True or False - Chapter 4

Life in the small town wasn’t exactly boring. The air was fresh and free of pollution; Shen Hengxi could spend an entire afternoon simply holding a cup of tea on the balcony, gazing out the window.

However, he lacked a companion to talk to someone to share things with. In those moments, he would pull out his phone and call Shen Tingci, completely disregarding whether his brother was in an important meeting. Every time he called, Shen Tingci would answer, assuming it was something urgent.

Shen Hengxi watched the green onions floating atop the white, pillowy mounds in his bowl. As he stirred slowly with a spoon, his first words upon his brother picking up were: “Ge, have you eaten yet?”

Shen Tingci sounded preoccupied. “Can you try a different opening line for once?”

“Hey, I’m just sharing my life with you,” Shen Hengxi replied flippantly.

“I’ve eaten; I’ve eaten. What are you eating?” Shen Tingci asked, resigned to the conversation.

Shen Hengxi answered with satisfaction, “Wontons. No, wait they call them dumplings here.”

“Dumplings? Did you go out and buy them yourself again?” Through the phone, the voice of Shen Tingci’s assistant could be heard in the background.

Shen Hengxi took a bite, looking down at the pork and cabbage filling. “Actually, no. Someone gave them to me.”

There was a brief silence on the other end. “You made a new friend?”

“A kid. My next-door neighbor.” As he spoke, he thought of the boy again. Despite being only seventeen, he always wore such a stoic face. He was impeccable in his interactions and actions, leaving one to wonder what he was constantly thinking about.

Shen Tingci’s schedule seemed to tighten again. “A kid? How old?”

“Seventeen. He’s quite interesting.” The corners of Shen Hengxi’s mouth curled up. He took another bite of a dumpling before telling his brother he was hanging up.

His living room was large but sparsely furnished; he usually ate his meals at the coffee table, which connected to the semi-open kitchen. The steam from the boiled dumplings still drifted from the kitchen, mingling with the aroma a scene that felt comfortable and cozy.

This kid is the perfect meal companion, Shen Hengxi thought. He decided he would keep a lookout for him every day.

When Chu Xi’ang opened his door, the door opposite him swung open immediately. He was met with a blunt invitation: “Breakfast together?”

Without thinking, Chu Xi’ang nodded. By the time he regained his senses, Shen Hengxi had already descended the first step, asking as he walked: “What do you want to eat?”

“Ah…”

Shen Hengxi glanced back at him. “Don’t say ‘whatever you want.'”

“Then… the same soup dumpling place?” Chu Xi’ang’s voice was questioning, his gaze lingering on the man in front of him, who was roughly his height.

Today, Shen Hengxi looked remarkably youthful. Dressed in a hoodie, sweatpants, and sneakers, he looked more like a university student than anything else.

“I told you, it’s your call.” Shen Hengxi glanced back again as they turned a corner, noticing Chu Xi’ang seemed distracted. “What’s on your mind?”

“I was wondering how tall you are.” The moment the words left his mouth, Chu Xi’ang felt his morning brain was definitely sluggish. He watched as Shen Hengxi turned around.

Laughing, Shen Hengxi stepped up onto the same stair. He reached out, placing his hand on top of the boy’s head and then leveling it against his own shoulder. He hummed for a second. “Really want to know?”

Chu Xi’ang pursed his lips. “You might as well tell me.”

At that moment, he finally looked his age. Shen Hengxi chuckled while eyeing him. “Not that tall. Just 188cm.”

“…” Chu Xi’ang didn’t respond. He followed slowly behind, thinking to himself that he was still young he could still have a growth spurt.

Once downstairs, Shen Hengxi crossed his arms. “The dumpling shop is quite far, isn’t it?”

Chu Xi’ang nodded, pulling his keys from his pocket. “We’ll take the electric bike.”

“How about I drive?” Shen Hengxi offered.

After a rare moment of hesitation, Chu Xi’ang looked at him. “Can you even ride one?”

Shen Hengxi looked at the bike, then at the keys. He took a step back and gestured forward with his right hand. “After you, then.” He added a cheeky footnote: “We won’t be traveling at a snail’s pace today, will we?”

“We won’t. Just sit tight.” Chu Xi’ang left a generous amount of seat space for him.

Shen Hengxi climbed on. He hadn’t really paid attention the day before, but today he took the time to experience the sensation. The wind rushed through the gap between them, and even the air seemed scented. Every breath was filled with the boy’s clean, crisp scent. A smile touched Shen Hengxi’s eyes as he looked down, his brow relaxing completely.

The shop was crowded at this hour; there were no empty tables in sight. Chu Xi’ang glanced inside, then decided to order first. “Why don’t you wait outside for a bit? I’ll go place the order.”

Shen Hengxi agreed.

At the front counter, Auntie Li was in the heat of the morning rush with the kitchen staff. Chu Xi’ang looked outside, didn’t see Shen Hengxi, and decided to help serve the dishes from the kitchen.

Auntie Li spotted him and told him to go sit down, but Chu Xi’ang just smiled and picked up a steamer of buns. “It’s busy and there are no seats yet. I’ll help serve for a bit; it’s no trouble.”

After several trips back and forth and clearing away some empty bowls, he looked up to see Shen Hengxi. The man was sitting at the same small table from two days ago, chin resting on his hand, watching him.

“Give me a second,” Chu Xi’ang said, smiling apologetically.

After telling Auntie Li he was taking the dumplings out and thoroughly washing his hands, Chu Xi’ang finally took his seat. He grabbed a napkin to wipe the table and asked, “I didn’t keep you waiting too long, did I?”

“No.” Shen Hengxi pushed a carton of milk toward him. “For you.”

Chu Xi’ang took it, confused. Then he heard the man say: “Drink more milk in the morning. It helps you grow.”

Chu Xi’ang’s hand paused. He looked at Shen Hengxi and said earnestly, “Thanks, Ge.” Pushing a steamer of dumplings toward the older man, he asked, “Want to try the tossed noodles here? The taste is different from other places; they’re quite good.”

“Sure,” Shen Hengxi nodded. He watched the boy get up to tell the kitchen and then return. Shen Hengxi opened the milk and handed it back to him. “I’ve noticed you’re very interested in food.”

Chu Xi’ang blinked, taking a sip of milk. “We don’t have many options here. You can’t find the things they have in big cities.”

Shen Hengxi remained silent.

“So, I eat whatever is available. My grandmother used to tell me that the food we eat grows from the hands and hard work of others.” Chu Xi’ang looked into Shen Hengxi’s eyes. “Food is the simplest thing. It’s best to keep things simple when you eat it.”

Finding his perspective interesting, Shen Hengxi pulled the boy’s dipping dish toward him and carefully poured the vinegar. As he pushed it back, he asked, “So, are we allowed to talk while eating?”

Chu Xi’ang was a bit stunned by the question. “Of course.”

“Then why didn’t you talk to me the last time we ate together?” Shen Hengxi asked casually.

Worried he might be misunderstood, Chu Xi’ang leaned forward, his words coming out quickly. “We weren’t that close back then. I was afraid I might say something that would offend you.”

Seeing him like this, Shen Hengxi’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “In that case, are we close enough now?”

Chu Xi’ang maintained his attentive posture, his eyes fixed on Shen Hengxi. “I’d say so. We’re neighbors, and we’ve met quite a few times now.”

“Mhm.” Shen Hengxi added, “From now on, say whatever is on your mind.”

The boy went quiet. Shen Hengxi looked up to see the kid staring at him blankly. Picking up a fresh pair of chopsticks, Shen Hengxi placed a dumpling in the boy’s bowl and raised an eyebrow. “Eat.”

Chu Xi’ang hurriedly took it and buried his head, stuffing the dumpling into his mouth. Before Shen Hengxi could say “Careful, it’s hot,” the boy’s pale face had already turned beet red from the heat. Shen Hengxi frowned and handed him a tissue. “What’s the rush?”

Chu Xi’ang couldn’t spit it out, so he had to swallow. The hot soup burned all the way down. He took the tissue, feeling incredibly embarrassed. “I was hungry.”

Without calling him out, Shen Hengxi lowered his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “Eat.”

The small shop was a revolving door of people. Everyone who entered shouted a greeting; if there was a seat, they took it; if not, they joked with those eating about sharing a table. It was as if an invisible thread, sometimes thick, sometimes thin, connected everyone there.

Shen Hengxi finished first and sat back, silently observing the shop. His gaze eventually returned to his meal companion, who was still focused on the half-bowl of noodles left. Realizing the boy was a slow eater, Shen Hengxi didn’t rush him. His eyes drifted to the keys on the table, he hadn’t noticed before, but there was a small bear plush on the keychain.

Curious, Shen Hengxi reached out to pick it up. As he moved, the keychain caught a loose thread on Chu Xi’ang’s sleeve. Neither of them had expected it. Shen Hengxi used his other hand to gently untangle the thread. “Keep eating.”

Chu Xi’ang, mouth still full of noodles, watched those large hands playing with the little plush. He felt a wave of bashfulness. He swallowed quickly, but when Shen Hengxi didn’t ask anything, he looked up to see the keychain being pushed back toward him.

“Take your time,” Shen Hengxi said. Chu Xi’ang stared at his noodles, and though he wanted to speed up, his pace actually slowed.

When they finished, Chu Xi’ang tried to get up to pay, but Shen Hengxi stopped him. “Just go. This one’s on me; you can get the next one.”

The second half of the sentence silenced his protest. Chu Xi’ang grabbed his keys and finished the milk in one gulp. “Let’s go. I’ll drive you back.”

Shen Hengxi smiled at a private thought. Out of politeness, Chu Xi’ang asked, “Are you going straight home?”

“Yeah. I don’t speak the dialect, so I can only wander aimlessly by myself or stay at home,” Shen Hengxi said with a helpless shrug.

As he spoke, the corners of his mouth dipped slightly. To Chu Xi’ang, it looked like a “beautiful young master” sighing in sorrow. His heart tightened, and he spoke without thinking: “Do you want to come to my place?”

Just then, a heavy truck roared past, its horn blaring. Chu Xi’ang bit his inner lip, wishing he could take the words back, unsure if Shen Hengxi had heard.

“The place upstairs?” Shen Hengxi asked.

He had heard. Chu Xi’ang looked him in the eye. “No. My hometown. My grandmother’s place.”

They stared at each other for a moment in silence. Then, Shen Hengxi reached out and placed a hand on Chu Xi’ang’s shoulder, spinning him around toward the electric bike. “Lead the way then, Student Xiao Ang.”