True or False - Chapter 15

The weather turned a bit colder today.

The wind let out a low growl against the windowpanes. Upon opening his eyes, Shen Hengxi let out a sharp “hiss” and burrowed deeper into his quilt. Autumn in this small town is too cold, he thought, yet he still managed to climb out of bed.

After sorting everything out in his mind yesterday, his mood was exceptionally light, though he felt a lingering melancholy about the fact that his days of eating the local soup dumplings were numbered. He decided he would eat two steamer baskets every day for the coming week.

The moment he opened his door, a shiver ran through him. As he walked toward the soup dumpling shop, the phone call from the previous night resurfaced in his mind.

It had been from his agent, and the message was clear: everything was ready PR, scripts, brands, investors. All the necessary (and even unnecessary) pieces were in place; they were just waiting for the lead actor to show up.

Shen Hengxi let out a long breath, and his pace came to a halt simultaneously. His long-coveted soup dumplings were finally before him. Perhaps because he knew he was leaving soon, the first bite brought a lasting sense of satisfaction. On a whim, he decided to pack an order for the kid across the hall.

The thought came quickly and refused to fade. Checking the time, he realized that if he rushed back now, he would catch the kid just as he was heading out.

After giving Auntie Li a quick heads-up, he hurried back with a bag in hand. The cold wind nipped at his cheeks, making his nose sting, yet his body felt warm, his blood seemingly boiling and churning with the exertion.

The moment he reached his floor, the opposite door swung open. Shen Hengxi looked up instinctively, and a wide grin spread across his face the second he saw who it was.

“Brother,” Chu Xi-ang called out.

Handing over the bag of soup dumplings, Shen Hengxi panted slightly. “Here. Eat these.”

Chu Xi-ang took them; they were still warm in his hand, and the condensation on the bag dampened his palm. He lowered his eyes and said softly, “Thanks, Brother.”

“Eat them while they’re hot.” Shen Hengxi stepped aside to make room. “Are you going to eat them here or take them with you?”

As the boy lowered his gaze, the shadows of his eyelashes fell over his faint dark circles. Seeing this, Shen Hengxi added, “Better eat them before you go.” He opened his door and said, “In you go.”

Chu Xi-ang let out a laugh but followed him inside without a word. Shen Hengxi poured him a glass of water. “No milk, so you’ll have to make do with this.”

Chu Xi-ang already had a soup dumpling in his mouth, mumbling indistinctly, “It’s not like I have to drink milk.”

“You’re growing; drink more milk.” Shen Hengxi walked over with a pair of chopsticks and gave Chu Xi-ang’s hand a light tap as the boy reached for another dumpling. “Use the chopsticks.”

Taking them, Chu Xi-ang smiled, unable to resist asking, “Brother, did you buy these specifically for me?”

Shen Hengxi leaned against the table, arms crossed, watching him for a long moment. “Couldn’t hold it in?”

“Sigh, Brother, if you saw right through my thoughts, couldn’t you have just not said it out loud?” Chu Xi-ang swallowed the last bite of a dumpling and took a large gulp of water.

Handing him a tissue, Shen Hengxi packed up the trash. “I brought them back specifically for you. Now, off to school with you.”

Chu Xi-ang waved a bit more vigorously as he opened the door. “Got it. I’m off!”

The soup dumplings he’d just eaten seemed to translate into energy; Chu Xi-ang felt as if the wind were carrying him today. Neither of them had mentioned the previous night; some things are better understood in silence. Acting “clueless” made their interactions feel much more natural.

However, Chu Xi-ang hadn’t quite figured out how to handle Gu Xiaoyan. To be more precise, he didn’t want to think about it. For the past few days, Gu Xiaoyan had been going to bed early, and the two of them had been locked in a cold war since their argument. Like mother, like son they were both as stubborn as iron, living under the same roof yet acting as though they didn’t exist to each other.

Today was Saturday, so there was only a half-day of classes. Usually, Chu Xi-ang wouldn’t eat breakfast on this day to save room for the meal Lin Fang would cook. But having eaten the soup dumplings from Shen Hengxi, he didn’t feel like heading back.

Nevertheless, he eventually navigated his electric scooter back home. He used to feel this road was very long, but today it felt like he arrived in the blink of an eye. The kitchen door was open, and the aroma of meat wafted out. Normally, he would rush inside, but now his feet felt as heavy as lead.

Lin Fang’s back was turned to him. The steam rose to meet her white hair, her body hunched over the spatula in her hand. The aroma filling the room couldn’t make him stay for a second. Chu Xi-ang watched her silently, his chest feeling stifled. After Chu Hui left, the family had disintegrated; Gu Xiaoyan hadn’t returned either. A balloon without a string will only drift with the wind.

Chu Xi-ang sat at the entrance, gazing at the scenery outside. After an unknown amount of time, the sound of the range hood stopped. He stood up, intentionally making his footsteps heavy.

Lin Fang looked toward the door. Seeing him, she broke into a smile. “I was just wondering why you weren’t back yet.”

“Just got held up by some stuff.” Chu Xi-ang walked over and rested his hand on her shoulder as usual, taking an exaggerated breath. “I could smell the meat from outside. It smells incredible.”

Hearing this, the wrinkles on Lin Fang’s face bunched up with joy. “I know you love it, so I made a huge portion just for you.”

“Wow, I’m in luck today.” Chu Xi-ang’s gaze swept over her face.

They walked outside together. Even though the sun was remarkably bright, the wind made them curl up from the cold.

“Ang-bao.” Lin Fang took the hand he had on her shoulder and held it in hers, stroking it gently. Chu Xi-ang’s gaze followed the motion. The lines covering her palms felt slightly abrasive against his skin. These hands had labored far too much for a home that shouldn’t have existed.

“Grandmother,” Chu Xi-ang said softly.

Lin Fang kept stroking his hand, as if trying to smooth out all his sharp edges until he became a sleek, soft shell.

“I asked you before if you blamed them, and then I told you not to.” Lin Fang led him to sit on small stools outside, her eyes fixed on the fields. “I thought that as long as you were still in school, I had to let you walk out of here with some dignity.”

The roughness of her palms stung slightly, and a lump formed in his throat.

“But in this house, I was the only one who thought that way. Who knew their hearts would drift? This home is full of holes; if you pull on the patches even slightly, it all comes apart.”

Lin Fang spoke with a slight smile. Seeing the “flower” suddenly bloom on her face, Chu Xi-ang lowered his head and pursed his lips tight.

“Ang-bao,” she called to him again. “Walk out of here. I’m old; the only person I can still protect is you. I didn’t plan on telling you this because I thought I could hold it together myself, but now it’s come to this. Your father is a piece of work, and your mother’s heart has drifted from mine. In this family, you’re the only one I care about. In the future, may our Ang-bao grow up well, grow up strong…”

Chu Xi-ang’s jaw tightened for a second before he relaxed. Turning his face, he pulled his hand out and placed it over hers, joking with a smile, “Looks like our comrade Xiao Fang is really furious this time, saying things like this to me.”

Lin Fang was amused by him and scolded him playfully, “Always with the grinning and nonsense.”

Chu Xi-ang wrapped his arm around hers and rested his head on her shoulder—a gesture he’d done many times as a child, and one that still felt familiar. The scent of cooking oil and the lingering aroma of meat from her clothes enveloped him. Suddenly, everything became clear.

“Grandmother.” “Mhm.” “I will walk out of here.” “Mhm. Our Ang-bao is the best.” “I’ll be okay.” “Mhm…”

After returning and climbing the stairs, Chu Xi-ang thought for a moment and then knocked on the opposite door. After three knocks, he realized it was noon a time for rest. Just as he was about to head back to his own place, the door opened.

“Heading back already?” Shen Hengxi’s voice came from behind.

Chu Xi-ang turned around. “I thought you wouldn’t open. I figured you were sleeping.”

“Don’t have that habit. Come in.” Shen Hengxi opened the door and stepped aside. “Sit for a bit. I’ll go slice some fruit for you.”

In his previous visits, he hadn’t even been offered fruit. Chu Xi-ang rested his head on the back of the chair and asked, “Was this specifically bought for me too?”

Shen Hengxi let out a short laugh from the kitchen. “You’ve certainly learned how to flatter yourself.”

Chu Xi-ang stood up and walked to the kitchen door, leaning against the glass frame. “The last time I came here, I only got a glass of water.”

“Yes, it was for you. Now go eat.” Shen Hengxi handed him a plate of fruit.

Placing it on the table, Chu Xi-ang was about to reach for a piece with his hand when Shen Hengxi handed him a toothpick, shooting him a look. “Bad habit. Use the pick.”

Chu Xi-ang only smiled.

“Let me ask you something,” Shen Hengxi said, sitting next to him.

“Ask away.” Chu Xi-ang’s mouth was full of fruit, making his speech a bit sluggish.

Shen Hengxi found the sight hilarious. “Are there any local specialties here?”

The chewing stopped. Chu Xi-ang’s lowered eyes lifted quickly. “There’s nothing very special here, except for a certain wine.”

“What is it?”

Chu Xi-ang resumed eating. “Tangerine peel wine. It might not taste great at first, but it’s okay once you get used to it.”

Shen Hengxi looked at him. “You know it that well?”

“I heard about it. They say it’s very good for you.” Chu Xi-ang looked up and squinted at him with a smile.

“Alright,” Shen Hengxi replied.

This day was different from the others. Chu Xi-ang secretly hoped he could stay in this room a bit longer, even if they did and said nothing  just kept eating fruit. With this thought, the speed of his eating slowed considerably.

Shen Hengxi noticed and asked, “What’s wrong? Full?”

Chu Xi-ang shook his head and continued swallowing in silence.

“Look at you.” Shen Hengxi pulled out a tissue and wiped away the juice from the side of the boy’s face. “It’s all yours. No one’s going to snatch it from you.”

Chu Xi-ang still didn’t speak. But no matter how slowly he ate, the fruit eventually ran out.

The toothpick pierced the final piece of cantaloupe. Chu Xi-ang suddenly felt a sense of reluctance—an inexplicable thought and feeling that hit him so fast he couldn’t handle or understand it. In the end, he could only stare at the empty plate.

Shen Hengxi had been admiring the way the kid ate, and now he was curious. “Not eating the last one?”

Chu Xi-ang looked at him. Perhaps because he’d eaten so much fruit, even his eyes seemed to hold a bit of watery light.

“I’m eating it,” he said.

Shen Hengxi was still smiling. “You’ve turned into a fruit spirit.”

The tangled thoughts were set aside and buried in his heart. Once the fruit was gone, he didn’t want to think about anything else, only wanting to cherish every moment he could.

No matter who it was with.

After lingering for the entire afternoon until the sun was nearly set, Chu Xi-ang said goodbye. Shen Hengxi walked him to the door and then called him back, taking a key from the cabinet by the entrance and handing it to him.

“Here. If you want to come over in the future, just use the key.”

The light in the entryway suddenly flared, illuminating the key and casting a shadow. Chu Xi-ang stared at it silently, motionless. After what seemed like seconds, he looked up into Shen Hengxi’s eyes.

For the first time, he felt he had never truly seen through the person before him.

The key was eventually accepted, tucked into a pocket where it couldn’t see the light.