True or False - Chapter 7

The clenched fist of his right hand throbbed in rhythmic waves of pain.

Chu Xi-ang’s throat felt inexplicably dry. “I do. Just… wait for me a moment.”

“No rush,” Shen Hengxi said, turning around. “The temperature seems quite low today; I’m going to go put on a jacket.”

Watching that retreating back, Chu Xi-ang licked his lips. “Brother.”

Shen Hengxi first let out a soft “Mhm,” then turned back around. “What is it?”

“Do you have a car?” Chu Xi-ang’s feet shifted as he took a step forward. “I know a place with really good pickled cabbage fish. My treat.”

The two looked at each other in silence for a moment. Shen Hengxi was the first to speak with a smile: “Sure. I’ll be waiting.”

Chu Xi-ang went back into his apartment, tilted his head back, and downed more than half a glass of water. Propping himself up against the table with his left hand, he made a concerted effort to take deep breaths. His right hand gradually steadied, hanging suspended in front of him.

The door was left open. Shen Hengxi knocked twice, and when the boy looked over, he said, “It’s quite cold today. Put on a jacket.”

“Alright,” Chu Xi-ang replied.

The door opposite closed again. Chu Xi-ang went into his room, wiped his face, found a random jacket, and threw it over his shoulders. Closing his door behind him, he stood in the hallway and waited.

Before long, the opposite door opened again. Chu Xi-ang looked up to see Shen Hengxi arching an eyebrow at him. “Let’s go.”

Shen Hengxi’s car had followed him to this small town, but he hadn’t driven it since arriving; it had been sitting in the rear lot. Opening the car door now, he felt a slight sense of nostalgia. He glanced at the boy and found his expression faint, sitting in the car and simply looking straight ahead.

Shen Hengxi couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

Chu Xi-ang turned his head to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

Turning the steering wheel, Shen Hengxi spoke: “Are you really seventeen? You’re not bluffing me, are you?”

“Huh?” Chu Xi-ang, currently in a bit of a daze, instinctively furrowed his brows.

Shen Hengxi shot him another glance. “I didn’t used to frown like that when I was seventeen. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were twenty like a little old man.”

Chu Xi-ang raised his hand to touch the space between his brows. “Go straight down this road.”

Another short burst of laughter.

Chu Xi-ang uncomfortably squeezed his right hand at his chest. From the corner of his eye, he observed Shen Hengxi as he drove. He knew this man was handsome; his face lacked flaws regardless of the angle, and even his hands resting on the steering wheel were perfect.

He turned to look out the car window. He must have used up all of this week’s luck just to sit inside a Porsche Panamera.

There was a faint scent of perfume in the car. Chu Xi-ang took a soft breath, keeping his eyes lowered.

Shen Hengxi didn’t know what was swirling in a seventeen-year-old kid’s head. He hadn’t originally intended to go out today, but he figured the kid couldn’t cook for himself with an injured right hand. Plus, having lacked a dining partner for several days, he felt a bit nostalgic for it. All things considered, he thought this was a good turn of events.

“Still driving forward?” he asked.

Chu Xi-ang looked up. “Turn right at the next traffic light.”

Seemingly noticing his own odd mood, he let out a heavy sigh. “The fish at this place is fresh-killed, and the soup is exceptionally delicious. Since the temperature dropped today, you should drink more of the soup later, Brother.”

At a red light, Shen Hengxi’s hand slid down from the steering wheel. “Got it.”

Once those words were said, Chu Xi-ang’s mind began searching for something else to say.

“If you don’t feel like talking, don’t force yourself. I’m not going to run away. Why are you so nervous?”

Amidst the sound of the car slowly starting up, Chu Xi-ang’s left ear caught Shen Hengxi’s words first.

In that instant, all the messy thoughts in Chu Xi-ang’s head vanished. He let out a laugh and said sincerely, “Brother, you’re the easiest rich person to get along with I’ve ever met.” After saying it, he corrected himself: “Actually, that’s not right. I haven’t really met any other rich people.”

Shen Hengxi laughed along. “Let’s just consider ourselves dining partners. Why bring up rich or poor?”

Chu Xi-ang nodded. “Alright.”

There weren’t many people in the shop at this hour. Chu Xi-ang walked in, selected a fish, and asked Shen Hengxi: “Should we just go with mild spice?”

“That works,” Shen Hengxi nodded.

As they sat face-to-face, Shen Hengxi looked at the arm suspended in front of Chu Xi-ang and asked, “How many days do you have to nurse that?”

Chu Xi-ang was unwrapping the bowls the tableware here was disposable, which wasn’t very convenient with only one hand. “The doctor said a month at most. It’s not a major injury.”

Shen Hengxi took the tableware from his hands, unwrapped them, and placed them in front of him. “If it’s not a major injury, why does it need a sling?”

Chu Xi-ang wrinkled his nose. “The doctor said he was afraid I’d be too mischievous. Having it in a sling is better than not.”

Rarely seeing an actual expression on the boy’s face, Shen Hengxi nodded and joked along, “True. Kids are always restless.”

Despite being teased, Chu Xi-ang didn’t feel any resentment. He was simply thinking that Shen Hengxi really was different from others. Even though he saw the injury and had witnessed Chu Xi-ang in an embarrassing state, he wouldn’t ask a single prying question.

Feeling a bit more relaxed, Chu Xi-ang hurriedly greeted Shen Hengxi when the steaming pickled cabbage fish was finally served. “Brother, try some of this soup. It’s really warming for the stomach.”

“Give me your bowl.” Shen Hengxi didn’t respond to his suggestion directly.

Chu Xi-ang looked at the hand reached out toward him, then at his own bowl. He handed it over anyway. “Sorry to trouble you.”

Shen Hengxi ladled some soup for him and handed it back through the rising steam.

The kid is good in every way, he’s just too polite.

“You’re treating me to a meal; I have to do something,” Shen Hengxi said. He tasted the soup; it was tart and refreshing without being greasy. One sip truly felt comfortable.

Chu Xi-ang’s eyes crinkled. “Then eat more, Brother.”

After having three bowls of soup, the chill that had seeped in from outside had vanished. Shen Hengxi took off his jacket and was currently ladling fish meat for Chu Xi-ang.

Despite saying he was treating the other to a meal, he was being looked after in every way. Chu Xi-ang’s innate desire not to trouble others resurfaced. He took his bowl back. “You eat more, Brother. I’m not very hungry; just chatting with you is enough.”

Shen Hengxi didn’t push it. He let out an “Mhm” and asked, “What do you want to chat about?”

Chu Xi-ang stalled for a second. After blinking, he asked an ill-timed question: “You’re not from here, Brother. How did you find this small town?”

Shen Hengxi’s hand holding the chopsticks paused. Chu Xi-ang hurriedly added, “Brother, I was just curious. Let’s not talk about that.”

“It’s nothing.” Shen Hengxi set down his chopsticks. “My grandfather was from here. I just wanted to come and take a look.”

“I see,” Chu Xi-ang nodded, then smiled at Shen Hengxi again. “Then you keep eating, Brother. I’m going to go pay the bill.”

Just as he left the table, Shen Hengxi’s phone rang. Without even looking, Shen Hengxi answered. “Brother.”

“What are you up to?” Shen Tingci asked. “In such a good mood?”

Finishing the fish in his bowl, Shen Hengxi wiped his mouth and said in a slow, leisurely manner, “Teasing a kid.”

Shen Tingci was confused. “Where did this kid come from?”

Shen Hengxi let out a laugh. “I’m hanging up. I’m out eating.”

Having been hung up on, Shen Tingci looked at the two people sitting on the sofa opposite him and shook his phone. “He hung up.”

Shen Fu frowned. “He hung up after only two sentences?”

“Is he still angry? Why did he say so little? And what kid?” The woman beside him began to worry instinctively.

“He’s fine. Mom, Dad, I reckon he’s living quite happily over there. You don’t need to worry,” Shen Tingci said, pressing his hand to his brow.

“But…”

Shen Tingci began shooing them out. “No ‘buts’. Go back and get some rest.”

Having hung up the phone, Shen Hengxi sat with his legs crossed, waiting for Chu Xi-ang.

“Let’s go, Brother.” Chu Xi-ang ran back, his eyes bright and sparkling.

Looking at him like that, Shen Hengxi felt the boy currently resembled a puppy, eagerly waiting for him to say it was time to leave.

With a slight smile at the corners of his mouth, Shen Hengxi nodded. “Let’s go.”

Chu Xi-ang was the first to turn and walk out. Shen Hengxi looked at the jacket draped over the chair opposite, then lowered his eyes and smiled.

The moment they pushed the door open, the cold air rushed at them. Chu Xi-ang instinctively shivered.

This autumn seems a bit colder than usual.

As the leaves fell, a faint breeze stirred behind him. Immediately after, a jacket was draped over Chu Xi-ang’s shoulders.

“Let’s go,” Shen Hengxi said.

Chu Xi-ang pulled the jacket tighter. Looking at the back walking ahead of him, something bubbled up in his heart, and a smile began to spread across his face.