Chapter 29 (1/2)
Chapter 29
Edited by: Planetes
Fang Zhaomu took a nap again in Song Yuanxun’s car.
Song Yuanxun’s home was about three kilometres away from Fang Zhaomu’s place. When Mu and Andrew matched with each other, the app had shown that they were very close to each other. By the time Song Yuanxun parked his car in the garage, Fang Zhaomu had awaken, and he led Fang Zhaomu to the second floor.
The guest room was maintained properly all year round, and there were toiletries prepared. Song Yuanxun helped Fang Zhaomu put down his things, and left without staying for too long.
Weary with the day’s work, and also yet to fully wake up from his nap, Fang Zhaomu washed up and went to bed.
The next morning, Fang Zhaomu was a little giddy, his body aching, and his throat hurt. It seemed like the oncoming symptoms of a cold. He was very thirsty, and headed downstairs without changing out of his pyjamas.
Song Yuanxun’s place was pretty big. Fang Zhaomu made his way to the dining area from his vague memory, and Song Yuanxun was there already. He was fiddling about in the kitchen, it looked like he was cooking porridge.
“Song Yuanxun.”
Song Yuanxun turned to look at Fang Zhaomu. “You’re awake?”
“I think I may have caught a cold,” Fang Zhaomu sneezed. “Do you have water? I’m very thirsty.”
Song Yuanxun put down the ladle he was stirring the porridge with. Picking up a jacket by the side, he passed it to Fang Zhaomu for him to cover himself, and increased the central air by two degrees before pouring Fang Zhaomu a glass of water.
Taking the glass, Fang Zhaomu drank a mouthful. Song Yuanxun then asked, “How did you catch a cold? We didn’t go to anywhere too cold yesterday.”
“Might have caught it from you.”
“I was wearing a mask.” Song Yuanxun denied.
Fang Zhaomu mercilessly reminded him. “You weren’t wearing it when you kissed me.”
Song Yuanxun paused as he looked at Fang Zhaomu. “I’ll go find some medicine.”
“No need,” Fang Zhaomu had a glass in one hand, and his other hand grabbed onto Song Yuanxun’s sleeve and pulled him towards the kitchen. Fang Zhaomu was not very strong, but he was able to make Song Yuanxun move along with him. “What are you cooking? Why does it smell a little strange? Is it burnt?”
“It’s porridge.”
Song Yuanxun could not cook very well. He did not cook often, and only knew the simplest dishes. He had woken up very early to prepare porridge for Fang Zhaomu, and had spoilt a batch already, quickly redoing one more.
Fang Zhaomu held the glass and looked around the kitchen. “Why didn’t you use the rice cooker to cook the porridge?”
Song Yuanxun glanced at Fang Zhaomu, smoothly explaining, “It tastes better like this.”
“Oh,” Fang Zhaomu nodded his head, understanding. He took it onto himself to explain, “You didn’t know that you can cook porridge with your rice cooker.”
Song Yuanxun had wanted to object, but Fang Zhaomu was smiling at Song Yuanxun after saying that. He revealed two very shallow dimples, and Song Yuanxun no longer said anything.
Song Yuanxun had seen Fang Zhaomu’s sleeping robe before. Fang Zhaomu was wearing this exact one during that video chat. In grey, Fang Zhaomu looked very gentle, and he even had Song Yuanxun’s jacket over him, leaning over to Song Yuanxun, looking at the bubbling water in the pot.
When Song Yuanxun did not like Fang Zhaomu, he felt uncomfortable seeing him, as Fang Zhaomu was always able to affect him, and he could not proceed with his work normally.
When he realised he liked Fang Zhaomu, Song Yuanxun then understood. Everything about Fang Zhaomu was good, he was too good, and that was why he made him be on tenterhooks and restless, made him want to push him away, to avoid him, and wanted even more to pick him up.
“Song Yuanxun,” Fang Zhaomu waved his hand in front of Song Yuanxun. “Your porridge is about to burn.”
Song Yuanxun regained his wits and was pushed away by Fang Zhaomu. Fang Zhaomu put down his glass, lifted the pot lid, and took the ladle to start stirring.
He switched the electric stove to the smallest setting and stirred. Suddenly, he turned to Song Yuanxun and said, “Your kitchen is pretty big.”
This was the first time Fang Zhaomu ever mentioned his conversation with Andrew ever since he came back from Seattle. Hence, Song Yuanxun cautiously replied, “As long as you like it.”
“Why did you tell me that your kitchen is big?” Fang Zhaomu asked Song Yuanxun. “At that time, what were you thinking about?”
Bubbles arose from the bottom of the pot, popping open on the surface of the porridge.
Song Yuanxun could no longer recall what he was feeling then, but if he had to come up with a reason, since he said something like this, he definitely wanted Fang Zhaomu to come to his place.
Fang Zhaomu continued, “Song Yuanxun, what do you like about me? How much do you like me?”
He lifted his head slightly, gazing at Song Yuanxun with all his attention. Fang Zhaomu was also like this when doing his experiment and going to class. He was very focused and single-minded.
However, Song Yuanxun was a bad student. He did not answer the question completely, only giving a reply to the second part. Speaking ambiguously, yet explicitly, “I like you very much.”
Song Yuanxun knew that when Fang Zhaomu heard him say that he liked him, he might not feel too much about it. However, when he said it out loud, he felt very anxious and sheepish.
After all, Song Yuanxun had never said anything like this to anyone. In the past, he had never even thought about it, and the fews times he had said it to Fang Zhaomu this year, he had not received any good response.
“Then, why did you dislike me so much at the start?” Fang Zhaomu asked Song Yuanxun.
Fang Zhaomu’s expression was very serious, as though he was going to thrash everything out with him today.
Song Yuanxun gave it a moment’s thought, then asked Fang Zhaomu instead, “You want me to start right from the beginning?”
Fang Zhaomu put the ladle down. He turned around and crossed his arms, nodding at Song Yuanxun. “Mn, right from the beginning.”
“I first heard about you from Li Wei.” Song Yuanxun started.