Two days later, their bed finally arrived. Shao Wu was at the office, dozing over his desk during his lunch break, when a WeChat message from Yang Shuyi woke him right up.
Yang Shuyi: The bed’s here.
Shao Wu: Mm. Check it over, okay? Make sure there’s nothing wrong with it.
Yang Shuyi: No problems.
A few seconds later, he added: It’s really sturdy.
Shao Wu stared at his phone in silence.
Of course it was sturdy! He’d deliberately bought an extra-thick, solid oak double bed! Over three thousand yuan! When German officers planted a bomb under a conference table in an attempt to assassinate Hitler, it was precisely because of that heavy oak table that Hitler survived. Didn’t he know that?
Shao Wu replied coolly: Oh, really? That’s good, then.
Yang Shuyi: Didn’t you buy it?
Shao Wu: I just picked one at random. Didn’t look too closely.
Silence from the other end again.
About half a minute later, a picture arrived.
It showed the shopping order the seller had tucked into the parcel, printed in black on white.
Product: Jiajia Home Furnishings All-Solid-Wood 1.8-Meter Oak Bed, Modern Minimalist Double Bed (Extra Thick)
Specifications: 1800 mm × 1900 mm
Color: Natural wood
Order note: PLEASE SHIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! NEED IT URGENTLY!!! MAKE SURE IT’S EXTRA THICK, EXTRA THICK, EXTRA THICK!!! THANK YOU, BOSS! I’LL LEAVE A GREAT REVIEW!!!!!
Yang Shuyi: [cute] I just picked one at random. Didn’t look too closely.
Shao Wu went silent for several seconds, then quietly put his phone face down.
But another vibration came. Yang Shuyi had sent the same thing again:
[cute] I just picked one at random. Didn’t look too closely.
Was he ever going to let it go?!
Shao Wu was so mortified and full of regret he nearly wanted to block Yang Shuyi just so he wouldn’t have to see him. But he couldn’t bear to.
What was wrong with that seller? When Shao Wu had tried to haggle, the man had insisted over and over that he ran a tiny factory deep in the mountains, selling straight from the factory, and couldn’t knock a single cent off the price. So why was his operation so formal? He even printed the order?!
Shao Wu was about to mute his phone and pretend to be dead when the screen changed. An incoming video call popped up.
Fortunately, it wasn’t Yang Shuyi.
Shao Wu got up, walked into the break room, closed the door, and answered.
Wang Yujun’s face appeared on the screen. He raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Hey! I tapped the wrong button. Meant to make a voice call.”
“It’s fine. Same difference,” Shao Wu said. “What’s up?” The things behind Wang Yujun looked like office furnishings too; presumably it was his lunch break as well.
“Oh, I’m going back to Yongchuan this Sunday.”
“Huh? Something going on?”
“It’s my birthday.” Wang Yujun smiled, looking a little embarrassed. “I’d said I wasn’t going to celebrate. I’m getting too old for all that…”
Shao Wu quickly did the math. It was Wang Yujun’s thirty-second birthday.
“But things are a little different this time. Anyway, I figured I could use the birthday as an excuse, and…” Halfway through his sentence, Wang Yujun frowned and leaned closer to the camera. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Huh? What’s wrong with me?”
“Why’s your face so red?” Wang Yujun gave him a rather complicated look.
“Is it? I think it’s fine…” Shao Wu touched his cheeks and silently prayed that he wouldn’t have a second person asking whether he was running a fever. It was too embarrassing.
But clearly he’d underestimated Wang Yujun.
Wang Yujun cleared his throat and asked in a low voice, “Are you wearing makeup?”
Shao Wu: “…”
“You’ve put on way too much blush. Listen, for an ordinary day at work, a little foundation is enough. Save the rest for when you go out partying—”
“Bro,” Shao Wu interrupted weakly, “I’m not wearing makeup… I’ve got a fever.”
Wang Yujun: “Fuck! Then why aren’t you asking for leave and going home to rest?”
“Mm. I’ll ask for leave in a bit…”
After ending the video call, Shao Wu shoved his phone into his pocket and went to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. The person in the mirror had two flushed cheeks, and even his ears were tinged pink. He was done for, Shao Wu thought. He hadn’t been like this before. Why did Yang Shuyi turn him into a boiling kettle, hissing out steam?
After finally calming himself, Shao Wu took out his phone. He planned to browse Taobao for a birthday present for Wang Yujun. Wang Yujun had said he was bringing his boyfriend back to Yongchuan to meet their mother on his birthday. No wonder he’d called specifically to ask whether Shao Wu would be there. He probably wanted his brother around to help ease the awkwardness.
A little WeChat notification glowed in the upper-left corner of the screen.
Bracing himself, Shao Wu opened WeChat.
Yang Shuyi: Be good. I’ll stop teasing you. Tonight we’ll test just how sturdy that bed really is.
Shao Wu: “…”
When Shao Wu got home that evening, the two hurried through their delivery dinner and showered.
It was only a little after eight.
Yang Shuyi had already made the bed with new sheets, a new duvet cover, and fresh pillowcases. Shao Wu moved closer and caught the scent of hard wood near the bedside cabinet. He lifted the mattress pad to examine the bed boards. They really were extra thick.
Yang Shuyi smiled. “Nice bed.”
“Of course.” Since Yang Shuyi knew everything now, Shao Wu gave up pretending. “I spent ages choosing it.”
“Xiao Shao, have you noticed?” Yang Shuyi stepped closer and gently embraced him from behind. “This is our first time in a bed.”
Oh. It really was. Once in the hospital bathroom, once on the rooftop, and later another time on the sofa… It would indeed be their first time making love in a bed.
Yang Shuyi’s chin brushed Shao Wu’s hair, tickling him. He’d just showered, and he smelled of the same citrus body wash as Shao Wu. There was something else too, faint and cooling, almost minty.
Was it his aftershave? Shao Wu sniffed like a puppy, just about to turn around and hug Yang Shuyi back, when a ringtone suddenly sounded from the living room.
His phone was ringing.
They both froze. Yang Shuyi released him and went to the living room to fetch the phone.
“Hello, Mom…”
“Yujun said you’ve got a fever?” Wu Yan sounded anxious. “What happened? Has it gone down?”
“Oh, I’m fine. It’s nothing. Just a low fever… a bit of a cold…”
“Are you still feverish?”
“No. I slept all afternoon. I’m fine now…”
“You really are the one I worry about most.” Wu Yan sighed. “Why don’t I come over and check on you? I’m not busy these next few days anyway.”
“What?!” Shao Wu’s shoulders drew up in fright. “No, no, no! I’m really fine now, Mom. You don’t need to go to all that trouble—”
“What trouble? I know what you young people are like. You get so tired after work, eat takeout every day, and don’t get any nutrition! I could come cook for you for a few days!”
“No, Mom, really, no. I’m feeling great now…” Shao Wu nearly bit his tongue. “Besides, I… it’s not really convenient here.”
“Hm? What’s inconvenient? I know where you live. I can take the light rail straight there.”
“I… I…” It was so sudden. Shao Wu paced a couple of steps, his mind blank. “There’s someone… staying here.”
Wait. What had he just said?!
“Oh… oh, someone?” Wu Yan was taken aback too. “What kind of someone?”
“Uh…”
Just then Yang Shuyi patted his arm and mouthed, “Give it to me.”
Shao Wu: ???
Yang Shuyi nodded, took the phone from Shao Wu’s hand, and put his other arm around Shao Wu’s shoulders.
“Auntie, it’s me, Xiao Yang. Do you remember me?” Yang Shuyi switched the call to speakerphone.
“Oh, Xiao Yang! Of course I remember.” Wu Yan gave a couple of awkward chuckles. “You… you’re at Shao Wu’s place?”
“Yes. I just quit my job and haven’t found a suitable place yet, so I’m staying with Xiao Shao for a few days.”
“Oh, that’s fine, that’s fine!”
“I’ll take good care of Xiao Shao, so please don’t worry.” Yang Shuyi’s voice was perfectly steady. “His fever has gone down already. I’ll take his temperature again tonight.”
“All right, then. Sorry to trouble you, Xiao Yang…”
“I’m the one troubling Xiao Shao. Please don’t mention it.”
…
Yang Shuyi ended the call and let out a long breath.
His composed expression vanished instantly. He pressed his lips together and murmured, “That scared me to death.”
Shao Wu was staring at him in astonishment.
“Scared you?” Yang Shuyi pinched his cheek. “Don’t worry. I don’t think Auntie suspected anything. Last time I visited her in the hospital, I told her I was planning to return to Chongqing for work…”
“Oh. Right.” Shao Wu sounded stiff. “She probably didn’t suspect anything. You’re a really good actor…” So Yang Shuyi didn’t want his mother to know about their relationship?
It made sense. Although his mother had accepted his sexuality, every additional person who knew would bring a little more trouble. Besides, they’d only just become a couple. There was no need to announce it to the entire world…
“You had a fever?” Yang Shuyi laid a palm against his forehead.
“No. I had a video call with my brother today and my face was red, so… he thought I had a fever.” All the twists and turns behind the misunderstanding suddenly felt too exhausting to explain. That feeling returned. Rationally, Shao Wu knew everything made sense and Yang Shuyi was doing the right thing, but in his heart he still felt aggrieved and uncomfortable.
“Xiao Shao.” Yang Shuyi gently caught Shao Wu’s cheek between finger and thumb and bent to kiss his lips. “Why the long face?”
“It’s nothing. Shall we… keep going?” Shao Wu said, already starting to undo his pajama buttons.
Yang Shuyi pressed down on his hands, looking at him intently. For a moment neither of them spoke. Both had things on their minds.
Several seconds later, Yang Shuyi slowly lowered his eyelashes.
His lips were pressed together like a little boy admitting he’d done something wrong.
“Here’s what I’m thinking. After that competition, if I win an award, I can get a better job. Even if I don’t win, I’ll try to find one. And the certificate I qualified for should arrive soon. If I let a design firm register that professional certificate under its name, it’ll bring in tens of thousands of yuan a year,” Yang Shuyi said slowly.
“…Oh.” Shao Wu was confused. Why was Yang Shuyi suddenly talking about all this?
“I’ve taken on outside jobs over the years, and with the money from the family’s demolition compensation, I’ve managed to save some. It’s enough for a down payment, or more than enough to put you through further studies if you want to go back to school. I…”
“Wait.” Shao Wu stared at him. “What are you saying?”
Yang Shuyi looked up, his expression torn.
After a long struggle he said quietly, “I know I’m not good enough for you. I’m divorced, so being with me is almost like a second marriage for you. I’m unemployed now, and I still have old people and a child in my family…”
Shao Wu: “…Huh?”
“I’ll do everything I can to prove to your family that you won’t have to suffer if you’re with me. Give me a little time. Just a little… Will you, Xiao Shao?”