Chapter 31 (1/2)

Chapter 31

On the way back, when he saw He Nuo’s nose that had turned red from rubbing it too much, Shi Yan handed his handkerchief over, “You’re really something you know, it’s summer and you actually managed to get a cold and fever.”

He Nuo accepted the handkerchief, but when his snot dripped down his face he still wiped it away with the neatly folded tissues that he took out from his pocket.

“Use the handkerchief!”

“(It’ll be) covered in snot.”

“You’ll just need to wash it clean for me then, didn’t I use it to wipe you off before anyway? Oh right, if I hadn’t mentioned it I would’ve been letting you off easy, last time I was the one who washed the handkerchief.”

“……” He Nuo’s face was originally tinged with a pink flush from his fever, but now he had turned bright red. He was speechless. That day at the office…is a day he didn’t dare to recall. Even the new set of underwear that Shi Yan had given him – after he had washed it clean and folded it – was never worn again, because his heart was inexplicably uncomfortable with the thought.

“Get on, I’ll fetch you back. You’re so slow that it doesn’t even look like you’re moving.”

“Have you taken any medication? You’re down with a summer cold, it’s different from the winter kind1.” Shi Yan continued cycling as he asked the He Nuo who was sitting at the back.

“I’ve eaten. I’m alright now. Thank you.”

“Eaten what?”

“Paracetamol, Ganmaotong2 and the anti-inflammatory medicine you gave me.”

“Idiot! What kind of lousy medicine are those.”

He Nuo stopped talking, there was nothing he could say in reply.

When they reached He Nuo’s house, “Sleep earlier tonight, drink more warm water.”

“O3. Thank you.” He Nuo said goodbye before he went in. He was feeling dizzy and really wanted to sleep.

Shi Yan needed to cycle about 15 minutes to get back home. In the hot summer, the moment you moved your whole body would sweat. When Shi Yan got home he went to bathe immediately, then he lied on his bed and comfortably basked in the cool wind blowing from his fan. He suddenly wondered if He Nuo had fallen sick from sitting directly in front of a fan to cool down. That guy’s so skinny, no wonder his body is so delicate. Shi Yan jumped up to the front of his desk, pulled out one of its drawers and took out two sealed boxes that he threw onto his bed. Then he went out into the living room and rummaged through more drawers.

In the afternoon, the little nephew was taking his afternoon nap. He Nuo went to wash the clothes that had piled up because he was too sick to do laundry. When he was hanging up the clothes to dry on the ropes in his courtyard, someone knocked on the door – it was Shi Yan carrying a plastic bag. He Nuo had never been visited by a cla.s.smate before, so He Nuo didn’t think of inviting him in and only stood at the door to ask, “What’s wrong?”

“What the heck, don’t you know you should invite me in?”

“Oh,” He Nuo was at a loss as he opened the door, “please come in.”

Shi Yan magnanimously stepped into the courtyard, looked at the clothes that were drying, then saw that there were two doors. Shi Yan asked, “Where do you stay?”

“There.” He Nuo pointed to the right. Shi Yan immediately walked in. He Nuo was stunned, but quickly followed. Other than the living room at the front, there were two rooms at the back, one was bigger than the other. The bigger room belonged to his twin brothers, but currently they were at their maternal grandmother’s place to play. Usually they would stay there for half the holidays, so He Nuo put his little nephew into his brothers’ room to sleep. He Nuo brought Shi Yan into his own small room.

Shi Yan scrutinised He Nuo’s room. Honestly, he was very curious about He Nuo. Usually, he could tell that his family wasn’t very financially sound from his dressing, but he couldn’t have imagined that his room would be so simple. One bed one table one chair and one dresser, and they were all rather ancient. At this time, Shi Yan’s good upbringing prevented him from showing any signs of his joy, and he looked like he was just taking a glance around the room normally.