The Early Spring - Chapter 51

Chapter 51 - A Mess of Feathers and Chicken Skin 

Luan Nian glanced at his phone, which remained lit up; Zang Yao was quite persistent. After moving to Beijing, she hadn't sought help from anyone, instead renting a single-story courtyard house all by herself near Houhai. Amidst the bustling Hutongs of Houhai, it only grew quiet at two in the morning. Yet Zang Yao loved it; she felt it had a lively, human atmosphere.

Luan Nian answered the call and said to Zang Yao, "I'm driving. I'll call you back later."

"Are you coming to listen to music tonight?"

"Not going."

"All right, we'll talk later then."

Zang Yao's new boyfriend was also in a band, and he had moved into her place on the very second day they met. Luan Nian had long since grown accustomed to Zang Yao's frequent replacements of boyfriends. Her constant migrating and switching of partners had simply become the norm of her life.

Shang Zhitao kept her gaze fixed out the car window. On the mountains in June, the trees were a lush green and the grass was a lush green—it was the finest season of the year in Beijing.

Luan Nian's bar had been under construction for over two months and was already beginning to take shape. He had reserved a room inside the bar for daily rest.

Shang Zhitao couldn't quite picture what the future would look like, only feeling that this place was truly vast and could surely hold a great many people.

"So remote, who is ever going to come here?" She finally voiced the question that had been troubling her for a long time. Other people's bars were by Houhai, Nanluoguxiang, or Wudaokou—all in densely populated areas. With his bar opening right out here, wasn't he just throwing money away? Just thinking about it made Shang Zhitao's heart ache.

"Business is a science," Luan Nian said. "If you want to learn, I can teach you slowly."

"Slowly?" Shang Zhitao didn't know what slowly meant. In her mind, there would always come a day when they would part ways; it might be tomorrow, next month, or even next year. In short, they wouldn't last.

"Mn, slowly." Luan Nian answered her as he was currently inquiring about the construction team's progress. It was a little slower than anticipated, and he wanted to know why. Putting away his phone, he asked Shang Zhitao, "Want to go get some food?" He was eagerly looking to comfort his stomach, which had been aggrieved by Shang Zhitao's bowl of noodles.

It was that same fish restaurant.

It was that same boss. It seemed the boss had already grown accustomed to them coming together and had tacitly accepted their unusual relationship, treating Shang Zhitao much more casually than before. They ate the fish, and afterwards Luan Nian brought Shang Zhitao back home.

Shang Zhitao suspected that Luan Nian had a perpetual motion machine inside his body. Sometimes, feeling puzzled, she would go online and search: "At what age do men's sexual abilities begin to decline?" Most answers said 25 years old. After 25, it depended on technique.

This did not apply to Luan Nian.

She liked to kiss Luan Nian; his lips were always slightly cool, while hers were always warm. Her warmth meeting his slight coolness always caused her heart to skip a beat.

She persistently kissed Luan Nian during intimacy, and he didn't refuse either, even enjoying it just a little bit.

When everything was over, Shang Zhitao put on her pajamas to clean up, then returned to the guest room. They never slept together, but today was an exception.

They were both exhausted and had no desire to move once it was over, Luan Nian's hand still resting on Shang Zhitao's waist. She thought: I'll just rest for a moment.

She only meant to rest for a moment, yet she fell asleep.

This sensation was quite wondrous. She slept curled up in Luan Nian's embrace, her head pillowed on his arm and her back pressed against his chest. Shang Zhitao slept soundly, and when she opened her eyes, she discovered that one of Luan Nian's legs was locked tightly over hers, and his arm was wrapped firmly around her as well. Unable to breathe, she let out an uncomfortable whine, struggled to turn around, and saw Luan Nian glaring at her with closed eyes: "Don't move!"

Even with his eyes closed, his displeasure was palpable.

……

Shang Zhitao came to a halt and said to Luan Nian, "Your leg is a bit heavy..."

It was a long time before Luan Nian spoke: "Did your ex-boyfriend ever tell you that you do backflips in your sleep?"

Shang Zhitao genuinely pondered this question and answered sincerely: "He said sometimes..."

Luan Nian let go of her, got out of bed, and went to take a shower. Shang Zhitao followed behind him, asking, "Did I do backflips? How do I do them?"

"Do you want to wash with me?" He blocked the doorway, trying to scare Shang Zhitao.

"I don't."

Luan Nian closed the door, turned on the showerhead, and vaguely heard Shang Zhitao raise her voice: "Did I really do backflips? How do I do them? If I did backflips, how come you didn't kick me off the bed?"

Luan Nian rarely slept with women, and sleeping a night like this was rare enough to give him a psychological shadow. In her sleep, Shang Zhitao had suddenly thrown out a flying kick that nearly caught him right in the crotch. Luan Nian even reasonably suspected she had done it on purpose. He had entertained the thought of kicking her off the bed and had already prepared to extend his foot when Shang Zhitao turned onto her side, wrapped her arm around his waist, and found a comfortable spot in his arms. It was as if, within her dreams, she trusted him deeply.

Luan Nian suddenly felt a tiny sliver of a soft spot. Having slept soundly only to be kicked out of bed, and then suffering some fright that might trigger him later—he decided to just endure it.

Thus, he kept her locked in place so she couldn't flail around. Shang Zhitao in his embrace was probably reincarnated from a donkey, occasionally kicking out her hind legs and sending Luan Nian's heart leaping into his throat.

Emerging from the bathroom, he saw that Shang Zhitao had already showered and was sitting on the bed waiting for him, her expression carrying a trace of a guilty conscience and apology: "Did I really kick you?"

"Otherwise?" Luan Nian yanked open his bath towel, and Shang Zhitao hurriedly covered her eyes: "It's the middle of the day, don't be like this!" Yet her fingers were split apart, her eyes peeking through the gaps at Luan Nian's solidly muscled legs.

Amused by her antics, Luan Nian pulled her hand away and pointed at his inner thigh, where there was a bruise close to his groin. To this day, he still didn't know where Shang Zhitao got her strength; it was probably because she ate a lot and moved a lot, giving her brute strength.

Shang Zhitao was somewhat startled, pointing at the bruise and then pointing at herself: "I kicked that?"

"Are you possessed by a ghost?" Luan Nian chased her down from the bed: "I'm hungry, go cook some noodles."

"I'm not good at cooking noodles."

"Cook them anyway."

"Oh."

As Shang Zhitao was adding salt, Luan Nian spoke up: "Salt—don't let your hand shake, put in less."

His words made her face flush red, utterly mortified. Fortunately, they tasted slightly better than yesterday's.

A torrential downpour started outside, and the security guard couldn't flag down a taxi, leaving Shang Zhitao unable to leave and forced to stay at Luan Nian's place. She only ever stayed over on Friday nights, so sleeping here two nights in a row like this was a first. Suddenly, she had no idea what she should be doing.

Luan Nian curled up on the sofa flipping through a magazine while Shang Zhitao watched television. Finding it utterly boring, she secretly peeked at Luan Nian. Caught in the act, Luan Nian put down the magazine: "What is it?"

Shang Zhitao smiled, sat cross-legged facing him, and spoke to him very solemnly: "Luan Nian, don't you feel like the two of us are too much of strangers?"

Seeing Luan Nian frown, Shang Zhitao continued, "I think enhancing our understanding of each other will also help improve the quality of our sex life."

…… Luan Nian deliberately played along with her: "And so?"

"So let's play a game together!"

"Play what?"

"My ex-boyfriend and I used to play a rock-paper-scissors question game often. The loser gets to choose between answering a question or getting a flick to the forehead. Let's play too, shall we?"

There was probably a screw loose in Shang Zhitao's brain; seeing Luan Nian nod, she actually looked quite pleased. Stretching out her fair, delicate hands, she said, "Then let's begin! Come, come, come." At this moment, she truly resembled a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, innocent and cute. Luan Nian watched her earnestly for a long while before discussing the rules of the game with her: "Anything can be asked?"

"Right. No taboos."

"Can only tell the truth?"

"Right, whoever lies is a pig."

"Accept your loss if you bet?"

"Yes!"

Luan Nian hooked his finger at her: "Come."

Men are gamblers by nature, and Luan Nian even more so. When playing games, he would never go easy on anyone, regardless of gender.

Luan Nian won the very first round, and Shang Zhitao chose to answer a question. Luan Nian asked her: "Have you ever won first place? In any competition whatsoever."

"Of course I have!"

"What?"

"Shot put in elementary school! Calligraphy competition in high school!" As soon as Shang Zhitao finished answering, she saw Luan Nian's understanding look and heard his unenthusiastic remark: "I wasted a question."

It wasn't an Olympiad math competition, an English contest, or a singing and dancing competition, but shot put and calligraphy. As soon as she finished speaking, she felt ashamed of herself. Suddenly, she thought this old bastard Luan Nian was quite devious, though fortunately she could take it.

In the second round, Shang Zhitao lost again, and she chose to answer a question once more.

"Is anyone else pursuing you right now?" Luan Nian asked this in an unenthusiastic tone.

Shang Zhitao pondered for a moment; if she said no, it would make her seem lacking in charm, so she prepared to lie, only to hear Luan Nian say: "Lying makes you a pig."

……

"No." Shang Zhitao's social circle was very small; aside from helping Sun Yu with work and attending a couple of offline matchmaking events, it consisted only of colleagues and those few people around her.

"It's fine, nothing to be ashamed of, it's normal. Do you know that many people go their whole lives without ever being pursued?"

"I have been pursued. My ex-boyfriend loved me very much." Shang Zhitao refused to accept this.

"If he loved you so much, why did you break up?"

Luan Nian had a poisonous tongue that would never change.

In the third round, Shang Zhitao lost yet again. She didn't want to answer questions anymore; the next question would definitely be even more humiliating, or else he wouldn't be Luan Nian. She chose to take a flick to the forehead. Back then when she lost and chose a flick to the forehead, Xinzhaozhou's fingertips would only touch her forehead symbolically, not hurting at all and very gentle.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Shang Zhitao lifted her bangs to let Luan Nian flick her. The moment her bangs were lifted, she heard a crisp cracking sound, the pain causing her head to buzz. She immediately clutched her head, staring at Luan Nian in disbelief.

She didn't even realize she had been hurt to the point of tears.

"What's wrong? Didn't you accept your loss if you bet?" Having finished playing his part, Luan Nian stood up to pour himself a glass of water, leaving Shang Zhitao sitting there rubbing her head. He was in a bad mood.

Sometimes he had no idea what was going on in Shang Zhitao's head; it was her ex-boyfriend this and her ex-boyfriend that. What the hell did what you two did when you were dating have to do with me? Why on earth should I play games with you that you used to play with them?

Shang Zhitao was still slightly dazed, and after a long while, she said, "I thought you would go lighter."

"Why? Can't afford to lose?"

"I..."

"Still playing?"

"Not playing anymore."

Shang Zhitao was also a little angry. Not knowing what was going on in her own mind, she casually picked up the sofa cushion and threw it at Luan Nian: "It hurts like hell!"

"Serves you right." Luan Nian caught the cushion, tossed it back onto the sofa, and sat down himself. Seeing that Shang Zhitao's forehead was slightly swollen, he pulled her in front of him, looked her over carefully, and muttered, "I suppose I did lay it on pretty heavy. Did that hurt you to tears?"

"I didn't."

"Then flick me back."

"I won't, I didn't even win."

Shang Zhitao kept claiming she could afford to lose, but in truth, she couldn't afford to lose at all by this point. Luan Nian flicked her far too hard, making her feel a bit aggrieved. If he didn't like her at all, he wouldn't have struck so ruthlessly.

"How about this, you throw rock, I'll throw scissors." Luan Nian told her.

"Okay."

Symbolizing a round, Luan Nian lost. He pointed at his own forehead: "Come on, flick me."

Shang Zhitao pinched her thumb and middle finger together, blew on them, and felt the thrill of imminent sweet revenge. Reaching her hand out towards Luan Nian's forehead, she suddenly changed her mind—she couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead, she simply cupped his face and pressed her warm lips against his forehead.

"I haven't the heart to do it." Murmuring this, she jumped off the sofa and went to the refrigerator to look for food. This kiss was feather-light, yet it made Luan Nian's heart itch just a little bit.

With no telling how long the rain would last, Shang Zhitao figured she probably wouldn't be able to go back. She sent a message to Sun Yu, asking: "Are you back from Handan yet?"

"On the way. The rain is so heavy today, are you back yet?"

"I'm at Luan Nian's, can't hail a cab."

"Got it, I have his address, so if he really decides to commit murder and dump the body, at least the killer can be caught, hahahahaha."

Sun Yu was laughing it off with Shang Zhitao, but the real situation was that her foot was wrapped in bandages, and she was suffering immensely on the train. She hadn't told Shang Zhitao that her work in Handan had suffered grievances. This event hadn't been run well, and one of the female members was actually married, information that hadn't been in Sun Yu's team's database. The member's husband had brought people to crash the venue during the event, and Sun Yu had taken a tumble, badly spraining her ankle. She hadn't told anyone because she felt quite humiliated inside.

Sun Yu's laughs had two more ha's than usual; she wasn't right. Shang Zhitao called her directly: "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Sun Yu looked at her own foot, her eyes turning red. But she didn't want to cry on a crowded train, so she gritted her teeth hard.

"It's raining, the entrance to the building is very slippery, be careful going upstairs. There are snacks in the drawer of my room, if you're hungry go get them yourself."

"Alright."

It took a tremendous amount of effort for Sun Yu to reach the downstairs of her apartment building. With her injured foot, climbing the stairs became a major problem. Standing at the entrance of the unit and looking at the pouring rain before her, she finally couldn't hold it back anymore and burst into loud sobs.

The emotional breakdown came on so suddenly; with her heart drifting untethered, she felt she couldn't endure it anymore and might as well just go straight back home and get married.

Sun Yuanzhu's appearance came without the slightest warning. He had gone downstairs to throw out the garbage during the heavy rain and wanted to take a walk along the way, only to find Sun Yu leaning on a single crutch, weeping bitterly like a drowned rat.

"Are you alright?" He held his umbrella over Sun Yu's head, watching her makeup get ruined by tears.

Sun Yu felt that everything around her was suffocating—the project was moving forward with agonizing difficulty, life was a fragmented mess, and she was fast reaching her breaking point. She choked out, "I'm not alright."

"Then let's head upstairs first, shall we?"

Sun Yuanzhu stepped forward and took her suitcase: "You stand right here, I'll bring your suitcase up first." He understood Sun Yu; she would definitely worry about her luggage getting stolen. Without waiting for her reply, he headed upstairs on his own, and after a short while, quickly ran back down.

Breathing slightly heavier, he squatted down in front of Sun Yu: "Hop on."

Sun Yuanzhu's back was so warm. Carrying Sun Yu up the stairs on his back, Sun Yu felt as though her heart was being healed by him, and her crying gradually subsided.