Four-Faced Buddha [To My Shore] - Chap 91
Chapter 91 Letting the Wolf In
2024-10-13 07:35 Category: Four-Faced BuddhaTurn off the lights
“Who is that young man? Is he from this year’s new calendar?” the woman asked eagerly. “Do you need me to cover for you?”
You Shulang got out of the car and helplessly said, “President Shi, please spare me.”
The woman’s car was eye-catching, its headlights flashing, drawing the attention of the two men facing off.
The vacant look vanished and then quickly returned; as soon as You Shulang got out of the car, his gaze was magnetically fixed on them.
Qin Zhiyang straightened his back, his face expressionless, and scratched his trousers with his fingers before calling out “Brother You” first.
Fan Xiao remained in the same posture, leaning lazily against the motorcycle, his gaze sweeping over You Shulang before meeting that of the woman driving.
His probing gaze shifted, and he offered a smile, nodding to the woman as if they were old acquaintances.
The woman smiled back, but called out to You Shulang, who was walking around the car, and leaned forward slightly while holding the steering wheel, lowering her voice: “If you have to choose one, choose the new calendar. That old almanac, although it looks nice, is definitely not a good one.”
You Shulang bent down and held onto the car window to help the woman fasten her seatbelt.
“Mr. Shi has a good eye, but I don’t want either the new or the old.”
The woman shrugged, glanced at Fan Xiao with a hint of schadenfreude, then started the car and drove off.
You Shulang pressed his knuckles against his stomach, took a deep breath, and turned to face the two of them.
“What’s up?” he asked casually.
Qin Zhiyang beat Fan Xiao to the punch, saying, “Brother You, I’m here to apologize to you.”
You Shulang nodded, not asking why he was apologizing, and casually replied, “I know.” He gestured with his chin towards Fan Xiao, “And you?”
Fan Xiao then changed from leaning to standing, using his body to block the cake box hanging on the handlebars.
“It’s nothing, I was just passing by.” His gaze lingered on You Shulang’s face, then he suddenly frowned. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“Since there’s nothing wrong, don’t block the way.” Without answering Fan Xiao’s question, You Shulang stepped between the two of them, not touching anyone’s clothes, and walked deeper into the residential area.
Fan Xiao glanced at the receding, thin figure, his eyes filled with worry. Lost in thought, he heard Qin Zhiyang’s calmly sarcastic tone: “Didn’t you come to deliver a cake? You didn’t even dare say a word when we met. Looks like you’re not so great after all.”
Fan Xiao has never been merciful to his rivals, especially since they’ve provoked him right in front of him. He brushed off the dust he’d picked up from riding his bike and replied casually, “Kid, they’re angry. If you behave yourself, you’ll avoid a scolding.”
And to kill someone by destroying their spirit: “I may not be much, but I’ve spent every day with him, so I understand him better than you do.”
Qin Zhiyang’s expression grew even colder. The word “bastard” had touched a nerve. He was no kind person and knew to stab someone where it was most vulnerable.
“You do understand Brother You better, so you know how to hurt him in the most painful way, don’t you?” Qin Zhiyang said condescendingly, as if he were a judge sentencing a criminal. “People’s wounds will always heal, but the pain of the past will always be fresh in their minds. Brother You will feel pain every time he sees you.”
He mechanically and definitively declared: “Therefore, Fan Xiao, you will never have another chance to get back together with him.”
With his buzz cut and cold eyes, Fan Xiao looked even more ruthless than before. His expression changed several times, but he finally smiled, as if he were fooling a child: “You’re right. Now that you’ve finished, please go back. Those boys have been circling your sports car several times. Don’t be naughty and carve any more words on it, or it won’t look good.”
Qin Zhiyang felt as if he had been punched hard in the chest, and some unpleasant memories were brought back to mind.
Suppressing his anger, he remained calm: “Brother You is my first love, and I will not give up on him.”
Like being pestered by a baring puppy, Fan Xiao was getting annoyed. He wanted to smoke but couldn’t bear to, so he took out a cigarette and slowly rubbed it between his fingers. When he spoke again, it was with ill intent: “Kid, there’s something I should correct you on. First love should at least be mutual. If it’s just one-sided, it’s just unrequited love.”
He pondered for a moment: “Xianglian must have been in unrequited love, otherwise she wouldn’t have endured eighteen years of hardship in the cold cave.”
Qin Zhiyang’s face turned pale. He had been known as “mature beyond his years” since childhood, but now he was starting to speak recklessly.
“I’m younger, richer, and more handsome than you. Even if it’s just unrequited love, I’ll still have a path to take, unlike you, who have already blocked your own path!”
Such naive words were delivered with such composure and confidence by Qin Zhiyang that Fan Xiao couldn’t help but admire him.
Dressed in overalls, he looked dashing and nonchalant. He beckoned to a few children nearby: “Come on, you guys tell me, who’s more handsome, me or him?”
Fan Xiao smiled very gently and quietly patted the motorcycle body with his hand, the meaning of which was self-evident.
Pick me, and I’ll take you for a drive.
The children’s eyes lit up, and just as they were about to answer, they saw another man patting his sports car.
With a press of the remote control in his hand, the sports car’s canopy slowly retracted, looking incredibly cool.
“You’re handsome! You’re the most handsome!”
As the children pointed at him, Qin Zhiyang glanced at Fan Xiao and slowly curled the corners of his lips.
“Damn it!” Fan Xiao cursed at a bunch of kids, cigarette dangling from his mouth. “Superficial.”
The sports car was full of children, and Qin Zhiyang’s usually smug face showed a hint of pride. He started the car and turned the steering wheel, but was stopped by someone.
Fan Xiao, leaning against the windshield and holding onto the car door, said in a low voice, “If you want to protect You Shulang, you should stay away from him.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a little madman, we’re kindred spirits, and I won’t allow anyone to hurt him again.”
“…”
After picking Tian Tian up from the neighbor’s house, the little girl read, took a bath, and went to bed on time. You Shulang received a sweet goodnight kiss.
He closed the bedroom door and pressed the hand on his stomach harder. This was a recent problem for You Shulang. With his studies, project tasks, and the responsibility of taking care of Tian Tian, he often ate irregularly and haphazardly, resulting in stomach problems that would flare up from time to time, which was very distressing.
I had just run out of stomach medicine at home, and I was going to try to bear it, as I often have experienced this before. But this time it was really bad; I had waves of stomach cramps and was covered in cold sweat.
After putting on his coat and picking up his keys, You Shulang planned to go downstairs to buy medicine. Before leaving, he glanced at the bedroom again, still worried about Tiantian being home alone.
“Go and come back quickly,” You Shulang decided, then quickly closed the door and went downstairs.
The streetlights in the old neighborhood are sparse and dim, covering a very narrow area. It’s usually difficult to walk at night, but now, walking on the red brick path, there’s no need to worry about anything else.
He had only walked a few steps when he heard a faint rustling sound in the distance. The sound wasn’t loud, but it was unsettling in the night. Security in old neighborhoods is inadequate, and there are always thieves trying to steal things. You Shulang clutched his stomach with one hand and pried a red brick off the road with the other, holding it tightly.
The bench in front of the building was outside the light fixture’s glow, so the noise was coming from there. A vague figure moved from outside the light to inside, its outline gradually becoming clearer.
Before You Shulang could call out his name, the other person spoke first: “Shulang, is it really you?”
“Fan Xiao?”
Holding a red brick, You Shulang’s eyes were icy: “What are you doing here?” He glanced down the building towards his room. “Are you spying on me?”
“No,” Fan Xiao hurriedly explained, “Just now in front of the community gate, I noticed that you looked unwell, with obvious bluish-gray under your eyes. I thought you must be feeling unwell. So that’s how it is; you can tell when someone is sick just by looking at their face.”
He pointed to the area below You Shulang’s eyelids, his fingertips far away, as if he was afraid of being disliked.
“I’m a little worried, so I want to stay here and keep watch.”
As summer drew to a close, Fan Xiao was already wearing long-sleeved clothes. The nights were chilly, and he was sensitive to the cold, so his ears were now red from the cold.
“Have you been keeping watch all this time?”
“I’ll stay up until you turn off the lights.”
“All of them?”
Fan Xiao paused slightly, then changed the subject: “Where are you going in the middle of the night?”
You Shulang turned and walked out of the residential area: “I’m fine, you can go back.”
“Are you really not feeling unwell anywhere?” Fan Xiao caught up with him, grabbed You Shulang’s shoulder, and raised his hand to feel his forehead without giving him a chance to speak.
“No fever.” Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, she noticed You Shulang clutching his abdomen with one hand: “Does it hurt your stomach or your abdomen?”
“It’s none of your business.” You Shulang shook him off, and as his body was torn apart, the excruciating pain returned. You Shulang was in so much pain that he couldn’t straighten his back, and his forehead was covered in sweat.
Fan Xiao grabbed him, breaking out in a cold sweat: “What happened? Is it your stomach? Does it hurt?”
Unable to argue with him, You Shulang impatiently grunted an “um”.
“I’ll take you to the hospital.” Fan Xiao picked You Shulang up in his arms.
Even though it was night and no one was around, You Shulang felt a surge of shame and indignation. When the two of them were together, they often hugged and cuddled in and out of bed. Fan Xiao seemed to have this fetish, foolishly using it to show off his prowess. Although it wasn’t very comfortable, You Shulang was willing to indulge him at the time, letting him toss and turn, only complaining in his heart.
He could hold her once, but not now. You Shulang struggled, but his stomach ached more and more, and he became increasingly weak and breathless.
“I don’t want to go to the hospital, I’ll just buy some medicine and I’ll get better after taking it.” He had no choice but to compromise and offer a solution.
Fan Xiao lifted him up, gripped him tighter, and moved faster, remaining silent and refusing to accept any advice.
“Fan Xiao, Tian Tian is still at home, I’m worried about her.”
His rapid pace slowed, and Fan Xiao looked at the person in his arms.
“It gets better after taking some medicine; it’s always the same.”
“Every time? Do you often have stomach aches? You were fine before?”
Just as You Shulang had caught Fan Xiao in a compromising situation, his own words had now given him away. Breaking free from Fan Xiao’s embrace and landing on his feet, You Shulang tried to straighten his back as much as possible, not wanting to appear too weak and pathetic. Ignoring Fan Xiao’s question, he simply said, “I’ll just go out and buy some medicine.”
“I’ll take you home now, and then I’ll go buy the medicine.” Fan Xiao made his decision without room for argument…
The water had just boiled when there was a knock on the door.
You Shulang glanced at his watch subconsciously. Six minutes wasn’t even enough time to walk from the residential area to the pharmacy.
Upon opening the door, one sees Fan Xiao panting heavily with his hands on his knees, unable to speak for a moment, only handing over the medicine.
With a flick of his fingertips, You Shulang hooked the medicine bag over his shoulder. He slowly withdrew his arm, finally letting it hang at his side. He uttered a “thank you” and closed the door at the same time.
The door, which was about to close, was suddenly pushed to a stop by a large hand. Fan Xiao was breathing heavily and said in broken sentences, “I’ll help you… cook some porridge, and I’ll leave after I’m done.”
“No need,” You Shulang replied decisively from the doorway.
He tried to slam the door shut again, but it was no match for the resistance. So You Shulang simply left the door open and stared coldly at Fan Xiao.
Inside and outside the door, they stared at each other silently. Under You Shulang’s deep, indifferent, and ambiguous gaze, Fan Xiao slowly stopped breathing and straightened up.
He knew best when You Shulang could be provoked and when he couldn’t. Now it was the latter. If he stepped into the room, he would surely face a difficult future.
Lifting his aching legs, Fan Xiao took a step, sidestepped You Shulang, and entered the room, saying softly, “I’ll make you some porridge, and I’ll leave as soon as I’m done.”
After preparing the medicine for You Shulang and watching him drink it, Fan Xiao locked himself in the kitchen, like a trustworthy gentleman, keeping his promise.
The sounds of the range hood working, the clinking of cups and saucers, and the aroma of rice slowly filled the small room, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere in the middle of the night.
Sick people are vulnerable. You Shulang’s mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts. He used to lean against the door and watch Fan Xiao cook. The mouthwatering deliciousness was three parts in the pot and seven parts in the man. The wild desires in the mundane world are most likely to arouse one’s senses. The two of them often ended up in bed before they even finished eating.
Shaking his head, You Shulang shook off the chaotic images. In doing so, he regained a bit of rationality. He thought, “You Shulang, you’ve let the wolf into the house again.”
During this time, Fan Xiao also left the kitchen once, when the clock hands overlapped at 12 o’clock.
The sound of the lights being turned off and darkness descended simultaneously. The kitchen door was gently pushed open, and the flickering candlelight illuminated Fan Xiao’s extremely gentle face.
A ball of fire was carefully protected and presented to You Shulang, where it was reflected in his pupils.
“Happy birthday.” Fan Xiao’s voice filled the air, with a slightly sweet and sticky tone. “Your stomach isn’t feeling well today, so you can’t eat cake. Instead, blow out the candles and make a wish.”
A thin candle was placed on Tian Tian’s egg yolk pie, and a seemingly weak flame surged with enormous heat, making people feel hot for no reason.
You Shulang leaned back on the sofa, moving away from the beam of fire.
“Want to make a wish?” His gaze shifted from the candlelight to Fan Xiao’s face. “Guess what I’ll wish for?”
The initial fervor gradually faded, and Fan Xiao’s upturned lips slowly straightened and slumped downwards in defeat. You Shulang took in everything, gave a light scoff, stood up, walked to the wall, and snapped on the light.
With the lights blazing brightly, a single candle flame is no longer worth mentioning.
“I don’t know what day I was born, and I never celebrate my birthday.”
“But we clearly agreed that we would do this every year on this day…”
The pain fueled his temper, and You Shulang became somewhat agitated. He sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and his pale face was chilling: “A promise? Does the promise even count? Every time before, you said you would be obedient and listen to me, but what has been the reality?”
Spreading his palms, You Shulang pressed his thumbs and ring fingers against his temples, losing his patience: “Is the porridge ready? If it is, then get out!”
Fan Xiao stood under the incandescent light, holding a candle, and remained silent for a long time before saying, “Then I’ll make a wish for you.”
He closed his eyes and whispered his wish: “May Director You and Tiantian always be healthy and happy.”
*Smash!* A loud crash! The half-empty plastic water bottle was slammed against the corner of the wall by You Shulang in a fit of rage!
Whew, Fan Xiao gently blew out the candle…
After taking the medicine and drinking a small bowl of porridge, You Shulang’s complexion improved.
Fan Xiao insisted on clearing away the dishes, while You Shulang remained silent after venting his anger, as if he didn’t exist in the room.
After drying his hands, Fan Xiao walked out of the kitchen and saw that You Shulang was already asleep on the sofa.
After finding a blanket and dimming the lights, Fan Xiao sat on the floor in front of the sofa, quietly watching You Shulang’s sleeping face.
He sat for a long time, and finally, at a moment when he could no longer control himself, he slowly leaned forward and gradually approached the person sleeping on the sofa.
As I drew closer, I smelled the scent of wild roses; even closer, I greedily inhaled their warm breath.
Breaking through the warmth emanating from their skin, Fan Xiao and You Shulang were only a sheet of paper thick enough to fit between them.
Their breaths had long since intertwined, and the person they longed for was right in front of them, yet Fan Xiao remained stopped at the distance of a single sheet of paper.
“Is Director You testing me?” he suddenly asked. “What would happen if I kissed him?”
“I’ll die,” You Shulang replied without even opening his eyes.
Fan Xiao smiled slightly, his eyes filled with tenderness in the dim light: “I’m leaving. You get some rest. If you need anything, I’ll be there whenever you call.”
Fan Xiao’s lips touched You Shulang’s hair that was sticking up in the air, which counted as a kiss.
