The clear sound of whistling had an almost hypnotic quality that made people want to sway their heads along with it. That was probably because of the person doing the whistling. Zhi Li’s chair was balanced on a single leg, making anyone who looked at him nervous. With both hands tucked into his pants pockets, he whistled at a little bird outside the classroom window. Ke Bu had no idea whether the bird had fallen for it, but he certainly had. Apparently, his own defenses were even weaker than a bird’s.
The group chat was currently discussing where they should go after the New Year.
Gong Zhu: How about we find an editorial office somewhere? Maybe we’ll run into an editor-in-chief. Or we could become spies, maybe even reporters, and meet an underworld boss. Or what if we just happen to run into a domineering CEO on the road?
Ke Bu: Stop fantasizing about plots from your BL manga. Let me tell you what would happen in reality. The editorial office would have security throw you out, the underworld boss would kill you, and the domineering CEO would be surrounded by models.
Gong Zhu: You’re the best at ruining the mood!
Chu Hao Yu: We’re already adults. As a coming-of-age gift to ourselves, I think we should go pay for sex.
Ying Xiu Jie: Let’s find somewhere with a waterfall. I want to try standing under one. That’s how all the masters in period dramas train.
Zhang Luo: Go to an internet café and grind levels.
Ke Bu: I’ll stay home and watch TV.
Su You Yan: Taking everyone’s opinions into consideration, I’ve decided we’ll go to a resort and soak in hot springs.
Ke Bu: I don’t think you took a single person’s opinion into consideration!! You just decided that yourself!
Ke Bu rested his head on one hand, his stomach full of reluctance. What was so great about soaking in hot springs? Taking a bath at home was much more comfortable. So far, Ke Bu had only ever seen hot springs on television and in anime, and no matter how many times he saw them, they held no attraction for him. He was someone who distinguished reality from fantasy very clearly. It was just like food programs: no matter how delicious they made something look, they couldn’t sway him. Still, there really were more and more hot springs and all kinds of places for entertainment opening around the country. That wasn’t a bad thing. Peace and tranquility were far too easy to overlook and take for granted. Whenever he saw news footage of war-torn countries reduced to ruins, it almost felt unreal. People were always careless with what they already possessed. Those suffering from terminal illnesses, threatened by death, desperately begged for one more day, even one more hour of life, while some people who had enough food and clothing and perfectly healthy bodies desperately wanted to die, unable to endure even another moment. What exactly caused such a strange contradiction?
After the teacher finished class, their class adviser walked in. “Winter break starts tomorrow. As your class adviser, I’ll say the usual few words. Don’t do too many bad things while you’re outside. And if you do something bad, don’t tell anyone you’re a student of Sheng Jie Academy. Anything that damages the school’s reputation will result in expulsion. One student from the fourth-year class I’m responsible for was expelled last time. You kids are far too easily tempted by the colorful world outside. Behave yourselves. You’re dismissed for break.”
The classroom erupted into enthusiastic cheers. The things parents and teachers said were always the easiest things for students to forget. Ke Bu stretched and let out a long breath. “Vacation.” Just then, he received a call from Ke Qin. “Ke Bu, come spend the New Year with us. I’m not forcing you to live with us. At least come over so we can all get together.”
“It’s fine. I’ll go next time. This year I’ll stay at the old house.”
“About that…” Ke Qin paused for several seconds before continuing. “With the family getting bigger, I want to move somewhere larger. Dad’s sorry. I don’t have the means, so the old house has already been listed for sale.” It was his father’s house to begin with. Why did he have to apologize to Ke Bu for making that decision? Ke Bu answered lightly, “It hasn’t sold yet, right? If it hasn’t sold, I’ll stay there for now.”
“Stop being stubborn with Dad.”
“Dad, I need time.”
“All right. If you decide you want to come over, call me. I’ll come pick you up.”
“Mm.”
After hanging up, Ke Bu called Wu Qian. “Mom, let’s spend the New Year together.”
“I was just about to call and ask you to come spend it with me. Also, Mom wants to introduce you to someone. He has a son about your age. The two of you should become good friends.” Ke Bu couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling. He had developed a certain amount of tolerance for this by now. After all, after all… they had been divorced for more than seven years. Finding another partner was perfectly normal. His mother had been a victim too. She deserved happiness of her own.
“Then I’ll meet him another time.”
“You… don’t want to?”
“Of course I do. It’s just too sudden, and I’m not prepared yet. Arrange a time after the New Year.”
“Then where are you going to spend New Year’s?”
“I want to go to Zhi Li’s place this year.”
“All right. Actually, you don’t have to meet him at all. Mom can explain things to him. Or why don’t I spend New Year’s with you?”
“No, it’s okay. I still have to pack my things, so I’ll talk to you later.”
Did that include me too? Carelessly mistreating what I already had, rejecting both my parents’ kindness—what exactly was I trying to prove? Ke Bu stood up, took his books, and returned to the dorm. He looked around the room, only to discover that there was practically nothing to pack. In the end, he randomly stuffed his charger and a few other things into his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and said, “I’m leaving.” Chu Hao Yu waved a hand in response.
When Ke Bu passed Zhi Li’s dorm, the door was wide open. Zhi Li sat with his back to the light, drawing. Ke Bu poked his head inside. “You’re going to Yinguo Town for the New Year, right?” No matter how he looked at it, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Ke Bu to go along on an occasion like that. He knew that very well. Without waiting for Zhi Li to answer, he continued, “You Yan said we’re going to soak in hot springs after the New Year, so… I’ll see you then, Zhi Li.” They had been together for so long that parting and meeting again had both become ordinary parts of life. Ke Bu didn’t even step half a foot inside the dorm, afraid that once he did, he wouldn’t want to leave. He acted carefree. He acted like a man.
The trip home seemed much shorter than it used to. When Ke Bu opened the door, the silent, empty apartment was like an isolated island. Even the sound of his footsteps could be heard with perfect clarity. The tightly drawn curtains let in no light at all. Ke Bu collapsed onto the sofa and could smell the dust. It was too quiet. Was home always such a quiet place?
“I’m free now. No one’s going to control me anymore. It’s nice being alone. It’s nice being alone.” He closed his eyes, and his vision was gray. When he opened them again, the color didn’t change.
“Being alone really is nice. I’m not lying.”
A crisp whistle forced its way through the crack in the door and leapt straight into Ke Bu’s ears. Ke Bu pushed himself upright so quickly that his leg slammed into the foot of the sofa. Ignoring the pain, he half ran, half stumbled toward the door and pulled it open. Zhi Li stood with his back to him, his head tilted upward as he teased a little bird perched in the tree. Did you even bring multicolored brushes with you? When did you start adding color to everything I see?
Ke Bu used all his strength to run forward and ram his head into Zhi Li’s back.
No. Being together was better.
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