Extra: Dreaming of Youth Part 2

Dreaming of Youth 06

With the unspoken tension lingering between them, Shen Duoyi started high school. He grew taller, and it felt as if he’d matured overnight. Soon, his days were consumed by part-time jobs, running from one shift to another after school.

Opportunities to meet Qi Shi'an dwindled. After all, Qi Shi'an was already in his senior year and just as busy.

One late night past ten, Shen Duoyi was sitting behind the counter at a convenience store, working through practice problems. Whenever a customer came in, he’d set down his pen to handle the register. The store owner was kind, even offering him a late-night snack each shift.

By midnight, his workday was finally over. The streets were deserted as he walked home, and the alleys were even quieter, with only the sound of the wind breaking the silence.

The streetlights had been broken for years, and the few that worked were dim at best. Shen Duoyi used his phone’s flashlight to light the way. Suddenly, his phone vibrated with a message.

Qi Shi'an had texted: What’s been keeping you so busy lately?

Shen Duoyi replied: Just got off my shift as a cashier.

Qi Shi'an responded almost instantly: Ever thought about tutoring? Teaching elementary school kids?

Tutoring paid better and was less exhausting. Though only a high school freshman, Shen Duoyi was eager: Sure! I can teach language, math, English—whatever they need.

That weekend, Qi Shi'an picked him up and brought him to the residential compound for retired military officers. There, Shen Duoyi met his new pupil: Qi Shi'an’s younger brother, Huo Xuechuan.

Huo Xuechuan was clinging to a peach tree, throwing a tantrum, but immediately let go when he saw Shen Duoyi. Though he hated studying, his curiosity got the better of him. “Big brother, why are you and my brother wearing the same bracelet? And they’re so girly.”

Flustered, Shen Duoyi clutched his wrist, unsure how to respond. Qi Shi'an, however, grabbed Huo Xuechuan by the collar and hauled him off the ground. The younger boy’s wails echoed through the courtyard, startling the parrot on the second-floor balcony.

During the lesson, Shen Duoyi sat with Huo Xuechuan at the desk, patiently explaining concepts, while Qi Shi'an lounged on the sofa. Whenever Huo Xuechuan got distracted, a well-placed kick from his brother brought him back to focus.

By noon, the heat became unbearable. Qi Shi'an went downstairs to fetch ice cream. Finally alone with Shen Duoyi, Huo Xuechuan seized the moment. Clutching a pencil stub, he said, “Brother Duoyi, don’t be fooled by how tough my brother acts when he’s beating me. When Grandpa whacks him with the cane, he doesn’t even move.”

Shen Duoyi’s heart clenched. “What did he do wrong?”

“He’s too good at studying. It’s honestly frustrating,” Huo Xuechuan replied, now fiddling with an eraser. “Grandpa wants him to go to military school, but he doesn’t want to. Says he wants to study abroad or something.”

Hearing footsteps, Huo Xuechuan quickly shut up. Shen Duoyi resumed the lesson, but his mind kept wandering.

Two hours later, the session ended, and Huo Xuechuan ran off to play. Left alone, Qi Shi'an leaned against the desk, eyeing Shen Duoyi. “What did he tell you? You got distracted during the last two questions.”

Shen Duoyi hesitated before blurting, “He said Grandpa hit you with a cane.”

“Worried about me?” Qi Shi'an lifted his shirt to reveal faint welts across his back, some even scraped raw. Shen Duoyi reached out but hesitated, then leaned in and gently blew on the marks.

Qi Shi'an tilted Shen Duoyi’s chin upward. “What’s the matter?”

“You need more than that. You need a hug.”

Blanking out, Shen Duoyi instinctively wrapped his arms around Qi Shi'an’s waist. Resting his head against Qi Shi'an’s chest, he murmured, “Are you really going abroad?”

“I probably will. I’m eighteen—it’s time to start chasing my dreams.”

“Dreams...” For Shen Duoyi, the concept felt almost luxurious, far out of reach for someone hustling just to make ends meet. Yet he understood. His dream was simple: to make enough money to give Grandpa a comfortable life.

Kneeling, Qi Shi'an held Shen Duoyi’s knees and said, “I want to study finance. My dream is to become a trader. But that’s only half my dream.”

“What’s the other half?”

“The other half is you. Am I the other half of your dream?”

That moment felt like a heart attack. Years ago, Shen Duoyi had watched Grandpa suffer a sudden myocardial infarction, and now he understood what it must’ve felt like. Blushing furiously, he tried to deflect. “I don’t really have dreams...”

“Then what makes you different from my little brother?” Qi Shi'an teased, full of disdain.

Dreaming of Youth 07

Time flew by as Shen Duoyi’s hectic schedule often made him lose track of the days. Before he knew it, another month had passed, and payday was here again.

Meanwhile, Qi Shi'an had received multiple college acceptance letters. To celebrate, Zhang Yiming dragged him to a nightclub. Though Qi Shi'an knew Shen Duoyi worked there, seeing him in that environment still felt strange.

It was even stranger for Shen Duoyi. Balancing trays of drinks, he felt Qi Shi'an’s gaze on him the entire night. Finally, a drunk customer called him over and began forcing him to drink. That was the last straw.

Qi Shi'an walked up and spoke coldly.

Carrying an intoxicated Shen Duoyi out of the nightclub, Qi Shi'an didn’t feel the least bit heroic—only frustrated.

“Don’t come back here again,” Qi Shi'an said.

Shen Duoyi nodded meekly.

Qi Shi'an had more to say, but Shen Duoyi’s obedience left him speechless. Instead, he drove straight to the military retirement compound without asking. After tucking Shen Duoyi into bed, he grabbed a hot towel and wiped the boy’s face.

Leaning close, Qi Shi'an whispered, “Duoduo.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve been watching all night. None of the guys there are as good-looking as you.”

Shen Duoyi rolled to the other side of the bed, muttering in embarrassment, “I got spotted by classmates once. They spread rumors, and now everyone thinks I’m some kind of... service staff.”

Qi Shi'an couldn’t help but chuckle, lying beside him. But Shen Duoyi threw a punch, glaring angrily. It was clear he had zero tolerance for such jokes.

“I was wrong. I apologize.” Qi Shi'an raised a hand in surrender and pulled Shen Duoyi into an embrace. “Are they giving you a hard time at school?”

Staring at the ceiling, Shen Duoyi sighed. “They gossip behind my back, and I pretend not to notice. But today, someone asked me directly how much I charge.”

Feigning nonchalance, Qi Shi'an said, “Who was it?”

“A dumb guy named Qiu Luomin,” Shen Duoyi mumbled.

The following Monday, Qiu Luomin’s desk was empty. Shen Duoyi focused on his studies, uninterested in gossip. But when he overheard classmates whispering that Qiu Luomin had been beaten up by someone driving a military-plated car, he finally asked, “Who dared to hit him?”

“No idea. Some military guy.”

Dreaming of Youth 08

“It really was you?”

“Yeah. The guy’s not even that bad, just kind of stupid.”

“I heard he recited poetry afterward?”

Qi Shi'an smirked:

“No wound could silence his verse, a young fool reborn in prose.”

Dreaming of Youth 09

Shen Duoyi had stopped working at the nightclub and found a tutoring job at a small study group for children. His packed schedule left no room for leisure, and his weekends were spent waitering at the restaurant of the State Guest Hotel.

By his count, Qi Shi'an had dined there five times this month alone.

But today was different. Qi Shi'an wasn’t dining alone—he was hosting a farewell party with his friends. His departure for abroad was imminent. The manager allowed Shen Duoyi a half-hour break, and he joined the table to bid farewell.

The red wine was awful. He took one sip and frowned.