Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 18

Wei Chuan rubbed his nose awkwardly and handed the items he had bought to Meng Tang: “I got a fruit box, some tea leaves, and a durian.”

Meng Tang glanced at the labels, the fruit box was exquisite, the tea was Pu’er, and given Wei Chuan’s spending habits, none of it was likely cheap.

“You shouldn’t have,” Meng Tang said, reaching out to take them.

Halfway through, Wei Chuan suddenly pulled them back: “Let me carry them for you. They’re heavy.”

Xie Lingyin and Xu Heqing exchanged glances, unable to hide the smiles tugging at their lips.

Xu Heqing coughed lightly. “Let me take one.”

Wei Chuan handed him the durian.

When Meng Tang stepped outside, the gate was already half-open. The four of them entered one after another, with Meng Tang walking side by side with Wei Chuan.

She would have liked to strike up a conversation with Xu Heqing, but it was clear they weren’t familiar enough, and she couldn’t think of a way to start.

Xie Lingyin, on the other hand, was much closer to Xu Heqing.

Thanks to Xie Lingyin, Meng Tang had often been able to watch Xu Heqing up close at events.

The two of them always hosted activities together.

As they entered the central courtyard, Aunt Fang greeted them warmly.

Wei Chuan and Xu Heqing greeted the old master, who nodded with an air of solemnity while secretly sizing them up.

A wooden table stood in the courtyard, and everyone gathered around to help Aunt Fang with the vegetables, startling her so much that she gathered everything and retreated to the kitchen to work alone.

After observing for a while, Meng Tang realized none of them had ever done this kind of work before.

So she took the fruit Wei Chuan had brought, sliced it up, and delivered a portion to the old master and another to Aunt Fang.

Wei Chuan looked around curiously, echoing Xie Lingyin’s earlier sentiment: “Your house is huge.”

“Bigger than yours?” Meng Tang countered. “I heard your family even has a basketball court.”

She’d picked that up from Shi Lan’s gossip.

Wei Chuan: “…About the same. I’ve just never lived in a place like this, so it feels novel.”

“Then take a good look while you can,” Xu Heqing said before turning to Meng Tang. “We’re allowed to look around, right?”

Meng Tang nodded. “Of course.”

“Xiao Tang.” Meng Yuchun, who had been watching from his recliner, stood up. “Lunch will take a while. Come with me to the backyard. If your classmates are interested, they can join us.”

Wei Chuan instinctively rose to his feet and whispered to Meng Tang, “What are we doing?”

Meng Tang glanced back. “A test of skills.”

Wei Chuan and the others followed, stepping into the northern courtyard, where wood was everywhere.

Inside the main workshop, the old master handed Meng Tang a long cloth. “Blindfold yourself.”

Wei Chuan raised an eyebrow in curiosity. What was this about?

Xie Lingyin, having heard Meng Tang mention it before, quietly explained to the other two: “It’s probably a blind wood identification test. She’ll need to accurately determine the wood’s age, temperament, and best use.”

“That hard?” Wei Chuan’s eyes widened as he looked at Meng Tang with concern.

Hearing Wei Chuan’s suddenly raised voice, Meng Tang chuckled. “Actually, it’s not that difficult. The texture, scent, weight of the wood… they all hold clues.”

The old master tapped the workbench, signaling Meng Tang to identify the first piece.

Meng Tang took it, lightly scraping her fingertips across the cross-section before pressing along the side. After a moment, she smiled.

“Juvenile wood, around 23 years old. Good for practice.”

“The sound is muted but crisp, no hollow cavities. Suitable for shallow carving.”

She then brought it to her nose, sniffed, scraped off some sawdust, rubbed it between her fingers to warm it, and inhaled deeply.

“Grandfather, at first, it smells earthy with a strong grassy scent, but upon closer inspection, there’s a hint of decaying leaves. This tree grew on a shaded slope.”

Finally, she opened her mouth and pressed her tongue against the wood shavings, saying, “Slightly sweet at first, then bitter. The resin hasn’t aged, it’s material from the Taizhou region.”

“Good for carving delicate small pieces, like little animals or children, children playing with birds, cats, or crickets, full of childlike charm.”

The old man nodded with an approving “Mm.”

Xie Lingyin swallowed back a “Holy shit” in her throat. She had always known Meng Tang was impressive, but this level of skill was downright astonishing.

What followed was Meng Tang flawlessly identifying every piece without a single mistake.

Standing in front of the worktable, with shelves of wood materials behind her, she exuded such effortless confidence that it made others feel unworthy of comparison.

“Last one.”

Meng Tang took it, and a sour, astringent scent of loquat leaves rushed into her nose.

“Grandpa, is this fake?”

Meng Yuchun chuckled. “You figure it out yourself. Don’t ask me.”

Suddenly, Meng Tang paused, her fingernail catching on a web-like crack running horizontally.

She peeled back the long cloth, and deep within the wood’s fissures, she found natural fine lines running parallel to the grain.

“The skin is fake, but the bones are real,” Meng Yuchun said. “This piece was hollowed out by insects. I wrapped it in scrap wood. Xiao Tang, you didn’t notice the wood was already dead.”

Meng Tang: “…I still have a lot to learn.”

Meng Yuchun: “No rush. Take your time. You’re still young.”

Meng Tang pressed her lips together, visibly displeased.

Meng Yuchun turned cheerfully and asked, “So, what do you think of my granddaughter?”

Wei Chuan gave a thumbs-up. “Badass.”

Meng Tang: “…”

The old man laughed heartily, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked away.

Xie Lingyin gazed at Meng Tang with admiration. “From today onward, you’re my goddess.”

“Exaggerating,” Meng Tang said with a smile, then glanced at Xu Heqing.

Xu Heqing asked, “Earlier, when we passed the front courtyard, Xie Lingyin mentioned there’s a small exhibition hall there. Can I take a look?”

Meng Tang: “Should I take you?”

Xu Heqing: “No need to trouble you. I’ll go myself.”

“I’ll go, I’ll go,” Xie Lingyin said tactfully, seizing the chance to give her and Wei Chuan some alone time. “I’ll take him.”

“Alright.”

Meng Tang watched Xu Heqing’s retreating figure, feeling deflated. Seeing Wei Chuan still standing in front of her, she asked, “Why aren’t you going?”

Wei Chuan snapped out of his thoughts and stammered, “I-I’ll look later. It’s nice here too.”

“It’s just wood. What’s so interesting about it? Let’s go.”

Wei Chuan gave an “Oh” and followed after her.

When they reached the central courtyard, his eyes landed on the crabapple tree in the yard. He glanced sideways and asked, “Is your name related to that tree?”

Meng Tang followed his gaze and nodded. “When I was born, the crabapple tree bloomed overnight. ‘Tang’ is also associated with wood, so Grandpa chose this name.”

Wei Chuan: “That’s quite a coincidence.”

Aunt Fang came out from the dining room to call them for lunch. Wei Chuan, ever the smooth talker, charmed her until she was practically floating.

The old man watched from the corner of his eye, thinking to himself, This kid’s full of sweet talk.

In the afternoon, Meng Tang decided to take them around the neighborhood and told Aunt Fang they’d eat out for dinner.

The moment they stepped out of the old house, Xie Lingyin’s phone rang.

Her expression grew increasingly grim as she listened, and after saying, “I’ll be right back,” she hung up.

Xu Heqing frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Meng Tang, too concerned to notice the intimacy in Xu Heqing’s tone, and Wei Chuan, the oblivious straight man, missed it entirely.

“Sorry, Meng Tang, I might have to head back early,” Xie Lingyin said apologetically. “My brother just got back from abroad and hit someone. The person’s in the hospital now. I need to go check before my parents do something stupid.”

Meng Tang turned to Wei Chuan. “Then you take-”

“I’ll take her home,” Xu Heqing said. “I’ll call a cab right now.”

Without giving anyone a chance to refuse, Xu Heqing turned to inform the old man, then had Xie Lingyin gather her things before they got into the taxi.

Meng Tang blinked in confusion. “Why do I feel like something’s off here?”

Wei Chuan tried to reassure her. “Maybe Xu Heqing really isn’t that familiar with you. Staying abruptly would be awkward, and he’s from the same hometown as Xie Lingyin. They’ve collaborated on many events too. Don’t… don’t take it to heart.”

“I’m not upset,” Meng Tang replied, glancing at him. “If Lingyin needs help, someone should accompany her. If Xu Heqing had actually stayed, I wouldn’t have known what to do either.”

Wei Chuan let out an “Oh,” then hesitantly asked, “So… can I still stay?”

Meng Tang didn’t have the heart to turn him away. “Are you planning to leave?” she asked.

“What about you?”

“I asked you first.”

“Well, since I’m already here…”

“…Then let’s go.”