Chapter 56: N. Tacit Argument

Hearing this word, Su Hui was stunned for a moment, and his earlobes quickly turned red.

He began to regret asking such a stupid question. Ning Yixiao was clearly joking with him, and he had actually believed it—it made him look very foolish and lacking in boundaries. Even if someone really was introducing a partner to Ning Yixiao, what did that have to do with him?

Ning Yixiao did not continue the topic, as if neither of them had just crossed a line. They stepped back simultaneously, with a tacit, mutual understanding. This was very considerate; Su Hui, having made a boundary-crossing gesture himself, also hoped Ning Yixiao would forget it entirely and act as if it never happened. This should have been exactly what he wanted.

But deep down, he felt an inexplicable dissatisfaction—perhaps out of the greedy side of human nature, which is hard to overcome. If he could, Su Hui still hoped Ning Yixiao wouldn’t be too good to him; he wished he were as indifferent as he was at the beginning, so that at least he wouldn’t sink in so deeply.

The cold medicine took effect, and the heat in the car was turned up high. As he thought about this, Su Hui’s head tilted, and he closed his eyes.

He didn’t dream of Ning Yixiao, but of scenes from two or three years ago when he was living under someone else’s roof. It was gloomy. In the dream, Su Hui was working very hard to recall something. There was a piece of paper in front of him with rows and rows of trial-and-error numbers written on it, and different voices echoed in his ears, distorted by electromagnetic compression.

None of them were Ning Yixiao’s voice.

When the traffic jammed, Ning Yixiao’s tension actually eased a little. He didn’t know if it was psychological, but he always felt that whether or not Su Hui was in the car made a huge difference in his driving. If Su Hui weren’t there, Ning Yixiao would barely be able to sit in the driver’s seat. Terrible memories would flash through his mind, making it impossible for him to focus on the road conditions—it was very dangerous.

But Su Hui’s presence was like a sedative, silently soothing his unease and anxiety. Ning Yixiao thought about the time he drove alone from Vik to the Svínafellsjökull glacier, and perhaps subconsciously, he deeply wished that back then, Su Hui had been just like this, leaning against the passenger seat, sleeping peacefully.

Suddenly, Su Hui coughed a few times in his sleep, pulling Ning Yixiao out of his imagination. He checked the temperature in the car, took off his scarf, spread it out, and draped it over Su Hui.

Su Hui woke up groggily—the second half of his dream had been about his grandmother. He rubbed his eyes, and his first instinct was to turn his head to look at Ning Yixiao’s face. After confirming it was him, he asked, “Can we go to the hospital today? I want to take the snacks and little trinkets I bought to Grandma. When I called her on New Year’s Eve, the caregiver answered and said Grandma sleeps for a very long time every day. I want to go see her.”

Ning Yixiao listened to him patiently, his expression soft. “Look around you.”

“What?” Su Hui didn’t understand, but he followed instructions. He looked around and discovered they weren’t in the bustling city center near the apartment, but in another district, with the hospital sign right in front of them.

Su Hui realized that even before he had asked, Ning Yixiao had already anticipated his thoughts. What was this? Tacit understanding?

He whispered a thank you and curled up, feeling very warm. Only later did he realize he was surrounded by a light, soft cashmere scarf—it was Ning Yixiao’s.

Su Hui felt a bit awkward and wanted to put it away for him. “Your scarf…”

“The temperature in the car is too high; I’m very hot wearing it.” Ning Yixiao looked at the traffic light ahead. “You seemed very cold, curled up in a ball, so I put it on you to prevent your cold from getting worse and having to go to the hospital again.”

That would indeed be very troublesome. Su Hui quickly accepted Ning Yixiao’s reason, but still took off the scarf, folded it, and placed it between them.

They visited Grandmother together. Coincidentally, she was watching a rebroadcast of the Spring Festival Gala, and the ward was very lively. Ning Yixiao didn’t stay long; after paying his New Year’s respects, he found an excuse to go downstairs. Su Hui stayed in the room to watch the gala with her for a while, hung a lucky pouch on her bed, and peeled an apple. Not long after, Ning Yixiao returned, carrying a bag of fruit and a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

He barely spoke in the ward, quietly putting the bouquet into a vase and tidying it up a bit. Grandmother looked at the two of them, feeling comforted. She said many words of thanks to Ning Yixiao, but Ning Yixiao just smiled and told her to focus on recovering. The caregiver told them that Grandmother’s immunity was low and they shouldn’t stay too long, fearing it might trigger complications. Su Hui had no choice but to leave, albeit reluctantly.

Back at the apartment, Snowball rushed over excitedly, tangling with Su Hui for his toys. After taking off his coat, Su Hui acted as the “tool man” for throwing frisbees, accompanying him to burn off energy. However, he grew tired early. Leaning on the sofa, he watched Ning Yixiao move a step stool over and stand on it to hang ornaments.

Su Hui secretly stared at his back for a while longer and discovered that his legs were truly long. For no reason, fragments of last night flashed through Su Hui’s mind, and his cheeks burned. But he also suddenly thought, he had wanted to undo the button on Ning Yixiao’s pants last night, but Ning Yixiao had stopped him; they hadn’t even taken off their clothes.

Didn’t he want to do it with him? But judging by his reaction this morning, that didn’t seem to be the case. His attitude… it didn’t look like he minded; he even seemed to allow himself to become the kind of “friend” one could sleep with. But Ning Yixiao really couldn’t be called someone with excessive sexual needs, considering he had gone six years without dating at all.

He couldn’t figure out Ning Yixiao’s psychology, but Su Hui was a sensitive person; any little abnormality would make his mind wander. However, these were all contradictory, and he couldn’t think of a reasonable explanation for the time being.

“Is this straight?” Ning Yixiao, standing on the stool, suddenly turned his head to ask Su Hui.

Su Hui came back to his senses. “Hm? It’s straight.”

Ning Yixiao nodded, finished decorating, and climbed down from the chair. Su Hui noticed again that his movements were a bit stiff as he leaned on his left knee.

“Are you uncomfortable?” he couldn’t help but ask.

Ning Yixiao looked at him flatly and shook his head. “No.”

His gaze was firm and convincing, leaving Su Hui no choice but to believe what he said and start doubting his own sensitivity and suspicion. But Su Hui couldn’t help it; it was hard not to be sensitive to Ning Yixiao. It was like an old illness from six years ago, which still throbbed faintly at some very ordinary moments even today.

Ning Yixiao’s phone rang; he had work to deal with and went upstairs while answering the call. Back in the office, Ning Yixiao still missed the time spent in the same space as Su Hui—it made him feel at ease. So, while having a video conference, he turned on the monitoring system for the living room.

The surveillance video had no sound, but alternative rock music, fast-paced and lively, drifted up from downstairs. On the screen, Su Hui was mopping the floor by himself. As he mopped, he shook his head and bobbed along, even singing along with the music, using the handle of the mop as a microphone. He even arranged Snowball’s toys on the sofa, one by one, as if he were organizing them into an audience.

As expected, this was the Su Hui who only appeared during his manic phase. Ning Yixiao couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“Shaw?” the person on the other end of the video conference asked, a bit flustered. “Did I say something wrong?”

Ning Yixiao shook his head. “No, I think it’s quite good.”

Karl occupied another small box on the screen, recording the meeting content. He repeated, “So the current plan is to build a personal brand, mainly through roadshows, supplemented by some interviews and magazines, right?”

The marketing manager nodded. “Yes. Currently, some television stations have also expressed an interest in cooperating, wanting Shaw to come forward to film some documentaries, with content roughly covering the company’s development from its start to the present.”

Ning Yixiao spoke up, “Put this aside for now, and consider it after the spring new product launch.”

“Understood. Then I will reply to them. Before the new product launch, there will be several university roadshows. I have already sent the materials to your inbox. Shaw, check to see if there are any issues with the schedule.”

Karl checked the timetable. “It feels like the next few months will be very busy.”

“Yeah. Because we need to establish a founder’s image now to build momentum for the IPO, exposure will increase significantly. Shaw, you have to be prepared to become a celebrity.”

This joke didn’t make Ning Yixiao laugh, but he remained calm. “As long as it’s good for the company’s development, I have no objections.”

In the past, he had resisted being on camera, partly because of his naturally anti-social personality, and partly because he was afraid of becoming a household name. If that happened, he really wouldn’t be able to find any excuse for Su Hui’s indifference. But it was different now. Su Hui was by his side; Ning Yixiao didn’t need to deceive himself anymore. Even if their reunion wasn’t entirely due to human efforts, fate could also be considered a kind of destiny.

After ending the meeting, Ning Yixiao opened his email to handle pending messages. After replying to them one by one, he entered the company’s server to debug the code for his “Product 0.” The newly recorded audio had been organized into the database, and feature training had been completed.

After zoning out for a while, he switched to an anonymous email account he hadn’t logged into for a long time, only to find that Su Hui hadn’t taken the initiative to contact him, which left him somewhat disappointed.

But this disappointment didn’t last long, because Ning Yixiao realized that if Su Hui really showed unusual enthusiasm for “Sean,” he might feel even more uncomfortable in his heart. After thinking about it, Ning Yixiao sent a very official greeting.

[Sean: Happy Spring Festival, I wish you everything goes well in the new year.]

He didn’t expect Su Hui’s reply to come so quickly. Looking at the monitor, he saw Su Hui had taken the computer to the dining room and was typing away at the dining table.

[Eddy: Thank you! Happy New Year to you too! Do you celebrate the Spring Festival too? Or is it just because you saw I’m of Chinese descent and are just wishing me well? Anyway, I hope everything is well with you and everything goes as you wish!]

Just reading the email, one could tell Su Hui was in a good mood. To avoid arousing suspicion, Ning Yixiao lied with great experience.

[Sean: I don’t. But I heard that the Chinese Spring Festival is very lively. I have seen it in Chinatown, where people give each other red envelopes. This custom is very interesting.]

[Eddy: I can send you a red envelope too, if you like, or something else. If you ever come to New York, you can make an appointment with me, and I’ll give you a New Year’s gift!]

Seeing his reply, Ning Yixiao thought about the things he had made when he returned to California a few days ago.

[Sean: Thank you, I have received your kindness. But I am very busy recently and probably won’t be able to go to New York for a short time. However, I do want to send you a New Year’s gift. I hope you can accept it.]

Su Hui in the surveillance image paused, stood up, walked around in a circle, and sat back down at the table.

[Eddy: Thank you, but if it’s very expensive, there’s no need. I have already accepted too much of your help.]

[Sean: It’s not expensive, just a little trinket. If you don’t mind, send me the address and I’ll mail it to you.]

A few minutes later, Su Hui finally gave him the address—it was this apartment.

[Eddy: Thank you. This is the address of a friend’s house.]

Ning Yixiao didn’t like the word “friend,” so he decided to tease him.

[Sean: Friend? You live at a friend’s house? It couldn’t be the friend you mentioned last time who watched the Manhattanhenge with you, could it?]

[Eddy: You guessed it, it is him. I am temporarily living at his house for some very complicated reasons.]

[Sean: Alright. However, based on your description last time, it feels like your relationship is not ordinary. So, are you living together now?]

[Eddy: Just ordinary friends. We’ve known each other for a long time. He is a very good person and has helped me a lot.]

Su Hui felt guilty just typing the words “ordinary friends.” Since when do ordinary friends get drunk and sleep in the same bed… But he couldn’t pour out his grievances about being entangled with his ex-partner to Sean, who was effectively a stranger—that would be too strange.

Just as he was staring blankly at the computer, Su Hui suddenly heard the sound of a cup shattering upstairs. He was startled and, without time to think, went straight up the stairs and followed the sound to Ning Yixiao’s office.

Ning Yixiao glanced at him, pressed down the laptop screen, turned it off, and said in a very normal tone: “Nothing, I accidentally knocked over a cup.” After speaking, he bent down to pick it up himself.

“Don’t move, be careful of cutting your hand.” Su Hui found a dry rag, half-crouched beside Ning Yixiao’s legs, and used the cloth to pick up the large fragments with his hand, placing them in the trash can.

He discovered that after coming upstairs, Ning Yixiao had changed into loose trousers. There seemed to be something wrapped around his left knee, and the two sides were at different heights.

Ning Yixiao felt quite bothered by the words “ordinary friends.” Watching Su Hui help him like this, he deliberately said, “You don’t need to do these things. Just leave them be; I can call for cleaning to come up and deal with it.”

“It’s just a cup.” Su Hui cleaned it up quickly and clapped his hands. “Let the robot clean up the small debris in a while.”

Ning Yixiao stared at him without saying a word.

“What’s wrong?” Su Hui stood up and blinked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

He shook his head. He just felt that Su Hui was no longer the little young master he used to be. But he didn’t like it.

Ning Yixiao stood up; his leg was throbbing with pain, but he didn’t want Su Hui to notice anything unusual, so he sat down again. He liked to use the “bitter meat plan” (feigning injury), but only within the limits of harmless surface-level efforts, taking advantage of Su Hui’s tendency to be soft-hearted. But over the past twenty years of experience, Ning Yixiao had long since turned into someone who wouldn’t show weakness. Once it touched a real wound, Ning Yixiao would still subconsciously turn his back, not wanting Su Hui to see.

Su Hui stared at him, feeling that something was wrong; Ning Yixiao seemed to be avoiding something.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?” he began looking for reasons within himself. “Don’t tell me I passed my cold on to you.”

Ning Yixiao stared at him with a straight face. “Very likely. We are close contacts, after all.”

Su Hui felt that he was being all twisted and awkward. After thinking about it, he asked, “Are you still uncomfortable because of what happened last night?” He lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry. Or maybe I should find a place and move out. Anyway, Grandma’s condition has improved a lot, and I’ve also ended my depressive period; I shouldn’t have any issues.”

He hadn’t expected that once this plan was proposed, Ning Yixiao’s expression would worsen.

“Sleep with me and then run away? Su Hui, you really are getting better and better.”

Su Hui’s ears turned red. “That’s not what I meant… I just don’t want to disturb you for too long.”

“Just stay here and be good; I don’t feel disturbed.” Ning Yixiao looked away, not meeting Su Hui’s eyes. “And I don’t mind what happened last night; on the contrary, I enjoyed it.”

Enjoyed it??

Shame almost made Su Hui choke. “But you said let’s be friends…”

“Friends can’t kiss?” Ning Yixiao looked at him, his tone very casual. “Friends can’t sleep together? You’ve lived in New York for so long; you should be used to seeing such things, shouldn’t you?”

He stood up and walked two steps closer, reached out, and pinched Su Hui’s chin, his posture intimate, as if he were about to kiss him in the next second.

Su Hui’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and he stared at Ning Yixiao, who was close at hand, with wide eyes. The glass lenses seemed to set up a transparent barrier for their crossing gazes, through which neither could see the other’s heart. He didn’t fully understand what Ning Yixiao meant, but it seemed to give birth to some desires that shouldn’t exist.

Ning Yixiao’s voice was low, pressing down on Su Hui’s heart. “Of course, ordinary friends don’t kiss, but Su Hui, we can no longer go back to being friends like that.”

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head, moving close to the minute distance of almost kissing Su Hui’s lips. Their warm breath mixed together, as if in the next instant, they would touch and exchange.

But Ning Yixiao didn’t kiss him; he just rubbed against the tip of Su Hui’s nose and let out a light laugh.

“Why are you so nervous? You’ve even stopped breathing.”

He let go of his hand holding Su Hui’s chin. “Afraid I’ll eat you?”

Su Hui stood still for a long while, like a child who had done something wrong and was being punished, watching Ning Yixiao sit back down at the desk without any intention of moving.

After a long time, he spoke. “You’ve changed so much.”

Ning Yixiao looked at him. “What’s wrong? Do you still prefer the 21-year-old Ning Yixiao?”

Su Hui lowered his eyes. He actually did wish that were the case—to only like the past version of him and not fall for the 27-year-old Ning Yixiao. But he couldn’t do it at all.

He was a bit grumpy and picked up the trash can, turning to leave. But after thinking about it, he took two steps before deciding to turn back. “I still think there’s something wrong with you.”

Su Hui put down the trash can, returned to Ning Yixiao’s side, and reached out to press on Ning Yixiao’s knees.

Sure enough, they were different.

Ning Yixiao was caught off guard by his sudden action, and there was no time to pretend anymore.

“What is this?” Su Hui knew that even if he asked like this, he wouldn’t get an honest answer from Ning Yixiao, as he had become much more cunning than before. So, without saying another word, he knelt down and rolled up Ning Yixiao’s trouser leg himself.

“What are you doing?” Ning Yixiao grabbed his hand, looking down at Su Hui’s face.

“What do you have tied on your leg?” Su Hui frowned and retorted, “Didn’t you say we were friends who could kiss? Then it shouldn’t matter if I take a look.”

“Drawing inferences from one instance so quickly.” Ning Yixiao truly hadn’t expected this.

“Can’t I? Or do you not like the 26-year-old Su Hui either?” Su Hui immediately followed suit, retorting in kind.

They held their ground for a moment. Ning Yixiao sighed silently, let go of Su Hui’s hand, but also stepped back, choosing to roll up his trouser leg himself.

Only then did Su Hui see clearly: inside, there was a white patella strap tied to Ning Yixiao’s knee. But because there was a pair of black trousers inside, he couldn’t see if there were any bruises on the skin.

“Is that enough? Teacher Su.” Ning Yixiao put down his trouser leg and looked at him.

“When did you get this? Is it serious?” After Su Hui finished, he immediately added another sentence, posing like an ex-partner for the first time: “Don’t lie to me, I know you very well.”

Ning Yixiao sat on the office chair, watching him motionless. A moment later, he answered very honestly: “The injury I got after we broke up.”

Su Hui frowned. “How did it happen?”

Ning Yixiao looked at his expression; he really didn’t seem to know about his car accident—it didn’t look like he was pretending. He was silent for a while, and when he spoke, he smiled as if these things weren’t worth mentioning: “It’s almost healed, it’s fine.”

Su Hui’s eyes grew sad, but he didn’t have much courage to keep asking. It was like the coin-pusher game in an arcade; he only had a few coins, and if he threw them in and didn’t get a response, nor did they spit out new ones, he gradually lost the bargaining chip to try one more time.

Ning Yixiao was terrified to see this kind of gaze in his eyes—it seemed like he was pitying him. So, he smiled, reached out, grabbed Su Hui’s wrist, and pulled him in front of him.

Su Hui was off guard; he was suddenly pulled between his legs and almost lost his footing, grabbing the armrest of the office chair for support.

Ning Yixiao looked at him and reached out, tucking the loose hair hanging on Su Hui’s cheek behind his ear. He took off his glasses, and his tone was laced with seduction as he asked: “Can we kiss?”

“No.” Su Hui refused decisively.

Ning Yixiao laughed, his fingers toying with the buttons on Su Hui’s cuffs. “Your leg won’t hurt when we kiss.”

Su Hui stared at him, his eyes gradually becoming moist, like a tiny kitten feeling wronged. Knowing it was a trap, he still jumped into it amidst self-doubt and struggle, consciously becoming an accomplice in this absurd game.

He lowered his head, hypnotizing himself in the name of comfort, and kissed Ning Yixiao’s lips very reluctantly, not forgetting to whisper a curse at him: “Ning Yixiao, there is something wrong with your brain.”

“Mm, Teacher Su is right.”

Ning Yixiao accepted his criticism, but his hand gripped the back of his head, demanding a deeper, more lingering kiss.