Only four people were eating lunch today.

Lu Ze had gone to the new venue, and Monkey and Li Mao, who usually came around to mooch meals, were both hiding from Fan Jun these past two days. The kitchen was suddenly much quieter, and it actually felt quite comfortable.

Fan Jun helped Sister Shan bring the prepared dishes to the table.

“Want something to drink?” Sister Shan asked Zou Yang. “Can you drink a little alcohol or cola now with your leg like that?”

“I won’t drink. I just had two iced Americanos and now I’m a bit water-drunk,” Zou Yang said.

“Does large bone soup make you water-drunk?” Uncle Lu asked with a smile.

“Only iced water does,” Zou Yang said.

“I’ll have some beer,” Fan Jun said, opening the fridge. “Sister Shan, do you want some? Uncle Lu?”

“I’ll have a cola,” Sister Shan said.

“I won’t drink anything. The neighborhood health checkup said my uric acid is a bit high,” Uncle Lu said.

“Mm,” Fan Jun acknowledged, taking out the cola and beer.

Perhaps because it had been a long time since they last saw each other, Sister Shan didn’t talk much about business with Uncle Lu today, but kept asking about Zou Yang’s situation instead.

Zou Yang was probably in a pretty good mood, so he told them about his visit to his dad’s place.

Sister Shan was furious the moment she heard it. She slammed her chopsticks onto the table: “Then why didn’t you smash his car?! Why didn’t you smash it! Even if you smashed it, he wouldn’t dare do anything to you.”

“The time hasn’t come yet,” Zou Yang said while eating.

Sister Shan picked up her chopsticks, about to start eating, but after thinking about it, she slammed them back onto the table again: “Honestly, if he wants to say something about Xiao Yang, I can tolerate it, since he’s his biological father after all. But letting irrelevant people chirp and chatter at his own son, what the hell does that mean?! I’m going to smash his car tomorrow!”

“Hey, don’t do anything rash,” Uncle Lu was startled.

“I smashed it,” Fan Jun said.

Both Uncle Lu and Sister Shan fell silent. After two seconds, Sister Shan finally asked, “What did you smash?”

“Smashed your ex-husband’s car,” Zou Yang said, suddenly laughing and resting his arms behind his head. “Hey—even recorded a video, want to see?”

Sister Shan snapped back to reality and reached out to smack Fan Jun: “Are you crazy?! That car has cameras!”

“It’s fine, I was wearing a hat,” Fan Jun didn’t seem to care much. “We’ll talk about it if he actually comes looking.”

“Xiao Yang,” Sister Shan frowned and looked at Zou Yang again, “Why didn’t you try to stop him? What if he really got caught on camera?”

“It’s not like Fan Jun did it on purpose. We’ll just pay for it. The money he gave me today is enough to cover it,” Zou Yang leaned his head back against the chair, his tone very calm. “If he doesn’t believe it, just say I ordered it. If he really holds me legally responsible… then I’ll be freed.”

“Let me see.” Uncle Lu reached out to Fan Jun for his phone and lowered his head to start watching the video.

Sister Shan quickly leaned over to watch together.

Fan Jun turned his head to look at Zou Yang.

Zou Yang didn’t move, still leaning his head back and looking straight ahead. He mouthed the words, It’s fine.

Fan Jun continued to look at him.

Zou Yang turned his head and mouthed another sentence, Can’t you read lips?

Fan Jun smiled and said softly, “I can.”

I feel pretty good, don’t worry about me.

“Mm,” Fan Jun nodded.

After lunch, Zou Yang leaned on his crutches and slowly walked with Fan Jun toward the mall.

He was a bit too full today. He had drunk several bowls of his mom’s large bone soup, and right now his stomach felt completely rounded out. His class was at two o’clock, and he was afraid that if he exerted himself, he would spray bone soup everywhere.

“Let’s cancel the class today,” he said, glancing at Fan Jun. “Or just do half a session.”

“No splitting sessions,” Fan Jun said.

“Just dock a whole session then,” Zou Yang waved his hand. “Can I not afford a single session? I have nothing else, but I have money.”

Fan Jun smiled: “How much did your dad give you today?”

“Twenty-six thousand, six hundred and sixty-six. ‘Son smooth, smooth, smooth, smooth’,” Zou Yang sighed. “He just likes to play with words for good luck.”

“How much have you saved up?” Fan Jun asked. “Do you have some goal you need the money for? Like, you have to save a certain amount?”

“Not much,” Zou Yang said. “He didn’t used to give it like this either. He just gave monthly living expenses. He only started giving larger amounts after I turned eighteen. Before that, he was probably afraid my mom would use my underage status as an excuse to withhold the money he gave me.”

Fan Jun didn’t say anything.

“I don’t have any goal either. I just want to let their whole family know that he owes me,” Zou Yang said.

“And after graduation?” Fan Jun asked.

“When I graduate, I’ll extort a massive sum,” Zou Yang said, “Then go smash his house and break off all ties.”

Fan Jun started laughing.

Zou Yang thought about it and started laughing too.

But before they could laugh twice, Fan Jun suddenly fell completely silent and quickly glanced back over his shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” Zou Yang immediately turned his head to look too.

Behind them was the now-familiar South Zhouping North Street, looking somewhat washed-out under the sun. There weren’t many pedestrians around noon, and the small shops by the roadside all looked drowsy.

“Nothing,” Fan Jun said softly.

But he still pulled the brim of his hat down lower.

“Why are you wearing a hat again today?” Zou Yang asked. “Doesn’t it mess up your hairstyle?”

“Just tell me if you feel like wearing a hat right now,” Fan Jun said.

Bathed in the scorching sun, Zou Yang found himself temporarily unable to refute this reason.

But even if the hat was for shade, and even if Fan Jun could still speak in such a relaxed tone right now, there definitely must be something making him tense.

“Did you sense something?” Zou Yang didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “Is it Fan Gang?”

“…No,” Fan Jun gave him a somewhat surprised look.

Zou Yang didn’t say anything, turning his head to scan their surroundings again. From his perspective, he really didn’t spot anything suspicious.

“Maybe I’ve just been under a bit of pressure these past two days, thinking too much,” Fan Jun said. “Sun Xulei… I keep feeling like something is going to happen to him.”

“Uncle Lu just said he brought money,” Zou Yang said. “He should… be fine, right?”

“It’s the fact that he brought money but hasn’t contacted a single person,” Fan Jun said in a low voice, “That’s what’s most terrifying. Sun Xulei isn’t someone who can keep things bottled up, he’s only thirteen.”

Zou Yang didn’t speak. He raised his hand, hesitated for a brief moment, and then gently rubbed Fan Jun’s back.

Fan Jun abruptly stiffened his back.

He could even feel the muscles on Fan Jun’s back tighten.

Fuck.

Zou Yang quickly withdrew his hand.

Fan Jun still seemed a bit unaccustomed to others initiating physical contact.

Especially in their current somewhat tense state.

After walking forward in silence for a bit, Fan Jun spoke up: “I…”

Zou Yang waited for him to continue, but there was nothing more.

“You…” Zou Yang had no choice but to open his mouth, trying to think of something random to say.

“You…” Fan Jun spoke at the same time.

“Hmm?” Zou Yang looked at him.

“You go ahead,” Fan Jun said.

“You…” Zou Yang paused, then blurted out randomly, “You’re not sweating even though it’s so hot.”

“Ah?” Fan Jun was stunned, reaching back to touch his own back. “Are you sweating?”

“…No,” Zou Yang sighed, gritted his teeth, and simply reached out to rub Fan Jun’s back again.

This time Fan Jun didn’t have a big reaction, just smiled.

It looked like the new gym was getting ready to move out. The training equipment was basically down to just mats, and there were no members taking classes. Tan Ru and Tie Bang weren’t around either.

“When is this place closing down?” Zou Yang sat on the vaulting box, his left foot flexing and pointing the instep back and forth as Coach Fan required.

“Most people aren’t taking classes here anymore,” Fan Jun knelt beside him on one knee, his fingers tapping rhythmically upwards along the underside of his calf. “I also have to go over there every day or two to teach now.”

“Why didn’t you take me over there?” Zou Yang asked.

“With this level of intensity in your rehab, you’re practically just playing around,” Fan Jun said, “You’re not worthy of going over there yet.”

“Fuck you,” Zou Yang laughed, “Crank up the intensity for me then.”

“Alright,” Fan Jun pressed his fingers against his calf muscle, “Hold it right there.”

Probably because it had been wrapped in a cast for a month, his calf felt a bit numb right now.

When Fan Jun’s fingers pressed against his skin, the sensation was different from usual. Amidst the vague dullness, it felt like there was a faint, distinct trace of electric current…

Zou Yang suddenly felt his heart rate accelerate, and his leg twitched uncontrollably.

Fan Jun glanced at him: “That was only three seconds.”

“No,” Zou Yang looked at him, his leg still raised, “Your hand.”

“Hmm?” Fan Jun looked down at his own hand. “Is it ticklish?”

“No,” Zou Yang said.

“Then what’s wro—” Fan Jun moved his hand away.

Zou Yang stared at his hand. This feeling of a nerve that had been rusted for a month suddenly being jolted awake by a needle prick—he hadn’t even felt this when Fan Jun held him in his arms at the hospital.

“What happened when I touched your back earlier?” Zou Yang asked.

Fan Jun didn’t say anything.

“Whatever happened to you earlier,” Zou Yang said, his voice a bit tight, “Is what’s happening to me now.”

Fan Jun still didn’t say anything. With his hands resting on the mat, he seemed to have entered a meditative state, not speaking or moving for a long time.

System crashed.

“Let’s continue,” Zou Yang pulled himself together. “Let me tell you, this is no challenge at all. I was practicing like this at home even before the cast came off.”

“…Alright,” Fan Jun got up, grabbed a resistance band, and looped it around his ankle. “Let’s add a little bit of weight.”

Zou Yang lifted his leg to stretch the resistance band tight.

Just like that woman said, his fracture really wasn’t serious. Other than his left leg being a bit thinner from lack of use over the past month, there was basically no discomfort.

For the past few days, these rehab sessions had basically just been chatting sessions.

It was quite pleasant. Although occasionally awkward, it was generally comforting.

The only downside was that class would eventually end.

Going home meant feeling empty, but he didn’t want to go out either. Liu Wenrui had asked him out twice, and he had rejected him both times.

[Respect]: Failing a confession isn’t a breakup, why are you acting like you’d rather be dead?
[Respect]: Come out and drink!
[Zou yang]: You are not a fish (You don’t understand my joy).
[Respect]: Come out! Drink!
[Zou yang]: Doctor said I can’t drink.
[Respect]: Bullshit, since when do you listen to doctors? You drank plenty when your fracture wasn’t even healed, and now that you’re walking on air you won’t drink?
[Zou yang]: Give it a couple of days.
[Respect]: Scumbag.

Today’s training session was probably Zou Yang’s last one at this “new” gym. Everything had been moved out, not even a single vaulting box was left.

“The way you’re teaching this class right now, to anyone who doesn’t know better, it looks like a scam.” Zou Yang looked at Fan Jun’s sole remaining asset, a single resistance band.

After finishing a few sets of resistance training, Fan Jun told him to stand up: “Try standing on the balance pad…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Fan Jun turned his head to look toward the doorway.

“There’s no one,” Zou Yang said. He was standing facing the door, and was very certain no one had walked past.

Fan Jun acknowledged him, but still walked over to the door, stepping right outside and standing by the railing.

Zou Yang followed him out. It wasn’t the weekend today, and the whole mall was eerily quiet. There wasn’t a single person around, the escalators were stopped, there was no music coming from the dance studio next door, and even the baby supply store hadn’t opened its doors.

The new gym moving out made it feel like the entire mall was moving out. It felt exceptionally lonely today.

Zou Yang looked down at the first floor again. No one there either.

In this kind of environment, if someone really walked past the door, it would be highly unlikely not to see them.

“Did you see something, or did you just feel it?” Zou Yang asked quietly.

“Felt it,” Fan Jun’s voice was very deep, his hands gripping the railing tightly, but he didn’t dodge Zou Yang’s question. “In the past, every time he came home, I could feel it from inside the house.”

Zou Yang hesitated for a moment, then reached out and held his hand.

The two stood in silence in the corridor until Chairwoman Rong came humming a tune up the escalator. Only then did Fan Jun turn around and go back inside the gym: “Let’s continue, last set.”

Zou Yang’s class today was scheduled for four-thirty. By the time they finished and walked out of the mall, the smell of cooking food was already in the air.

“Treat me to dinner, let’s eat at your place,” Zou Yang said.

Fan Jun paused his steps and glanced at him: “Are you worried about me?”

“Mm,” Zou Yang nodded.

The dishes Fan Jun knew how to cook were limited. If they wanted a change of pace, they could only buy ready-made food.

So the two of them went straight to the deli.

“What do you want to eat?” Fan Jun asked.

“Pig’s trotters,” Zou Yang said without hesitation.

“Alright, eat pig’s trotters to nourish your sheep’s trotters,” Fan Jun nodded. “What else?”

“You pick,” Zou Yang said.

Red sausage, pork belly, pig ears, chicken skeleton—Fan Jun pointed at a bunch of things, and finally carried two large bags of deli food back home.

It was only after entering the apartment that Zou Yang remembered: “With all this food, we didn’t buy any alcohol.”

“There’s some in the fridge.” Fan Jun set up Zou Yang’s favorite small table in front of the sofa, then carried the bags into the kitchen.

Zou Yang went over and opened the fridge, freezing the moment he looked inside. Aside from the drinks on the top shelf, the lower shelves were packed completely full of beer.

He stared at these beers for a long time before closing the fridge door.

He casually scooped up Da Hei as he walked past, hugging the dog as he went into the kitchen.

“Why did you buy so much alcohol?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe.

“To drink a little at night,” Fan Jun took out a few plates and started plating the deli food. “Otherwise I can’t sleep.”

“Didn’t you say that prescription Uncle Lu gave you worked?” Zou Yang asked. “Why not drink that?”

“It tastes too awful,” Fan Jun said.

“Alright then,” Zou Yang smiled, “I’ll drink with you tonight.”

“You…” Fan Jun turned around and looked at him. “Just drink a little bit, it’ll be hard to hail a cab… if it gets too late.”

“I’m not going back tonight,” Zou Yang said.

Fan Jun’s hands stopped moving, and he stared silently out the kitchen window.

“Don’t make me go back. If I go back, I’ll just be alone, or go wander around with Liu Wenrui,” Zou Yang said. “The more I wander, the lonelier I feel.”

“…Mm.” Fan Jun lowered his head and continued plating.

Zou Yang didn’t say anything more either.

After a while, Fan Jun handed over two plates, the food neatly arranged on them: “Take these out.”

Zou Yang put Da Hei down, took the plates, and placed them on the small table.

Fan Jun brought out the remaining three plates and set them down as well, then grabbed a few cans of beer and placed them on the table.

“What a feast,” Zou Yang sat down on the rug, leaning against the sofa, and tilted his head back.

“Mm,” Fan Jun smiled.

“Fan Jun,” Zou Yang stared at the food on the table, finally voicing the words he had been holding in for a long time. “We don’t know when there will be any news of his whereabouts. Until then… you can’t just abandon your own life.”

Fan Jun looked at him, not speaking.

“He’s already ruined so many years of your life,” Zou Yang said softly, not even sure if Fan Jun could hear him clearly. “Don’t let him keep ruining it.”

Fan Jun sat down beside him, opened a can of beer, and placed it in front of him.

Zou Yang turned his head and looked at him.

Fan Jun frowned slightly, picking up another can of beer: “I’m just, worried it might…”

“I don’t care at all,” Zou Yang said.

Fan Jun’s silence lasted a very long time. His fingers gripped the beer can so tightly that his fingertips turned a bit white.

An imperceptible atmosphere began to spread around them along with their silent breaths. Zou Yang felt his heart rate suddenly begin to slowly accelerate again.

“…Why?” When Fan Jun spoke, his voice was so low it was almost inaudible.

“What do you mean… why?” Zou Yang asked, lacking confidence.

Why ask me to treat you to dinner, why don’t you want to go home, why would you be lonely, why do you want to stay with me, why don’t you care at all…

Three thousand ‘whys’ flashed through his mind.

Before finally settling on that one answer.

“Why…” Zou Yang’s voice was low, carrying a breathy quality. “Is it because you like me?”

Fan Jun’s hand trembled slightly, denting a small piece into the beer can.