True or False - Chapter 6

Shen Hengxi ended up paying for the barbecue that night.

Chu Xi-ang’s money remained in his pocket, rubbed damp by his palm. He could only listen as Shen Hengxi said, “This one’s on me. Don’t always worry about saving me money.”

The bills in his pocket were squeezed and kneaded over and over again.

Since that night, Shen Hengxi hadn’t caught a glimpse of Chu Xi-ang for two consecutive days.

The thoughts of a kid were far too difficult to guess. Although the distance between them had narrowed quite suddenly that day, Shen Hengxi thought about it from every angle and felt that the meal had been eaten in a bit of a daze.

He first attributed this feeling to the fact that he had lacked a dining partner these past few days, which left him listless in the morning.

When he opened his eyes and checked his phone, it was already eight o’clock. Shen Hengxi resignedly climbed out of bed and brewed himself a cup of tea, as was his routine.

Outside, the sky was gloomily overcast. Forget the sun; there wasn’t even a single cloud to be seen just a flat, grey void.

Shen Hengxi sighed and blew on his tea, noticing the noisy commotion from outside growing louder.

Strange, why is it so loud downstairs today?

Strolling from the balcony to the living room, Shen Hengxi listened closely and realized the noise was actually coming from just outside his door, and it all seemed to be coming from one person.

The sound of knocking and shouting rushed into his ears simultaneously.

Recalling the things the kid had said on their first day, Shen Hengxi frowned and opened the door.

Standing at the entrance of the opposite apartment was a short, elderly woman.

“Grandmother?” Shen Hengxi stepped closer.

Lin Fang’s hand dropped from the doorframe. She turned around, and upon seeing it was Shen Hengxi, she hurried toward him, pointing at the door opposite and saying something.

She spoke so fast and urgently that Shen Hengxi could only accurately pick out the name “Xiao Ang” after listening for a long time. He gathered that she had been knocking for a while, but the door wouldn’t open.

He tried to comfort her first. “Grandmother, don’t worry. He might just be sleeping and didn’t hear you. Why don’t you come wait at my place for a moment?”

Lin Fang was too anxious to listen to him. She kept pointing at her arm and then reached out to bang on the door again, crying out, “Ang-bao, Xiao Ang…”

Shen Hengxi reached out to pat Lin Fang’s back to soothe her emotions. “Grandmother, let’s wait a bit. Maybe Xiao Ang will open the door in a minute. It’s still early morning…”

They spoke for an unknown amount of time long enough for Shen Hengxi to feel that staying out here wasn’t a solution, as people from downstairs might come up and misinterpret the situation. Just as he was worrying, the door in front of them swung open.

Shen Hengxi looked up, one eyebrow arching.

The kid, who had been full of life just a day ago, now stood with drooping eyelids. His right arm was wrapped in gauze, held up by a sling tied around his neck.

“No beatings, no scoldings just living obediently is enough.”

The words the kid spoke yesterday echoed in his ears.

Chu Xi-ang’s half-closed eyes cleared completely. He first glanced at Shen Hengxi before quickly looking away, smiling at Lin Fang. “Grandmother, why are you here?”

Lin Fang stepped forward, her face wrinkled with distress. She grabbed Chu Xi-ang’s left arm and delivered a slap, though it made no sound.

“What are you doing? Do you want to die of fright? I knocked so many times, called out so much, yet you wouldn’t open the door. What were you doing? I thought you had run away from home!”

Chu Xi-ang smiled. “What are you overthinking for? I just stayed up late last night and didn’t set an alarm. I came to open the door the moment I heard your voice.”

Lin Fang wanted to say more, but seeing him in this state, tears welled up first. She gently touched his right arm. “Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt.” Chu Xi-ang rested his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. He turned his body slightly to keep his right arm hidden from the neighbor’s view and said to Shen Hengxi, “Sorry, Brother. Did we wake you up?”

Shen Hengxi withdrew his gaze. “It’s fine. You two go ahead and chat; I’m going back to catch up on sleep.”

“Alright,” Chu Xi-ang nodded and led Lin Fang into the house.

Lin Fang gripped Chu Xi-ang’s hand. “Xiao Ang.”

“Mhm. Sit down first. Climbing to the fourth floor must have been tiring. I’ll pour you some water.” Chu Xi-ang placed a cup on the table and held the teapot with one hand.

As the water flowed steadily, he heard Lin Fang ask, “Ang-bao… do you blame your parents?”

The water rippled in circles, clashing against the walls of the cup before returning to stillness. Chu Xi-ang’s gaze lingered on the surface. He relaxed his grip, and the final drop of water sent out a faint tremor.

Chu Xi-ang sat at the dining table with his head lowered, silently staring at the water in the cup. He didn’t say a word.

Lin Fang was asking something else.

“Huh?” Chu Xi-ang turned his head. “Grandmother, what did you say?”

The furrows between Lin Fang’s brows deepened. She pointed toward the kitchen. “What’s going on there?”

Chu Xi-ang followed her gaze and smiled at her. “It’s nothing, Grandmother. Don’t worry.”

Usually, his grandmother would drop the subject if he said so, but today she stood up directly, letting out a sharp breath. “Are you planning to follow them in lying and hiding things from me?”

Chu Xi-ang froze. He wanted to say “No,” but he kept his mouth shut.

Lin Fang sat back down. “Their shouting was so ugly. After all that back and forth, isn’t it just about that one thing? Do they think an old woman like me can’t see or hear anything? I didn’t ask them before, but what were they thinking? Bringing such a mess right in front of you… what kind of damn parents are they!”

Chu Xi-ang pushed the water toward her, smiling. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this angry, Grandmother.”

“Your mother says nothing. Whenever I ask, she just says ‘I don’t care, I don’t care.’ What does she think we are to her? And Chu Hui he has the face to go out and find other women, but he doesn’t have the face to speak in front of me!” Lin Fang’s chest heaved. “I can’t stand this. I’m going to ask them what they take this family for!”

Chu Xi-ang held her back. “I know, I know. Grandmother, I’ll go speak to them.”

He walked into the living room and silently looked at the two people whose faces were filled with loathing, momentarily doubting if they were truly his parents.

“Goddammit, so what if I went out to get a girl? Every woman out there screams like their life depends on it under me. It’s only you, you damn woman, a shrew with a cold face all day long. What of it?”

“Chu Hui, if you’re so capable, go earn your own money. Using the money I earn to keep other women? You’ve got some nerve. If you die out there in the future, don’t come back. Let those women of yours bury you.”

The words were hideous. Chu Xi-ang watched this never-ending farce almost every day.

Noticing they were about to get physical, Chu Xi-ang stepped forward. With one hand, he pulled Shen Xiaoyan behind him; with the other, he caught Chu Hui’s hand as it swung for a slap. His expression was icy. “If you want to fight, take it outside. Don’t disturb Grandmother here.”

Chu Hui violently jerked his hand away. “You damn brat, you dare speak to your old man like that? I raised you this big not so you could use your strength against me!”

Chu Xi-ang remained expressionless. He let go of them and stepped aside. “I wasn’t trying to stop you. If you want to fight, keep fighting just not here.”

Shen Xiaoyan frowned and pushed him away. “What’s a kid like you doing meddling in this? Go out and mind your own business.”

Following the force of her push, Chu Xi-ang moved out of the way, his hands hanging limp at his sides.

“Everyone, get the hell out.”

It was a quiet statement, yet it exploded like a thunderclap in the empty living room.

“What did you just say, you little bastard!” Chu Hui roared.

“Xiao Ang!” Shen Xiaoyan looked at him in disbelief.

Chu Xi-ang still stood between them. “I said, everyone get the hell out. You know exactly what you’re arguing for here. Let’s not bring your filthy, disgusting thoughts out into the open. One goes out to visit prostitutes every day, the other goes out to gamble every day what’s wrong? Run out of money so you come here to make a scene? If you’re so capable, fix your own holes!”

He wasn’t hysterical; he spoke those words with a chilling calm.

In the other room, Lin Fang heard this and sat down tremblingly, looking vacantly around the room as tears rolled down her wrinkled face. She was old, old enough to need a grandson to stand in front of her to end this farce.

“No one cares what you do outside, but don’t come here. Don’t come to Grandmother’s place,” Chu Xi-ang continued.

Shen Xiaoyan turned her head away. She had high cheekbones and a naturally sharp, dominant look. With her brow furrowed, she looked particularly unapproachable. “Xiao Ang, you cannot speak to your father and mother like this!”

“I treat you like parents, but you don’t treat me like a son.”

To them, these words were treasonous. Both of their faces changed. Chu Hui stepped forward. “What are you saying! Providing for your school and your books and you don’t treat us like people? If you’ve got the guts, spit out every cent I’ve spent on you!”

Chu Xi-ang was accustomed to this and didn’t want to engage, but he didn’t expect Lin Fang to walk out, cursing through her tears: “Do you think I’m dead? I didn’t ask about your business before because I’m old did you think I couldn’t hear what people outside were saying?”

She pointed at Chu Hui. “You’re seeing someone else, where does that leave my daughter?” She turned to Shen Xiaoyan. “Did I work myself to the bone just so you could go out and gamble money away?”

The air was trapped in her chest; a sharp pain throbbed at the back of her head. “Do you even still want this home?!”

Chu Hui let out a cold snort. “This home can do whatever the hell it wants. What does it have to do with me? There isn’t a single good person in this family. Bah! Do you think your family is worth anything?!”

The mask was completely torn off.

Shen Xiaoyan couldn’t take it anymore. “Chu, get lost! Why don’t you die out there like your father!”

This hit Chu Hui’s sore spot. His face flushed instantly, his eyes glaring at Shen Xiaoyan. He grabbed the kitchen knife from nearby and charged.

Chu Xi-ang was startled for a split second but reacted swiftly. He lunged forward, grabbing Chu Hui’s arm with one hand, while his other arm shielded his own head.

“Xiao Ang?” Lin Fang’s voice shifted from a sobbing roar to a cautious, trembling inquiry.

Chu Xi-ang blinked. He picked up the water cup and handed it to Lin Fang. “Grandmother, have some water.”

Lin Fang looked at him again and again, finally sighing. “Where are they?”

“I don’t know. They probably went out. Mom is busy at the shop these two days,” Chu Xi-ang answered obediently.

Both tacitly avoided the subject, burying certain things behind the silence.

After sitting for a while, Lin Fang said she would go down to see Shen Xiaoyan. Chu Xi-ang walked her to the door. “Be careful going down. Take it slow.”

“I know.” Lin Fang patted his left arm. “Xiao Ang… after all, they are your parents.”

the smile that was always on his lips stiffened. When he looked up at Lin Fang again, Chu Xi-ang nodded. “Alright, Grandmother. I know.”

Even through a door, and even with his phone volume at maximum, Shen Hengxi could hear the commotion outside.

He let out a sigh. Thinking of the kid’s face, he opened his door and walked across the hall.

Just as he raised his hand to knock, a voice came from inside.

“That old woman sure is good to you always fussing over you. Every time there’s a holiday, she takes her old savings to cook such a huge table of food. Usually, she’s a real penny-pincher, but you sure are lucky.” Chu Hui walked out of the bedroom, mocking Chu Xi-ang who was sitting in the living room.

Chu Xi-ang poured himself a cup of water, not giving him so much as a glance. “Just leave.”

“What kind of tone is that with your old man? I had the guts to bring you into this world, and I’ve got the guts to stuff you back in!”

Looking at the exasperated Chu Hui who only knew how to be angry, Chu Xi-ang’s face was quite calm. Perhaps because he played around too much outside, Chu Hui had grown shorter, his face lacked the handsomeness of his youth, and his eyes had become clouded with dark circles underneath.

Even so, Chu Xi-ang could still find similarities to himself in that face. At the thought, he felt a wave of nausea, and his voice turned colder. “Say those words to the people you see outside. If there’s nothing else, get the hell out.”

“You little brat, I’m your father!” Chu Hui stepped forward, the veins on his hands bulging.

“What?” Chu Xi-ang turned around, exposing his gauze-wrapped arm. “Want to give me another cut? Go ahead. Cut the other arm. The moment you do, I’m calling the police. Don’t you care about your reputation the most?”

“Damn you!” Chu Hui spat, but he didn’t dare step forward. “It’s only natural for a father to hit his son. Even if I cut you once, it’s what you deserve!”

Chu Xi-ang didn’t want to say another word to him. Chu Hui took a step forward and raised his hand, only to be frozen in mid-air by the sound of knocking on the door

“Too noisy.”

Chu Xi-ang turned toward the door. His eyes trembled, and the right hand hanging at his chest clenched into a tight fist.

Chu Hui was a coward in front of outsiders. He glared at Chu Xi-ang and cursed, “I’ll deal with you sooner or later,” then opened the door and left.

The door swung open, hitting Shen Hengxi who was leaning against the wall outside. Chu Hui didn’t dare make eye contact and hurried downstairs.

Once the footsteps had completely faded, Shen Hengxi knocked twice on the open door. When the boy looked over, he asked with a light smile:

“Is there anything else good to eat in here?”