Stringy Wind in the Ear - Chap 39
After the movie, they had a Japanese meal in the mall, and bought some stationery and snacks for Chu Zhi while strolling around, and finally stopped at the bookstore on the second floor. The free area was full, so Li Xun ordered two cups of coffee and dessert and sat in a corner to read.
The decoration of the bookstore is similar to that of a cafe, with a European style. The window seats are brightly lit, and vines of green ivy hang down from the tops of the shelves. The air is filled with the aroma of coffee, and it is warm and cozy.
Their sofas were facing each other, with a small round dining table in between. Due to their height, their four long legs, which had nowhere to go, surrounded the dining table, and their ankles touched each other from time to time.
Song Yang leaned back on the sofa to rest and played with all of Li Chuzhi’s stationery. He looked up and found Li Xun leaning back on the sofa, quietly flipping through a book.
This is a rare scene. They spend almost all their time together with bows and arrows. Even if they are not practicing archery, they are running or working out. In short, they are always dynamic. When he saw this scene by chance, he couldn’t help but take out his mobile phone to record it.
He touched his pocket and remembered that the thing was with Li Xun, so he reached over the table to touch his pocket.
“What are you doing?” Li Xun pressed hard on the things in his pocket, “I promised to return it to you when I get home.”
“I am bored.”
Song Yang simply sat on Li Xun’s sofa. Both men were of considerable build and the narrow single sofa could not accommodate them both. Their thighs were about to be squeezed out of shape. Li Xun had no choice but to move sideways and move the phone from his coat pocket to his trouser pocket.
“There are so many books here for you to read, and you’re still bored?”
“I want to take a picture.”
Song Yang was sharp-eyed and saw his little move clearly at once. He reached out to touch his thigh, and just as he touched the edge of the phone, Li Xun pulled out the thing and hid it behind his back. Song Yang rushed over, and his hands went around from both sides, almost hugging Li Xun with this posture.
It was not until then that a faint fragrance entered his nostrils.
As far as he could remember, he had never smelled this scent on Li Xun. His gaze shifted from the sofa to Li Xun’s eyes, and Li Xun also looked at him.
“Why take pictures? The reason you come to a bookstore is to put down your phone and read books. Do you think you read books just by taking a picture and checking in on WeChat Moments?”
They were too close, Song Yang could even feel the heat from Li Xun’s breath. His ear tips were burning, but he was reluctant to move away. His fingertips touched a corner of the phone case, and he bit his back teeth and pulled hard, but Li Xun did not let up at all.
During the scramble, Li Xun touched his fingers.
They were both stunned at the same time.
Song Yang was somewhat helpless: “I don’t shoot books.”
Li Xun was suppressed by him, his entire back almost pressed against the sofa: “Then what are you filming?”
“What do you care about me?”
Li Xun caught the gazes of some passers-by from the corner of his eye, and reached out to push his chest: “Sit back.”
An imperative tone.
Song Yang had no choice but to do as he was told, his eyes still fixed on the other side. Li Xun’s sweater had somehow gone up to his waist, revealing a section of his muscular belly.
oh.
It must have been done by him just now.
They looked at each other, and no one spoke.
Li Xun also felt a little cold, so he sat up straight, pulled at his clothes, and adjusted his belt buckle.
Song Yang crossed his legs, calmly placed the pillow behind him on his thighs, and with a flushed face, flipped through the dessert and drink menu on the table.
Hang loose……
He took a deep breath.
Don’t be so sensitive…
Li Xun glanced at him and said, “You ate so much for lunch, but you’re still hungry?”
“Ah,” Song Yang fanned himself with the menu, “I’m just taking a look. You’re reading your book. I get shy if you keep staring at me.”
If this had been said before, Li Xun would not have thought too much about it, but now he could not help but ask: “Why are you shy? Why are you shy?”
Song Yang smiled shyly and embarrassedly: “Because I am a mimosa.”
Li Xun couldn’t figure out what he meant by that. There was a hint of smile in his eyes: “Aren’t mimosa plants shy only when they are touched? I didn’t touch you.”
“You just touched me.” Song Yang said, “I am a mimosa with a relatively long reflex arc.”
Li Xun lowered his head, staring at the reasoning in his hand. The police received a report that someone was missing. His gaze stayed on this part for a long time. Thinking of the mimosa that folded its leaves when touched, he smiled for no apparent reason.
The mall was brightly lit and they could hardly feel the passage of time. They stayed in the bookstore until very late, and only realized that it was already past five o’clock when Song Yang’s family called to ask them when they would go back.
Song Yang hung up the phone and said, “My mom said Chu Zhi is at my house, why don’t you come over to my house for a quick meal?”
Li Xun nodded: “Then let’s go buy some food.”
Song Yang hesitated for a moment. Although he had always been looking forward to Li Xun’s cooking skills, it was the first time he visited his home for the New Year, so he couldn’t bear to let his idol do it himself. What if he was unwilling to visit his home in the future?
I quickly declined, “It’s already late, they must have finished it, don’t buy it.”
“But it’s not good for me to go there empty-handed.”
“Didn’t you give me a gift this morning?”
“It’s just some dessert, not really a gift.”
“It’s okay. Why are you being so polite when you come to my house?” Song Yang put the book in his hand back to its place, pushed his back and walked out, “You can treat my house as your own from now on. It’s okay to live there. Oh, by the way, how long is the rental contract you signed with Teacher Sun?”
“One year contract, one half year payment.”
Song Yang hooked his shoulders and pulled him into his arms: “Or you can sign with my family in the future. I also have an unused room, which I can rent to you at a low price. How much does Mr. Sun charge you per month? I can give you a half discount.”
“Half price discount.” Li Xun stretched his neck to look at him, “Will your parents know that they will discount your legs?”
“It’s empty anyway, so the price must be cheap. You should consider it.” Song Yang’s arm slid to his waist, but unfortunately, his clothes were too thick in winter, so he couldn’t feel anything.
When I got home, the sun was about to set. The sunset glow divided the courtyard in half, and the shadow of the osmanthus tree stretched out diagonally.
Little boy Li Chuzhi was using his creativity in the yard to comb his extremely messy neck hair and tie it into stylish little dreadlocks.
Pee-pee was famous for his good temper. He would stick to anyone who stroked his fur and would not make a fuss even if he was hurt. He would lie on his side on the lawn, staring at her with his big round eyes, as if he was guarding a new treasure.
Ms. Li Huiying walked into the yard carrying a plate of fruit: “Baby, it’s time to eat the pomelo.”
Song Yang thought she was calling him, and wondered why his mother was so gentle today. It was really unreal. He jumped all the way in from the gate of the courtyard.
Li Huiying was visibly stunned when she saw him walk in: “Didn’t you two walk back here? Why so fast?”
“Long legs.”
The bowl was filled with peeled pomelo flesh, crystal clear and juicy. Song Yang reached out to grab some, but Li Huiying held the bowl in her arms: “This is for Chuzhi. There’s still half of it in there. Peel it yourself if you want to eat it.”
Song Yang was stunned, and after a long while he managed to utter, “You, you simply favor girls over boys!”
Li Huiying shook her newly done hair as a matter of course: “So what.”
“…”
Li Xun smiled secretly.
The relatives and friends who had played cards and chatted in the courtyard during the day had all left, and the courtyard seemed a little deserted, with a damp chill in the air.
Li Xun followed Song Yang into the house, and before he could even sigh “It’s still warm at home”, he saw his grandparents again.
The old couple warmly invited him to sit down.
Li Xun walked over with a meek look on his face.
Out of politeness, he had to shout something.
But the question is what to shout?
His brain was working rapidly in just a few steps. If he followed Chu Zhi’s way of addressing them, he should call them uncle and aunt, right? But when he called them that way… He looked up at the big wrinkles on the old couple’s faces that were about to fly out of their faces, and instantly felt that he had aged a generation.
It’s just as awkward as Aaron Kwok calling his mother-in-law.
He gritted his teeth and shamelessly followed Song Yang in calling them grandpa and grandma.
It was the first time that Song Yang saw his twisted expression and he laughed secretly in the corner.
At the same time, Song Jingshan was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen – he received a message from his son twenty minutes ago, saying that Li Xun was coming and asked him to prepare a few more dishes, especially Sichuan cuisine, because Li Xun liked spicy food.
There were already many hot dishes on the table, including squirrel fish, prawns in tomato sauce, boiled beef, braised pork intestines, and fried yam with bacon. Just looking at them would make one’s appetite increase.
Song Yang took a piece of bacon and tasted it. He raised his eyebrows and said, “It’s delicious. Master, come and try this! My classmates sent it to me. They dried it in the sun in their hometown. It smells so good.”
“No, you eat it.”
Li Xun was like a son-in-law who was marrying into the family for the first time. He sat on the sofa and watched TV very reservedly. The TV was playing the cartoon that Li Chuzhi had chosen. Since his grandparents were watching it very seriously, he didn’t feel comfortable changing the channel.
Two pigs that looked like airplanes were chatting, but he couldn’t hear anything about what they were talking about.
My cell phone is out of battery.
Song Yang was still eating voraciously.
Since he had nothing to do, he had to peel the grapefruit.
“I heard from Xiao Yang that you used to be an athlete on the national team?” Grandpa Song asked.
“right.”
Grandpa made him a cup of hot Longjing tea and said, “Athletes are good. Their physical fitness must be better than that of ordinary people.”
Grandma said, “Needless to say, it looks strong.” After she finished speaking, she pinched Li Xun’s arm and said, “Wow, I can’t even hold it.”
“I practice archery, and I focus more on upper limb endurance and balance.” Li Xun took the teacup and thanked him.
Grandpa asked casually, “Why didn’t you practice later? Was it because you were injured or because you were not treated well?”
Li Xun rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing where to start.
When it comes to retirement, personal and environmental factors are closely linked, and it is difficult to explain it clearly in a few words.
“The treatment is okay, but I just feel like I can’t continue practicing.”
Grandma smiled gently: “It’s good to come back early to spend time with your family. I have a friend whose grandson is also an athlete. He trains outside every day and can only come home a few times a year. His family is looking forward to it.”
Grandpa: “Is it the kid from Old Xu’s family? Last time Old Xu told me that his grandson was 26 this year, but I thought he was 36. He looks too old.”
“Running outside every day, getting tanned like a coal ball, how can he not age? His family also advised him to retire early and stop working so hard. One summer I saw him, his arms and thighs were covered with injuries, and he had even had surgery on his ligaments. What do you think he’s going to do when he gets old? These are all sequelae.”
Grandpa blew on the tea leaves floating in the cup and said indifferently, “The goal he set for himself is too far. The Olympics and the World Championships are for the elite among the elites. There are only one or two top players in the country. How could he get a chance? In the end, he will be eliminated.”
Li Xun remained silent, as if he was listening to an insignificant piece of gossip. He calmly put a small piece of grapefruit into his mouth and chewed it.
Sweet with a hint of bitterness.
It was this brief silence that pierced Song Yang’s heart. He was so sad that he wanted to cry, and the taste of everything in his mouth changed.
Many people cannot understand the dreams of athletes, but they want athletes to accept their evaluations.
Maybe it was the words of grandpa and grandma that irritated Li Xun. During dinner, Song Yang noticed that he didn’t eat much, at least not as much as usual. After the meal, there were only a few shrimp shells and bones in the bone dish. The shrimp shells were left over by Chu Zhi. He drank a lot of wine with his father and grandfather.
Li Xun was not the type who would get drunk after drinking. He remained calm after drinking two bottles of red wine, and his complexion did not change much. Until everyone stood up, he swayed a bit and reached out to hold the back of the chair. Song Yang then realized that he was probably not sober anymore.
Li Xun himself was also confused. Normally, his alcohol tolerance was not that bad. In the past, there were several athletes in the team who were from the north and could drink a lot. They would always order Erguotou at any party, so he also developed some alcohol tolerance.
Maybe he didn’t eat enough today, or maybe it was because of the strong aftereffect of the wine, he saw double when he opened his eyes, but he still had his sanity.
“I want to wash my face, your bathroom…”
Song Yang turned his head and looked. The light was on in the bathroom downstairs. It should be his grandmother in there. She held his wrist and said, “There is one in my room.”
There was no one upstairs, Song Yang walked in front and fumbled to turn on the light. Li Xun came to the pool, took a long breath, bent down, and a handful of cold water diluted the drunkenness. His muscles tightened instantly.
A hand handed him a cleansing towel.
“Thank you.” He wiped his cheeks and crumpled the face towel when he noticed that Song Yang in the mirror was staring at him.
He threw away the face towel and turned around. Just as he was about to ask if there was any boiled water, Song Yang suddenly rushed over and hugged him.
Li Xun’s pupils suddenly dilated, his back straightened reflexively, and his arms were slightly raised. He stood there at a loss, like a suspect being pointed at by a police gun.
Song Yang’s whole face was buried in his shoulder. He heard the child’s muffled voice: “Don’t be sad, Master. My grandparents don’t understand.”
At this moment, Li Xun’s brain was buzzing. The alcohol made his reaction abnormally slow. He analyzed silently for several seconds before he understood what Song Yang meant by “uncomfortable”. He smiled and said, “I’m not uncomfortable.”
“But you ate very little for dinner. I felt that you were very unhappy.” Song Yang gently stroked his back, feeling the warmth coming through the fabric. “Don’t take their words to heart. It doesn’t matter where you go. Your past makes many people proud. Some people also fall in love with this sport because of you. You have done very well.”
Li Xun’s eyes curved: “Are you talking about yourself?”
“Yes.” Song Yang rested his chin on his shoulder. “And I think there is really no problem with your ability. You just lack a little experience and luck. The Chinese team is the same. The pressure on the field is too great, so they are overly nervous. I’m not bragging, but sooner or later our archery team will break the monopoly of the Korean team.”
While Li Xun felt warm, his attention was always drawn to the pair of restless paws behind him. He was clearly wearing a coat, but Song Yang was rubbing his sweater underneath.
“Little friend, are you trying to keep warm or take advantage of me?” Li Xun held Song Yang’s arms and slowly slid them to his wrists, stopping there without forcing him to let go.
Song Yang failed to act like a hooligan. He looked up at him, his eyes were full of light, his cheeks were red, as if he had drunk too much. He gritted his teeth and tried to save face: “I’m talking about serious things. Can you cooperate with me?”
“Okay…” Li Xun agreed but grinned, his shoulders shaking slightly. The aftereffects of the red wine affected his vision, so he had to get closer to Song Yang to observe some subtle changes in his expression.
“Why are you blushing when you talk about serious things?”
They were very close, their breaths intertwined, Song Yang’s body temperature soared in vain, and he was almost intoxicated by the smell of alcohol on Li Xun. He lowered his head and muttered softly: “Have you forgotten? I am a mimosa.”
Li Xun extended his index finger and tapped his eyebrows with his soft fingertips: “You are a little liar.”
