Finally Being Snatched Away at My Wedding by My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Ice on the Tip of the Tongue

The second after Su Yuan finished asking, he felt a flicker of regret.

He knew Pei Xing was busy, heading to town every day to tutor students. He wouldn’t have a spare morning to accompany him to look at birds he had long grown accustomed to.

So, when Pei Xing declined, he wasn’t particularly surprised.

Pei Xing gripped the strap of his backpack, pondering for a moment. “Tomorrow won’t work.”

There was just a tiny bit of disappointment.

Su Yuan nodded and turned around, preparing to head back into his room.

“Is the day after tomorrow okay?” Pei Xing asked. “I don’t have anything else on the morning after next.”

The matter was settled.

Pei Xing had already messaged the parents for tomorrow’s session, and it wasn’t right to cancel. With the so-called “Top Scholar” title, the people around him had become remarkably affable; the parents whose lessons were pushed back didn’t say much, only expressing surprise that Pei Xing would take time off.

“Teacher Pei, you didn’t start dating right after the Gaokao, did you? Su Yuan-gege said it’s much more convenient to date once you’re in university.”

Pei Xing looked up from an English test booklet. “What don’t you guys talk about?”

The girl, whose book was open to the final story, nodded. “Yeah, chatting with Su Yuan-gege is really fun.”

Pei Xing pinched his red pen. There was something he wanted to ask, but in the end, not a single word escaped his lips. He lowered his head and continued grading.

…

The next morning, it was clear it would be a beautiful, sunny day.

Pei Xing scooped water from the vat and rinsed the courtyard, waiting for the sun to come out and dry the ground.

The damp earth acted like a mirror, reflecting the persimmon tree in the yard and Su Yuan as he stepped down the stairs.

Following those straight, slender legs encased in jeans, he saw Su Yuan wearing a pink cotton T-shirt under a white sun-protection jacket. A light brown wide-brimmed hat was pushed back slightly, making his already palm-sized face look even smaller.

How can a boy have so many colors in his wardrobe?

“I’m ready,” Su Yuan spoke first, his tone tilting upward, mirroring the corners of his mouth.

Pei Xing nodded. “Mm.” He set down the gourd ladle and picked up the door lock, gesturing for Su Yuan to exit the courtyard first.

Su Yuan propped up his bicycle, leaning it against his leg as he adjusted the loose chin strap of his hat.

Having locked the door, Pei Xing noticed the bicycle slipping toward Su Yuan’s foot. He caught it instantly, hoisting it with one hand. It was only then he realized Su Yuan’s bike had no kickstand and it was incredibly light.

Pei Xing looked at his own black bicycle parked in the corner: heavy, sturdy, and with several patches of chipped paint.

“Thank you,” Su Yuan took the bike with both hands and hopped on. “Let’s go.”

Pei Xing pushed his bike forward, but before he could mount it, someone approached from behind.

Pei Wen flicked his bicycle bell and braked with both feet, stopping right between the two of them.

He first greeted Pei Xing with a smile, then turned to Su Yuan. “Going to see the Crested Ibises again? Mind if I join?”

The familiar tone made Pei Xing wonder if he had been the only person in all of Fuxian County who didn’t know Su Yuan previously.

He tightened his grip on the handlebars, fixing his gaze on Su Yuan’s profile.

Even with such a soft strap, it had already left a faint red mark behind Su Yuan’s ear after only a short while.

At that moment, Su Yuan suddenly turned to look at him.

Pei Xing couldn’t tell for a moment if his gaze was bothering the other boy, or if as he hoped Su Yuan was waiting for him to speak.

“No,” Pei Xing mounted his bike and rode past his cousin. “We’re going to the bookstore in town. Let’s move.”

Pei Wen stepped back, letting out an “Oh,” and shouted at their retreating backs: “Next time you go out to play, call me too!”

…

Summer in Fuxian was incredibly cool.

The breeze blowing from the distant, dark mountains was chilly; the closer they got to the ibis habitat, the quieter it became.

“Why didn’t you let him come?” Su Yuan looked at him. “Are we really going to the bookstore?”

Pei Xing didn’t answer the last question. He slowed his pace. “He talks very loudly. He might scare the ibises.”

Su Yuan watched as the wind blew back the black hair on Pei Xing’s forehead, revealing a full brow and a high bridge of the nose. He suddenly laughed. “I think so too.”

“And, I get scared easily, too.”

Pei Xing thought of that night. He wanted to say “exactly,” but fearing it might be overstepping, he simply smiled and said nothing.

The two bicycles leaned together under a tall banyan tree, listening quietly to the rustling leaves overhead.

Pei Xing found a spot hidden by reeds and crouched down with Su Yuan.

Su Yuan’s hands were tucked neatly together, resting on his joined knees. His eyes were focused intently on the Crested Ibises taking flight and landing in the wetlands. Under the sun, the brim of his hat blocked most of the light hitting his face, leaving only his thin lips and chin to be quietly warmed.

Pei Xing stood up silently and, after a moment, brought over a large black stone and placed it behind Su Yuan.

“Sit.” As he spoke, he moved to Su Yuan’s other side and crouched down, blocking the glare for him.

Su Yuan looked up at him and gave a very soft smile. “Thank you.”

The wind brushed through the reeds like a gentle hand.

The Crested Ibises were white all over, with their crests, backs, wings, and tails tinged with pink. Their slender legs and faces were a vivid red, making them look as if they were draped in a hazy pink glow under the light.

Much like the pink peeking out from under Su Yuan’s white jacket.

Would his face turn red in the light, too?

Su Yuan lifted his eyelashes, his eyes questioning Pei Xing, who had been staring at him for a long time.

Pei Xing said nothing, turning his head to look back at the ibises catching fish. The ibis’s downward-curving long beak, tipped with a smear of red, snatched a fish the moment it skimmed the water, quickly swallowing it down.

It’s still different; Su Yuan eats very slowly, Pei Xing thought.

On the way back to the banyan tree, Pei Xing finally asked the question, though he phrased it differently: “Did you see the specific ibis you were looking for?”

Su Yuan shook his head, lightly kicking a pebble. “I didn’t see it.”

“So, you really are looking for one particular ibis?”

Pei Xing knew it might be impolite to ask, but to his eyes, all the ibises looked the same. He didn’t have the eyes or the time to appreciate beauty; when a person spends their life walking with their head down, they don’t have the luxury of looking at the moon.

“Yes,” Su Yuan nodded with certainty. “It has a patch of light grey feathers on its back, and it wobbles when it walks and flies. I’m looking for it, hoping it’s still alive and doing well.”

Strangely, though Su Yuan looked no different than usual, Pei Xing could sense a trace of sadness. His own heart sank a little.

“I even gave it a name,” Su Yuan smiled, tucking a strand of hair. “I call it Xinxin.”

Pei Xing paused his steps. He wanted to say something, but Su Yuan had already mounted his bike, so he could only follow.

Halfway through the ride, he followed Su Yuan in squeezing the brakes.

“Does that taste good?” Su Yuan pointed to a shaved ice cart by the roadside.

Pei Xing thought seriously. “I’ve never had it, but a lot of kids buy it. Litchi flavor is the most popular.”

Su Yuan pursed his lips and tilted his head, his gaze lingering on the red-and-yellow flavor menu.

“Want some?” Pei Xing got off his bike, his voice carrying a hint of a smile.

Su Yuan gave a tiny nod. “I want peace. But it’s okay if they don’t have it; I like litchi too.”

Pei Xing noticed that Su Yuan was always hesitant when it came to food, always indecisive, and would subconsciously look around. Like a small animal that had snuck out of the house and was afraid of being caught and taken back.

The sun slowly climbed to the zenith.

Su Yuan took off his hat. Fine golden light filtered through the gaps in the leaves and fell onto his face. Strands of hair, dampened by a bit of sweat, stuck to his cheeks like the delicate sepals of a flower, swaying slightly as he opened his mouth to eat small bites of the shaved ice.

“Litchi is good too, just a bit too sweet,” Su Yuan offered a brief, honest review.

There were two litchi garnishes on the ice, likely peeled for too long as they were no longer plump. Looking at them, Pei Xing felt that Su Yuan looked more like a litchi himself.

It was too cold; after Su Yuan put it in his mouth, he opened it slightly, huffing a few breaths before slowly melting the ice. Then, as if discovering something fun, he looked at Pei Xing. “The ice moves on your tongue.”

His eyes were innocent, his words candid.

Pei Xing didn’t find it strange, nor did he ask if he had never had a cold drink before. Su Yuan’s diet had strict requirements; even fruit taken from the fridge had to be left at room temperature before he could eat it.

Pei Xing nodded slowly. When Su Yuan slowed down and put the spoon away, Pei Xing took the remaining ice from his hand.

Su Yuan allowed the gesture, showing no dissatisfaction and asking no questions.

The two rode their bikes one after the other back toward the courtyard.

Passing a small convenience store, Su Yuan asked him to wait and went inside.

Pei Xing propped up his bike with one leg and saw the owner preparing to hand Su Yuan three packs of different canned sodas. He immediately went over to take them and placed them in the basket at the front of his own bicycle.

Back at the yard, Pei Xing put the sodas on the table in Su Yuan’s living room. “You bought so many?”

Su Yuan gave a soft “Mm,” went into his room, and came out with a pair of scissors. He neatly divided the three packs into six portions and handed half of them to Pei Xing in a canvas bag.

“A gift for you!” Su Yuan pointed at him with a finger-gun gesture.

He must know he’s being cute, Pei Xing thought.

“But I have one small request: after you drink them, you have to give me the empty cans.”

“Okay.” Pei Xing didn’t refuse either proposition.

As he was about to leave with the sodas, he suddenly stopped and looked back at the person seriously reading the ingredient list on a can.

“Why did you name that ibis Xinxin?”

Su Yuan put down the soda, his hands clasped, and asked back, “Is there something wrong with the name?”

“Nothing,” Pei Xing looked down and thought. “It’s a very cute name. Xinxin.”

With that, the only sound left in the room was the swaying of the jasmine flowers on the windowsill in the breeze.

Su Yuan picked up his ringing phone.

Realizing his intrusion, Pei Xing turned to leave. Just as the door closed, he overheard two lines of dialogue.

“Dad.”

“Xinxin, have you eaten?”

Xinxin?

Pei Xing’s fingers tightened on the door frame. He looked back at Su Yuan and keenly caught the subtle smile on the boy’s lips.

…

Back in his room, Pei Xing slumped over his desk.

The wind rushing through the open window couldn’t dissipate the heat on his face. He resignedly picked up a can of soda and pressed the cold metal against his cheek.

On the balcony diagonally across, Su Yuan held his phone and couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re so happy today?” Su Jingzhang sounded surprised on the other end of the line. “Did you see your other ‘baby’ Xinxin?”

Su Yuan went back to his room and lay on the recliner, his fingers twirling a strand of hair. “No, but it seems it was a very happy day anyway.”

A few days later, in the evening, Su Yuan received the empty cans at his door.

He carried them into the bathroom, but as he was about to wash them, he stopped. He picked up a dry, soap-scented can and shook it; something rattled inside.

Su Yuan pulled out the small object. It was the pull-ring from the can.

The ring was as flat as if it had never been opened, and its sharp edges were wrapped in a layer of masking tape.

Su Yuan could almost see Pei Xing lowering his head, washing and drying each one of them.

Taking out his phone, Su Yuan intended to send him a text, but then he saw a new friend request on his messaging app.

[I am Pei Xing. ‘Xing’ as in ‘unity of knowledge and action’.]