Chapter 35

The door opened and He Lezhi poked his head out of the bedroom. Seeing Han Fangchi, he smiled and said, “You came over at this hour?”

“What hour?” Han Fangchi glanced at his phone. “Eight-thirty, is that late?”

Previously, He Lezhi would sometimes go over to Han Fangchi's place for a while even after coming back from outside past nine.

“Not too late.” He Lezhi sauntered out and sat on the sofa.

Han Fangchi had come over from his own place, wearing only loungewear without even a jacket. He Lezhi told him, “You should put on a jacket next time.”

It was just a matter of leaving one apartment and entering another, a total of less than ten steps outside. Han Fangchi said, “I’m here before I can even feel the cold.”

“A lot of people have been catching colds lately, you should be careful,” He Lezhi said.

Han Fangchi hadn't come over for any particular reason, nor did he have anything specific to say. He had simply come over to sit for a bit.

He watched He Lezhi in silence. He Lezhi looked up from his book and asked him, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Han Fangchi said.

He Lezhi went back to reading his book, quietly.

“Dinner together tomorrow night?” Han Fangchi asked.

“Sure,” He Lezhi said, “I’ll cook. What do you want to eat?”

Han Fangchi said, “I’m not picky.”

“Then I’ll decide what to prepare,” He Lezhi said.

Han Fangchi added, “I can also cook after work.”

“Why?” He Lezhi looked up with a smile. “What’s with the politeness?”

Han Fangchi retorted, “Didn’t you find it troublesome?”

“It was troublesome that day, but it won’t be tomorrow.” He Lezhi smiled at him and said, “Just come straight over after work.”

The next day, before going to the supermarket to buy groceries, He Lezhi even sent a message to Han Fangchi to confirm the menu, asking him: Is this okay?

Han Fangchi: Okay.

He Lezhi: Alright.

When Han Fangchi came back from work, He Lezhi's attitude showed no change from before. He still seemed cheerful and calm, chatting with Han Fangchi just like usual.

But when the weekend came, Han Fangchi got off work on Saturday afternoon and asked He Lezhi if he wanted to play badminton, but He Lezhi said he had gone hiking.

“Where did you go?” Han Fangchi asked over the phone.

He Lezhi mentioned a mountain within their city's jurisdiction, less than a two-hour drive away.

“Who did you go with?” Han Fangchi asked.

“By myself.” He Lezhi chuckled. “I saw the weather was nice this morning, so I just drove over. It’s warm and sunny. You’re off work?”

Han Fangchi was silent for a few seconds before asking, “When are you coming back?”

“Not sure. I’ll see how I feel. If I don’t feel like coming down, I’ll stay at a guesthouse on the mountain for a night,” He Lezhi said.

“Mm,” Han Fangchi said. “Got it.”

The following week, He Lezhi went out for dinner somewhere on Friday night, went to another nearby hill for fun on Saturday, and went to work overtime on Sunday.

Sometimes he would tell Han Fangchi before going out, and sometimes he wouldn't.

They went from knowing each other's schedules and time perfectly, naturally spending all their free time together, to once again reverting to independent individuals, no longer having the right to know or arrange each other's time.

“Where’s Lezhi?” Xiao Yao took an apple from the fridge, didn't wash it, just wiped it with a tissue, and took a bite.

Han Fangchi said, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Xiao Yao sat improperly, straddling a chair, crunching loudly on the apple. “Pfft, who’d believe that.”

Han Fangchi didn’t say anything. Xiao Yao pursed his lips and added, “You two are at it again with your little secrets.”

Han Fangchi ignored him, stuffed two tissues into his hand, and said, “Shut up and eat, don’t talk.”

Xiao Yao’s hands were sticky with apple juice. Wiping them, he said, “What’s Lezhi up to?”

“Ask him yourself,” Han Fangchi said.

After wiping his hands, Xiao Yao took out his phone and called He Lezhi.

“Yaoyao?” He Lezhi answered the call.

“Lezhi, what are you up to?” Xiao Yao asked.

“I’m working overtime,” He Lezhi said. “You came over?”

“I saw the lights were off at your place, so I came over to Brother Chi’s. When are you coming back?” Xiao Yao said.

“About another hour, I think. Did you need me for something?” He Lezhi asked him.

“Nothing.” Xiao Yao glanced at Han Fangchi and said, “I don’t want to hang out at his place, I want to hang out with you.”

He Lezhi laughed on the phone and told him, “Then come over this weekend, we’ll have hot pot?”

Xiao Yao readily agreed.

He Lezhi said, “I’m getting back to work then. See which day Fangchi is free and just come over directly, you don’t need to buy groceries.”

“Okay, okay, okay.” Xiao Yao hung up, satisfied.

“Lezhi invited me for hot pot this weekend.” Xiao Yao pocketed his phone and took two last bites of his apple.

Han Fangchi walked past him. Xiao Yao wrapped the apple core in a tissue, crumpled it up, and stuffed it into Han Fangchi's hand, “Throw this away for me.”

Han Fangchi took it and threw it into the kitchen trash can. “Just the two of you?”

“The three of us.” Xiao Yao asked, “Which day are you free?”

Han Fangchi said, “Any time except Saturday morning.”

“Then I’ll come on Saturday afternoon,” Xiao Yao said.

Han Fangchi asked, “Is he free?”

“Guess he must be.” Xiao Yao stood up to go wash his hands, took a few steps, then turned back and asked, “What’s up with you two?”

“Nothing,” Han Fangchi said.

What was up with them?

Han Fangchi didn't know either.

He was born into a family where emotions were not strongly expressed. The relationships between his parents, and between parents and children, had always been mild. Before Han Zhiyao was born, everyone in the family was proper and well-behaved, never particularly loud, and there were no direct, highly subjective expressions of emotion.

So from a young age, he was not good at handling such things. Plus, being an older brother to two younger sisters, he was always silently tolerant. He had always been in a relatively passive position, silently accepting the comings and goings of the people around him.

He Lezhi was the first person Han Fangchi had ever met who could express his emotions so directly and accurately. He could say “I like you” with extreme frankness. In the beginning, when Han Fangchi first met him, every one of his subjective expressions had a huge impact on Han Fangchi.

Back in the first year of high school, before the seats were assigned, He Lezhi sat across the aisle from Han Fangchi. He was a very clean and polite kid; you could hear his “thank you, thank you” every day. He said thank you when homework was passed out, thank you when he asked a question, and thank you when someone helped pick up his pen. His eyes were always exceptionally sincere, his thanks never perfunctory.

On the eve of the seat assignments, one day before the lunch break was over, Han Fangchi was at his desk doing problems when He Lezhi entered the classroom from outside. There weren't many people in the classroom yet, just a few scattered around. He Lezhi walked over, not to his own seat, but leaned in, propping his arms on the edge of Han Fangchi's desk. Taking advantage of the sparse crowd, he called out softly, “Fangchi.”

Han Fangchi looked at him. He Lezhi lowered his voice conspiratorially and asked, “When they assign seats, can we sit together?”

The distance between them was very close. At such proximity, He Lezhi looked at Han Fangchi earnestly, smiled shyly, and, afraid of being overheard, whispered, “If you don’t have anyone else in mind for a deskmate... let’s sit together? I really like you, and I want to be your deskmate.”

On that day, He Lezhi had brazenly stormed into Han Fangchi's world, bringing with him everything that was uniquely his. This included his always-direct expressions, his subtle observations, and his undisguised favoritism. To the teenage Han Fangchi, besides all these warm things, He Lezhi also conveyed a tremendous sense of vitality.

Han Fangchi had passively accepted his arrival, and he had also silently watched him leave once before.

Lezhi: Fangchi, please buy these and bring them back directly after work.

Han Fangchi clicked to open it. He Lezhi had sent him a long list.

Fangchi: Okay.

Lezhi: I’m parked in a really good spot, I don't want to move the car hahaha.

Fangchi: Okay, I’ll go buy them.

Lezhi: What time will you be back?

Fangchi: Around two.

Lezhi: Got it.

Han Fangchi bought the groceries according to the list and also bought some extra fruit that wasn't on it.

He came back carrying all the bits and pieces. As soon as he opened the door, he saw He Lezhi in light-colored loungewear, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, holding a basin and filling it with water at the sink.

“You’re back?” He Lezhi said with a smile.

Han Fangchi hummed in agreement, asking in a good mood, “What are you filling water for?”

“You didn’t see the property management group chat? They said the water might be shut off tonight, so I’m storing some just in case. If it really gets cut off, you’ll have some to use,” He Lezhi said.

There were already two basins of water in the master bathroom. He Lezhi carried the one he had just filled and placed it there as well. The muscles in his forearm tensed slightly, revealing fine lines extending from beneath his rolled-up sleeves.

The basin was filled to the brim. Han Fangchi didn’t offer to help, just stood at the master bedroom doorway, leaning against the frame and watching him.

“If the water really gets shut off tonight, please pay me five yuan per basin. This is me selling you water I’ve prepared in advance,” He Lezhi joked.

“I’ll give you ten,” Han Fangchi said.

“Thank you, boss,” He Lezhi said with a laugh.

Xiao Yao hadn't arrived yet, who knows where he’d gone off to play.

Han Fangchi prepared the ingredients with He Lezhi. He Lezhi called him, “Fangchi.”

“Hmm?”

“I was notified that I can take possession of the apartment next week,” He Lezhi said.

Han Fangchi said, “Which day is the inspection? I’ll go with you.”

“I’ll let you know in advance when I go,” He Lezhi said.

“Okay,” Han Fangchi said.

The apartment is move-in ready, so He Lezhi just needs to buy some soft furnishings and appliances. It won't be too much trouble.

Han Fangchi asked, “Is the money enough? I can transfer some to you.”

“Enough, enough, enough,” He Lezhi said quickly. “If I don’t let my mom buy something, she’ll be really upset.”

“Should I go with you when you go shopping?” Han Fangchi added.

“I’ll call you if I need you,” He Lezhi said with a smile.

The two of them worked together, one washing vegetables and the other cutting them, then arranging them on plates.

After a while, He Lezhi called him again in a soft voice, “Fangchi.”

Han Fangchi looked over.

He Lezhi didn’t look up. “Anyway, they use eco-friendly materials now, so it doesn't need to be aired out for too long. I’m thinking of moving in two or three months.”

He smiled, then added, “Should we tell your colleague first? I don't know how you explained it to them, whether you said I was paying rent or staying as a favor, but I'm not going to worry about it anymore.”

Han Fangchi’s hands paused. “Doesn’t it need to air out for a while longer?”

“I specifically paid for the eco-friendly upgrade, so it should be fine.” He Lezhi smiled again. “It’s okay. If the smell is too strong, I’ll just come stay at your place. It’s so close anyway.”

Han Fangchi didn't respond. He Lezhi kept his head down, washing the vegetables. Neither of them spoke again.

After a moment, Han Fangchi said, “You won’t come.”

He Lezhi looked at him.

“Are you going to start dating someone? He Lezhi,” Han Fangchi said calmly.

“No,” He Lezhi said, “Why do you say that?”

“Because you seem to be in a hurry to sever ties,” Han Fangchi frowned faintly, “to go and properly pursue your relationship.”