Lovely Allergen - Chap 15
Song Yu always said things that he didn’t understand. Le Zhishi had noticed this since he was a child.
No matter how many times he tried, he would always try to figure out what Song Yu really meant, so much so that he would be completely distracted when ordering. Xia Zhixu, who was sitting opposite him, called his name several times before Le Zhishi came back to his senses.
“What?”
Xia Zhixu smiled. “Do you want something to drink?”
Le Zhishi shook his head. “I just drank milk tea.”
“I see.” Xia Zhixu looked down at the menu. “Then I’ll have two green citrus colas. This daifu looks good. I’ll have one. Also, there’s Nagasaki cake, matcha red bean doryaki …”
Song Yu stopped him. “Are you here for Japanese food or dessert?”
Xia Zhixu held the menu and smiled. “Xu Qichen has low blood sugar and can eat sweets. I’m used to eating out with him. Sorry, sorry.”
After that, he moved the menu over to Le Zhishi. “Le, what do you want to eat? This restaurant’s ramen is good. ”
“He’s allergic to wheat. He can’t eat noodles.” Song Yu glanced at the menu and chose a dish that Le Zhishi didn’t seem to dislike. He ordered it on his own accord.
“That’s terrible.” Xia Zhixu counted all the wheat products that he knew. “Doesn’t that mean he can’t even drink beer?”
“Underage people can’t drink.” Xu Qichen poured a cup of barley tea for Le Zhishi, pushed it over, and smiled at him. “There’s no flour in the daifu. It’s glutinous rice wrapped with fruit and cream. You should like it.”
Le Zhishi also smiled. “Well, I like glutinous rice.”
In fact, Le Zhishi also liked these two seniors very much. Although they were not from the same school and had only met once, whether it was talking or making eye contact, these two people didn’t show too much curiosity and inquisitiveness. They were very amiable and maintained a very subtle balance, which made Le Zhishi feel very comfortable.
The waiter brought the green citrus colas and two cups with ice cubes. Xia Zhixu thanked him, but didn’t give Xu Qichen’s cup directly. Instead, he poured the ice from one cup into the other.
This action seemed to make Xu Qichen unhappy, but he just looked at Xia Zhixu and frowned.
“Shall I leave a piece for you?” Xia Zhixu raised his wrist and left the last piece of ice in the cup. “Don’t drink too much cold. If you eat spicy food later, it’ll be troublesome if your stomach hurts.”
Xu Qichen didn’t reply. After Xia Zhixu finished speaking, he poured out the soda and put the cup with only one piece of ice in it next to Xu Qichen’s hand.
Le Zhishi watched their every move and felt a little confused, but even the point of confusion was very vague. He also had friends, such as Jiang Yufan, and he had seen friends together, but these two people in front of him were different.
There seemed to be a transparent thread connecting them. Fingers to fingers, mouth to mouth, eyebrows to eyebrows, it was everywhere. It was intertwined with each other. When one person was pulled, the other person’s whole body would be affected.
How strange. Compared to such a strange connection, Le Zhishi found that it was even stranger that he could detect this connection.
Xia Zhixu took a sip of coke. The sour taste of the green citrus made his face scrunch up. He looked at Song Yu, “You did well in the mid-term examination. I heard that you are very good at mathematics.”
“It’s okay.” Song Yu talked with him about the science questions. Xu Qichen ate his ramen in silence.
The waiter served a fire platter grilled sushi with six different flavors. Le Zhishi picked Song Yu’s favorite sweet prawn sushi and put it in his bowl. He ate the avocado sushi in one bite. The sliced avocado was drizzled with soy sauce and salad dressing and covered with a tight sweet vinegar rice ball. Although it was vegetarian, after being grilled with a spray gun, it had a smooth and dense texture with a little caramel aroma. It melted in his mouth.
“Is it good?” Xu Qichen asked.
Le Zhishi nodded while chewing. He saw Xia Zhixu pick up a piece for Xu Qichen, “You’ll know after you try it. Eat more.”
Xu Qichen said again, “Le eats very well.”
Le Zhishi swallowed the food in his mouth, “Because of my allergy, I can’t eat a lot of good food. There are very few things that I can eat. I have to taste it carefully and eat more. Only then will I not lose out to others.”
Song Yu took a sip of tea, “Greedy and unreasonable.”
Xia Zhixu very much agreed with Le Zhishi’s statement. He clinked his cup with Le Zhishi’s, revealing his canine teeth with a smile. “I like this statement. People who respect and enjoy delicious food are particularly lovely.”
Song Yu poured another cup of hot tea for Le Zhishi to drink. Le Zhishi wanted to leave some space for his stomach to eat, but he didn’t drink even half of the tea. In the end, Song Yu drank it and poured a new cup, “If you don’t drink it, you can’t eat any dessert.”
Le Zhishi had no choice but to swallow the crab yukari in his mouth. He held the cup with both hands and sipped the tea.
“You’re a fierce brother.” Xia Zhixu picked up a piece of fried foie gras sushi for Le Zhishi, “Le, eat this. It’s delicious with apple slices.”
Le Zhishi thanked him and took a bite according to Xia Zhixu’s method. He didn’t like animal liver. He didn’t even eat foie gras in Lin Rong’s restaurant. However, in this situation, he felt that it wasn’t good to refuse. After taking a bite, he found that it was completely different from what he had imagined.
The foie gras had a very dense texture, even a bit like a dense cheesecake. However, the flavor was the aroma of animal fat mixed with black pepper and rock salt. The taste was mellow, and the apple slices balanced the greasiness well. It was surprisingly delicious when paired with the refreshing vinegar rice.
“Delicious.” Le Zhishi looked up at Xia Zhixu and smiled, his eyes bright.
“Right? Brother doesn’t lie.”
Sure enough, preconceived prejudices were likely to lead to missed opportunities and regrets.
Just as he was eating wholeheartedly, the three senior high school students had already changed the topic from the competition to the college entrance examination. It seemed that this was indeed a topic that couldn’t be avoided.
Listening to their conversation, Le Zhishi couldn’t help but interrupt, “Senior Xia, have you thought about your university?”
Xia Zhixu, who was suddenly asked, raised his head slightly and thought for a moment, “I really want to study computer science. As for where I’ll study … “He leaned on Xu Qichen’s shoulder,” I’ll go wherever Xu Qichen goes. We’ve already agreed that we’ll probably go to Beijing. ”
Xu Qichen put down the tea bowl in his hand and pushed his head away from his shoulder. He said softly, “Who agreed with you?”
His ears turned red. Le Zhishi realized.
He turned to look at Song Yu, “Brother Song Yu, what about you?”
Song Yu lowered his eyes, “I’m not thinking about it.”
The tempura assortment was served. It was fragrant and crispy, with fried prawns, fried crab legs, fried pumpkin, fried squid, and fried shiitake mushrooms. Just looking at it made Le Zhishi’s mouth water. This cold and wet weather was the most suitable to eat crispy and hot fried food, but these Japanese restaurants were all wrapped in flour, so he couldn’t eat a single bite.
Hearing Song Yu’s answer, Xia Zhixu smiled and said, “Doesn’t a third of Peiya’s students go abroad every year and not take the college entrance examination?”
Song Yu said, “Not that many. You’re exaggerating.”
Xu Qichen also asked, “Are you going abroad? Are you also preparing for the exam now? ”
“Not necessarily.” His answer was very vague.
Hearing the word “abroad”, Le Zhishi, who had already suffered a blow from the tempura, suddenly became even more depressed. So it was possible for Song Yu to go abroad to study in a university? How many years would it take to study in a foreign university? Would he only be able to come back during the holidays? How many days of vacation could he have in a year?
In just a few seconds, he actually thought of the scene where he was alone in high school, and Song Yu was studying abroad and holding a party.
“Why are you in a daze? Not eating? “Song Yu asked.
Le Zhishi shook his head, “I want to eat.” As he spoke, he picked up a fried prawn tempura for Song Yu and ate a small piece of seaweed salad with his chopsticks.
“Le is going straight to high school, right?” Xu Qichen asked.
“Come to Jingjian,” Xia Zhixu teased him, “Jingjian’s cafeteria is delicious.”
Le Zhishi said, “Peiya doesn’t make up lessons. There are many extracurricular activities.”
“That’s true. I don’t want to make up lessons either.”
Le Zhishi thought about it again. No matter where he went in high school, he would eventually be separated from Song Yu. No matter where he went to university, they wouldn’t be able to see each other every day. If he really went abroad, he didn’t know when they would meet again in a few years.
The more he thought about it, the more depressed he felt. He couldn’t eat anymore. The rain outside had been falling for almost two hours before it finally stopped. Xia Zhixu insisted on footing the bill. He said that he wanted Song Yu to owe him a meal and that he would find a chance to get it back. Song Yu didn’t refuse. Le Zhishi stood behind and waited for them.
Song Yu couldn’t help but look forward. He saw Xia Zhixu leaning against the front desk. Xu Qichen was standing close to him. The backs of their hanging hands seemed to rub against each other. Their fingertips were about to touch, but the next moment, they separated again. Xia Zhixu rubbed his hand against the seam of his pants. He rubbed it and awkwardly stuffed it into his shirt pocket. Xu Qichen curled his fingers into his palm and retracted them a little. His face was also lowered.
Song Yu glanced away and looked at Le Zhishi. In the past, he would have a satisfied expression on his face when he ate good food. However, today, he looked sullen. Song Yu thought for a moment and said to him, “Today’s tempura is average.”
Le Zhishi looked up. His large eyes were shining brightly under the light in the shop.
Song Yu said, “We didn’t finish the rice noodles we bought last time. Let’s fry some at home tomorrow.”
If it were in the past, Le Zhishi would definitely smile and agree with a look of anticipation. However, today, Song Yu had already said so. Le Zhishi only nodded and turned his face to the street outside the glass door.
Song Yu frowned. However, the two of them had already paid the bill. Xia Zhixu even joked, “Look at you. You’re so bitter every day. Let’s go.”
One of them lived in Hankou while the other lived in Wuchang. Since they were not going the same way, they separated after entering the station. Song Yu led Le Zhishi home. There were fewer people on the train than before, but there were still no seats. Song Yu went in and found a ring to hold on to. He asked Le Zhishi to stand by the pillar.
The train started moving. The billboards that flashed by outside the window dazed everyone. Le Zhishi looked at Song Yu on the glass. He was half a head taller than him.
Didn’t they say that mixed-bloods were tall? Le Zhishi thought to himself. Why couldn’t he be taller than Song Yu? The age difference couldn’t be erased. The same went for the difference in body size.
“Why are you in a daze?” Song Yu looked down at him. “Why are you looking so sad? Are you thinking that my speech was too bad and that I’m going to be eliminated?”
“Of course not.” Le Zhishi looked up immediately. His hair had been drenched in the rain. After it dried, it became even curlier. The lights in the train were bright and shone on his hair.
Song Yu raised his eyebrows and waited for him to continue. Le Zhishi blinked and looked at him again. “Brother Song Yu, will you really go abroad?”
Song Yu didn’t expect this question. He was stunned for a second and said honestly, “I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“Can you not think about it?” Le Zhishi asked.
Song Yu looked at him as if he was trying to hold back his laughter. “What do you think?”
I don’t think so. Le Zhishi answered in his heart. But since Song Yu said so, it must mean that he hadn’t decided whether to go abroad or not. Otherwise, he would have informed him directly. Thinking of this, Le Zhishi felt a lot better.
The train door opened and a few people came in. Among them was a couple. The girl was wearing the boy’s jacket. He suddenly thought of what happened just now and turned to ask Song Yu, “What did you mean when you said ‘they’re not friends’?”
Song Yu knew that he didn’t understand and didn’t want to explain too much. Just like when they were young, he said, “They’re not ordinary friends.”
“I can tell that they’re really close.” Le Zhishi thought of the second half of Song Yu’s sentence. They’re not brothers. Since they’re not biological brothers, it’s not bad to be friends. His mouth moved faster than his brain. He turned and said, “Let’s be more than ordinary friends.”
Song Yu didn’t expect him to say that. He looked away awkwardly.
“I don’t make friends with children.”
For some reason, Le Zhishi was even a little happy to see Song Yu like this. He chased after Song Yu to look at his face. He probably analyzed a glimmer of hope from this 100% rejection.
He was a child, but Song Yu had already grown up. His birthday was in the winter.
When he grew up, Song Yu would be friends with him.
The people in the train stood crookedly. Song Yu was as straight as a pillar that could be leaned on. Le Zhishi held his arm and looked at his reflection in the glass.
He wanted to grow up faster.
After one stop, quite a number of people got off. They finally found a seat and sat down.
They didn’t know if it was because they were sleepy after eating or because the cold medicine in the morning had finally taken effect. Le Zhishi couldn’t help but feel tired. His head drooped down like a fish and he fell asleep. His body swayed with the train and he almost fell onto the shoulder of a passerby on the right.
Song Yu was looking down at his phone. Seeing how sleepy he was, he reached out and grabbed his hood. He pulled him over and tilted him towards him. The train shook and Le Zhishi leaned on his shoulder like a little magnet. He slept soundly.
The little girl on the opposite seat kept her phone pointed at them. Song Yu looked up and glanced at her. The girl’s face immediately showed an expression of being caught and she put her phone away.
But Song Yu didn’t stop her, nor did he look at her again. He just raised his hand and put Le Zhishi’s hood on him, pulled it down, and covered most of his face. He then reached in to touch his forehead, and finally put it down. Le Zhishi seemed to be half-awake because of his actions. He rubbed against his shoulder, lowered his head, and went back to sleep.
He couldn’t get rid of his habit of sleeping when he was on the bus. When Le Zhishi was young, he couldn’t even lean on Song Yu’s shoulder. Sometimes, he would lie on Song Yu’s knee and hug his waist. When he woke up, his face was full of marks.
Song Yu turned on his phone and exited the chat with Xia Zhixu. He clicked on Le Zhishi’s chat.
Le Zhishi’s tracking ability was simply at the kindergarten level. As soon as he went out in the morning, Song Yu knew that he was being followed, so he secretly took a picture of Le Zhishi’s profile in the subway and sent it over. He originally wanted to scare him, but he didn’t expect that this guy even forgot to take his phone.
He clicked on the picture that he didn’t use and zoomed in. He could even see Le Zhishi’s ridiculously long eyelashes. Song Yu stared at the chat without a reply and looked down at the person on his shoulder.
He reacted too late and couldn’t withdraw it.
