is a straight-A student?”
Wen Xiaohui replied with an air of mystery, “That was the largest change that happened to me this year.”
Luo Rui’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
“Do you remember Yaya?” Luo Rui knew virtually everything about him, so he should have some recollection of Yaya.
“I remember that she’s your sister.” Luo Rui said cautiously, “Didn’t you stop contacting each other?”
Wen Xiaohui pursed his lips. “She passed away recently.”
“Oh, how did that happen?”
“I don’t want to go into the details, but she left a son behind…” Wen Xiaohui recounted what had happened by focussing on the insignificant details and glossing over the serious matters.
Luo Rui said with surprise, “He’s 15 years old? He’s so old.”
“Yeah, my sister is a lot older than me.”
“She also left you three million and a house. That’s very generous of her.”
Wen Xiaohui sighed, “If I’d known this would happen, back then I…”
Luo Rui stroked his head. “Don’t be upset. There’s no way that you could have predicted it.”
“In any case, I’ve spent a long period of time with Luo Yi, and he really is a perfect child. It’s like he’s part of the family. I’ll introduce you to him next time.”
“Sure. But…” Luo Rui winked at him and continued, “From your description, this child is tall and handsome. Aren’t you worried that you won’t be able to resist?”
Wen Xiaohui scrubbed his own head in annoyance. “I’m telling you, there were a few times when I was a little, you know… I don’t know if he did it on purpose or not. I’m gay, and some of his actions made it very hard for me to resist. Like running – he goes on a morning run every day; other people wear tracksuits when they go for their morning runs, but he doesn’t. He wears professional track compression shorts. The skin tight sort!”
Luo Rui said a single word, “Fuck!”
Wen Xiaohui nodded vigorously. “Yep, that type of skin tight shorts where you can completely see the outlines of the thighs and buttocks. Sometimes, in that place… You can even see that! He’s not self-conscious at all, and I’m too embarrassed to tell him. It’s so awkward!”
Luo Rui shook his head. “Baby, you’ve suffered.”
Previously, there was no one that Wen Xiaohui could tell, and once he began talking about his suffering, he was unable to stop. He said with a heavy heart, “Although I can’t think that way about a kid, I’m naturally bent. A tall and handsome youth appears in front of me all the time… I’m suffering so much inside.”
“Quickly, quickly – show me his photo.”
Wen Xiaohui switched on his mobile phone screen and flicked to the photo that they took together. Pleased with himself, he said, “Here.”
“Holy crap! He’s so good looking!” Luo Rui’s nose was nearly touching the screen of the mobile phone.
“Do you get it now?”
Luo Rui nodded meaningfully. “I get it. I would feel unsettled6 too if I were in the same situation.
“Gasp… I feel a lot better after telling you, otherwise I’d suffocate to death.”
“But…” Luo Rui narrowed his eyes. “You’re not related by blood after all, and he’s so nice to you. He’s so perfect. Even if he’s underage now, it’s only a four year…”
“Fuck!” Wen Xiaohui covered his mouth and responded in fear. “Stop speaking bullshit, or I’ll rape you.”
Luo Rui brushed his hand away. “You’re feeling guilty. I don’t believe you’ve never thought about it.”
Wen Xiaohui breathed deeply, and his expression looked more serious. “I’d be lying if I said I’ve never fantasised about it, but it’s impossible for us to be together. He’s the only descendent that Yaya left behind in this world, and Yaya entrusted him to me. Anyway, I can be considered his uncle – I want to see him grow up, marry and have kids. He should be living the life of Riley7 and lead a perfect life. He must not be bent.”
“As if you have the final say in whether or not he’s bent. If people were really able to make their wishes come true, I wish I were a woman.”
“Anyway, stop spouting nonsense. He sees me as family, and I treat him as family too. There’s nothing more to it.”
Luo Rui laughed, “No matter what, I’d like to congratulate you. It’s not a bad thing to gain another family member.”
“Of course. Oh yeah, Xiao Ma, teach me how to bake a cake.”
“You? Do you want to burn my kitchen down?”
“What are you talking about? I’m so clever; Luo Yi’s 16th birthday is approaching, and I want to make him a cake.”
“You’re such a cheapskate. You won’t even buy him something decent.”
“Hey! I’ve already bought it! I bought a pair of running shoes – that’s another month of my bloody salary gone. I exerted myself trying to find a thoughtful present, but I couldn’t think of anything that he needed. Running shoes are consumables, which should be okay. I still want to make him something with my own hands, and it just so happens that you’re back. Teach me how to make a cake please.”
“How about I make it and you can pretend that you made it.”
“No, it lacks sincerity. I want to make one by myself.”
Luo Rui rolled his eyes. “You’re stubborn.”
“Are you going to teach me or not? If you won’t teach me, I’ll rape you!”
“Okay, I’ll teach you.” Luo Rui recalled something. “Oh yeah, last time you complained to me on the phone about a bastard colleague who was always picking on you. Have you sorted it yet?”
“I didn’t sort it, but he got into some trouble and he finished himself off. Wen Xiaohui told Luo Rui about Luca.
“He deserved it. It’s so satisfying.”
Wen Xiaohui chuckled, “That’s right. Oh yeah, two unusual things happened to me recently. It was brilliant. Just listen and don’t tell anyone about it.”
“Don’t worry, do you think I’m a gossiper like you?”
Wen Xiaohui, with an aura of mystery, proceeded to tell Luo Rui all about Sydney-jie and Director Luo. These were things that he shouldn’t tell anyone, but his personality was the sort that would never go back on his word. Luo Rui was the only person that he could trust with all his heart.
After Luo Rui’s jaw dropped once he finished listening. He exclaimed, “Xiaohui, you’re such a jinx.”
“Fuck! What do you mean?”
“I mean that’s what you are to them. Didn’t you notice? Everyone who upset you has had bad luck. Who are you? Do you have a martial god protecting you?
Wen Xiaohui was stunned.
How come it never occurred to him?
Footnotes:
A reminder that 1 refers to the gong/top.
精雕细琢, to do something with great care/care and precision of a sculptor.
北鼻/bei bi, loan word for the English word baby. These characters literally mean ‘north nose’ which is gibberish.
The raws say in the way of Feng Gong, a famous 60-something year old crosstalk performer (like a standup comedian) who seems to have the golden phrase of ‘I miss you guys to death’ delivered in a very enthusiastic tone. I’ve linked the video in case anyone is still curious.
吃喝玩乐, eat, drink and be merry (idiom).
心猿意马, mind like a galloping horse i.e. restless/perturbed (idiom).
人生赢家, literally winner in life but the phrase refers to someone who has reached the peak of contentment and happiness, and has luck in all aspects of their life
