Rain dripped steadily, running down the tip of the umbrella and striking the corridor, merging with the thin layer of accumulated rainwater above, just like the two people in that moment.
“Lin… Lin Yue.”
Gu Yun, carrying his things, panted softly. Lin Yue gave a hum in response, his lips brushing lightly against Gu Yun’s, a faint smile in his voice: “I know, it was just an accident.”
“Brother Lin?” a man’s voice called from the courtyard gate.
Lin Yue lifted his umbrella and said to Gu Yun, “I’m going.”
Gu Yun’s eyes shifted with difficulty within their sockets, struggling for focus. After a moment, they finally settled. He nearly choked out the words “I’m a man”, then swallowed hard. Realising what he was doing, he felt an inexplicable discomfort, abruptly stopped himself, lowered his head, and ground the tips of his toes against the wet ground. “Alright,” he said.
Lin Yue’s figure disappeared, and the courtyard gate clicked shut.
Gu Yun confirmed he would not return, hurried inside at once, put down his things, and closed the door.
There was nowhere to light a fire in the rented room. Once the door was shut, darkness fell completely; nothing could be seen.
Gu Yun leaned against the door, hearing his own heartbeat far too fast in his ears.
He reached up and touched his lips. They were slightly swollen, and when he brushed a faint wound, there was a sting.
He took several deep breaths, groped around in the dark, and found a ceramic oil lamp and some soybean oil. He went outside, poured a little oil into the lamp, and using the light spilling from a neighbour’s window, struck flint and steel to catch a spark, lighting the lamp. Carefully, he carried both the lamp and oil back inside.
A thread of light illuminated a small patch of space.
Gu Yun scooped a ladle of water from the water vat Lin Yue had filled that afternoon, poured it into a wooden basin, then took a mouthful and gargled loudly.
It was not that he disliked Lin Yue… it was just too strange.
How could two men kiss like that?
Gu Yun busied himself for a while, then stopped. He did not believe rinsing his mouth a few times would solve anything, and to his dismay realised that no matter how many times he rinsed, the other person’s presence seemed to linger in his mouth.
They had stood so close, so intimately entangled.
The other had bitten his lips, prised his teeth apart with his tongue, tentatively brushed against his tongue several times, then, as if understanding the path ahead, swept across every corner of his mouth, pressing against the base of his tongue, almost lingering in entanglement…
His fingers, holding his belongings, had tightened until they went white, while the other had pressed his lower back, pinning him firmly in his embrace.
The sounds of swallowing, water, and breathing had mingled in the rain, blurred and indistinct.
Gu Yun covered his head, but the memory only grew clearer. He thought to himself: never mind, it is only flesh against flesh, what is there to make a fuss about? Nothing strange about it. Later… when the truth comes out, if the other becomes angry, it will not be his fault. He had not been the one to start it.
Gu Yun successfully soothed himself.
He opened the food box and saw shredded pork noodles and jujube cake inside, his eyes widening in surprise.
Why buy such a good dinner? What a waste of money. He leaned closer and sniffed. It smelled wonderful.
Well, it had already been bought.
Gu Yun sat at the table, happily picked up his chopsticks, first eating a piece of jujube cake. It was soft and sweet, with a rich jujube fragrance. Then he tried the shredded pork noodles. The noodles were chewy, each strand coated in oil and meat fragrance, exceptionally delicious. The shredded pork was finely sliced, savoury and rich, far better than mixed soup. Fresh greens were laid beneath the noodles as well.
If he could eat like this every day, then being kissed would not matter.
…
“Brother Lin, let us hurry. The master is waiting for you,” the man said to Lin Yue.
“Alright,” Lin Yue replied.
Soon, they arrived at the Feng family residence.
