Chapter 15: Thump, Thump

Bai Chen’s expression was serious as he shook his head. “Your opinion matters too.”

“I know this design draft isn’t good enough. My time…” He mumbled something after that, but it was so unclear that Zhu Yu couldn’t make out what he said.

“Professor Vera is retiring soon. I want to finish this design and give it to him before he leaves.”

Zhu Yu had many questions in his heart, but he tactfully chose not to ask.

He felt that every time Bai Chen talked about himself, there was a sadness hidden in his eyes, as if he carried many secrets—secrets Zhu Yu couldn’t understand, nor was he good at trying to.

He wanted Bai Chen to speak about them on his own, but that probably wasn’t going to happen.

Bai Chen began revising the design draft.

Zhu Yu obediently lay on the table, staring at him with wide, round eyes.

It was a near-perfect face—from the brows and eyes to the bridge of his nose and the shape of his lips—smooth, well-defined. His thick eyelashes trembled lightly, like butterfly wings.

Bai Chen was undoubtedly gentle, yet there was also a cold, distant air about him. Zhu Yu felt that this coldness came from years of solitude.

In the days they had known each other, they had talked a lot—about many things, about the past. But only Zhu Yu did.

Bai Chen never spoke of his own past. He never mentioned his friends either.

Bai Chen furrowed his brows deeply, his full attention on the design draft pinned beneath his hand.

Both of them were silent. Even though Zhu Yu’s reaction time was usually slow, he still understood the weight of his words.

If even an outsider like him, someone with no background in architecture, could see there was something wrong, then this design draft must be seriously flawed.

Senior Brother, what exactly is holding you back?

Zhu Yu’s gaze lingered on Bai Chen’s strong hands, the veins faintly visible beneath his skin. As time passed, he raised a hand to cover his mouth and let out a yawn.

He reached for a blank sheet of paper on the table, grabbed a sharpened pencil from Bai Chen’s pen holder, and lowered his head to start drawing.

The room remained quiet. Even Liu Bo, who was nestled in Bai Chen’s lap, surprisingly stayed still.

About fifteen minutes later—

Zhu Yu pushed the finished sketch toward Bai Chen. Bai Chen’s hand paused, and he followed the movement to look at the drawing.

“Senior Brother, don’t frown so much.” Zhu Yu said with a slow smile.

On the paper was a pencil sketch of Bai Chen, capturing him just as he had looked while drawing earlier. His posture, his features—everything was identical.

The only difference—

Bai Chen’s gaze landed on the spot between his brows in the drawing.

In the sketch, his expression was relaxed. His brows were no longer furrowed.

He looked softer.

He heard Zhu Yu say, “Frowning will drive away good luck.”

A faint buzzing sound. A slight ringing in his ears.

Thump, thump.

Thump, thump, thump.

A single leaf drifted onto the still water, sending ripples outward in circles.

—

A few days later, Bai Chen arranged a meeting with Professors Mayra and Vera, and Zhu Yu tagged along.

Zhu Yu asked what he could do to help Bai Chen or how he could be of assistance. However, after reviewing Bai Chen’s revised but still imperfect design draft, the two professors did not give any clear guidance.

They only told them to continue working together. Over time, Bai Chen would come to understand what needed to be done.

Now, not only Zhu Yu but even Bai Chen was left utterly confused.

Some Westerners believed that a person’s environment could shape them. If someone as naturally infectious as Zhu Yu was by Bai Chen’s side, then perhaps Bai Chen would gradually change as well.

Unfortunately, neither of them knew that.

After seeing the professors off, the two of them walked shoulder to shoulder back to their apartment.

It was Mid-Autumn Festival back home, but in London, it was a rainy day.

A light drizzle had been falling all afternoon and only stopped as evening approached.

The streets were damp.

The air carried the scent of decaying leaves and wet earth.

Not exactly pleasant, but not unpleasant either.

Zhu Yu was dressed warmly. He had been weak as a child and had grown into someone highly sensitive to the cold. Now, while Bai Chen was only wearing a trench coat, Zhu Yu was already bundled up in a wool coat.

His cheeks were flushed red from the cold wind, and every time he spoke to Bai Chen, he would yawn. His eyes welled up with reflexive tears, making him look adorably sleepy.

“Didn’t sleep well last night?” Bai Chen handed him a piece of mint gum.

Zhu Yu took it, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.

The cool minty sensation spread from his mouth down to his lungs, clearing his drowsy mind. After a moment, he finally answered, “I had tea last night. I was still ^[1]“Counting sheep” is a common expression referring to a mental trick people use to try to fall asleep—imagining sheep jumping over a fence one by one to lull themselves into drowsiness. counting sheep at four in the morning…”

“Tea at my place?” Bai Chen asked. Zhu Yu had eaten dinner at his place last night, but as far as he remembered, he hadn’t drunk much of the tea Bai Chen had made.

Zhu Yu shook his head, looking drained. “No, you didn’t let me drink too much last night, remember?”

“It’s a new Chinese friend I made. His family sells tea—haah—” Zhu Yu yawned, squeezing out a tear from the corner of his eye.

Bai Chen noticed that the tongue stud on the tip of Zhu Yu’s tongue had changed.

It was a deeper color than the previous one, gleaming with a blue, fish-scale-like sheen. The shape was that of a bone.

A little dog… holding a bone in its mouth.

As soon as this thought crossed Bai Chen’s mind, his pupils suddenly contracted, the color of his irises deepening. Even his breathing became slightly uneven.

He quickly looked away.

Zhu Yu didn’t notice a thing. He continued explaining leisurely, “I helped him out with something before, and he insisted on giving me some tea as thanks.”

“I figured it was a kind gesture, so I accepted it. Last night, just as I was about to sleep, he asked me to try his tea and give him some feedback. I ended up drinking a big cup.”

“And in the end, I didn’t sleep the whole night.” Zhu Yu spread his hands helplessly. His skin was already pale, so his dark circles were even more pronounced from the lack of sleep.

Even his hair color looked duller.

Bai Chen stared at the pink crown of Zhu Yu’s head for a moment before pulling himself back to the conversation. “His family sells tea, but they don’t know that drinking too much at night can cause insomnia?”

“Why did he still urge you to drink it?”

Zhu Yu hadn’t even thought about it. “No idea.”

He shook his head, and his soft pink hair swayed with the motion, like a Samoyed shaking off water droplets.

“Maybe… he just really wanted my opinion.” After thinking for a moment, Zhu Yu let out a small wail. “I was planning to go home and sleep, but now I feel kind of hungry.”

Bai Chen looked at him and said, “It’s Mid-Autumn Festival back home today.”

“I bought flour to make mooncakes.”

“I also got corn and pork ribs.”

“Go back and rest for a bit. Come over later for dinner?”

London didn’t celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the Chinese people in London made sure to celebrate it themselves.

Zhu Yu had seemingly been waiting for Bai Chen’s last sentence. The moment Bai Chen finished speaking, he immediately nodded and responded, “Mhm!”

“Food, food! But you should’ve discussed it with me last night. Didn’t we agree that I’d buy the groceries?” Judging by his tone, there was a hint of complaint in his voice.

Bai Chen explained, “It was a last-minute decision.”

“Next time for sure.”

Zhu Yu was amused by this. He wanted to say that for someone who always looked so serious, Senior Brother Bai actually had a playful side. But then again, he figured Bai Chen might have genuinely meant what he said.

In any case, Zhu Yu didn’t say anything more and simply nodded. “Alright, then.”

“Senior, last time our shop had an event, but you said you were busy and couldn’t come. You should have time next Tuesday, right?”

“Come find me then. I want to treat you to cake, and I also want to introduce you to Sister Chloe and the others.”

“You’re my best friend.”

The last time Zhu Yu invited Bai Chen, Bai Chen had to write a sudden project report and couldn’t make it.

Zhu Yu was heartbroken about it for a long time.

Because he had saved the prettiest little cake just for Bai Chen.

But then Bai Chen sent him a message saying he couldn’t come.

Furious, Zhu Yu ate the cake all by himself.

But once he finished it, he wasn’t mad anymore.

Maybe because the cake put him in a good mood. Or maybe because Zhu Yu felt that he simply couldn’t stay mad at Bai Chen.

Bai Chen recalled his schedule for that day. He had no classes in the afternoon, but every Tuesday afternoon, he had to meet someone. He wasn’t sure how long that would take.

Since he couldn’t give a definite answer, he said, “I’ll try to finish my business before you get off work.”

“Alright.” Zhu Yu yawned again.

When they got home, Zhu Yu originally wanted to help Bai Chen with something, but since it was Friday, Bai Chen had to live stream. Zhu Yu definitely couldn’t show up on camera.

As he opened the door, Zhu Yu said, “From now on, I won’t come over on Fridays. I’ll wait until your stream is over before coming.”

“Why?” Bai Chen didn’t quite understand.

Zhu Yu turned around and looked up at him, explaining, “Because you’re streaming. If your fans accidentally find out someone else is in your house and misunderstand, you’ll lose followers.”

“Misunderstand what?” Bai Chen genuinely didn’t get it. His eyes were full of confusion.

Zhu Yu gestured with his hands. “Misunderstand that I’m your lover or someone close to you?!”

After saying that, his ears and face turned a little red.

But the hallway lighting wasn’t very bright, and Bai Chen’s tall frame blocked most of the light from reaching Zhu Yu, so he didn’t notice.

Bai Chen understood now. So that’s what Zhu Yu was concerned about.

“Thank you for thinking about that for me.” Bai Chen’s voice was calm and low. “But I never set up a ‘single’ persona. I’m just a food content creator.”

“That’s true.” From the very first time Zhu Yu watched Bai Chen’s live streams, Bai Chen had never talked about his personal life. He barely spoke at all, barely interacted with the chat—he only replied when someone asked a cooking-related question.

“Then… are you still coming over?” Bai Chen’s tone was strangely tentative, almost cautious.

Zhu Yu put his hands on his hips, looking justified and confident. “Of course!”

“I’ll come over after I give Liu Bo a bath!” Zhu Yu said as he opened the door. Just as the words left his mouth, the dusty gray Liu Bo let out a loud meow and bolted outside. Zhu Yu hadn’t even reacted before Liu Bo crashed into him, spinning him around on the spot.

Bai Chen quickly reached out and steadied Zhu Yu by the arm.

“Liu Bo!” Zhu Yu was furious, nearly bristling with anger, and the little tuft of hair on his head wobbled along with him.

He lowered his head to look for the cat, but the meowing came from above.

Zhu Yu looked up and found himself staring right into the eyes of Liu Bo, who was now nestled in Bai Chen’s arms.

“Get down here! You haven’t had a bath in ages.” He was genuinely worried that once Liu Bo jumped off Bai Chen, his white hoodie would be covered in paw prints.

Zhu Yu reached out to grab Liu Bo by the scruff of his neck, but the cat clung tightly to Bai Chen’s clothes, refusing to let go.

Bai Chen smiled helplessly. “It’s fine. Go grab the pet shampoo. You can wash him at my place if you want.”

“How could I? That’ll dirty your bathroom.” Zhu Yu shook his head and continued trying to pry Liu Bo off Bai Chen.

Bai Chen reassured him gently, “It’s really fine. I can just clean up afterward.”

“Meow.” Liu Bo let out a soft cry as if echoing Bai Chen’s sentiment.

Seeing that Liu Bo had no intention of letting go, Zhu Yu finally sighed in defeat.

“Alright then.” Zhu Yu let out a resigned sigh.

Bai Chen chuckled, his eyes curving slightly. “I’ll take him inside first.”

Zhu Yu was still upset. He threw a few playful air punches at Liu Bo. “Liu Bo, you’re driving me crazy! I’m gonna send you off to live as a stray!”

Still grumbling, he went back to his place and gathered the pet shampoo, a pet dryer, and even one of Liu Bo’s little pajamas.

By the time he arrived at Bai Chen’s place, Liu Bo had already gotten down from Bai Chen’s arms. The cat was now sitting on the sofa, happily playing with a cat treat stick that Bai Chen was holding.

“Huh? Senior, you even bought cat treats?” Zhu Yu placed his things on the table.

Bai Chen explained, “There are a lot of stray cats downstairs. I feed them from time to time.”

Zhu Yu suddenly recalled the stray cat he used to feed. The last time he went looking for it, someone had already fed it before him.

A thought crossed his mind, but he didn’t say it out loud.

He bent down and scooped Liu Bo up from the floor. “When are you starting your live stream?”

Bai Chen glanced at his watch. “In about… ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes? Liu Bo has thick fur and a tough hide—there’s no way I can finish in ten minutes.” Zhu Yu thought for a moment before adding, “You go start your stream. Our bathroom is pretty soundproof. Just close the door, and it’ll be fine. Liu Bo is really quiet during baths, so he won’t disturb you.”

Bai Chen hesitated. “Are you sure you can handle it alone?”

He was someone who kept his promises, and since he had committed to a weekly live stream, he wouldn’t delay or cancel it without a good reason.

Zhu Yu looked at him. “Of course!”

“This isn’t my first time giving Liu Bo a bath.” He made an “OK” gesture with his hand.

“Alright.” Bai Chen felt a little more at ease.

After adjusting the water temperature for Zhu Yu, he said, “Tonight’s live stream is about making mooncakes, so it won’t take too long. Once you’re done bathing Liu Bo, you can come out—it’s fine.”

Zhu Yu hummed in response and urged him, “Hurry up! Your fans are getting impatient.”

He was partly speaking for himself, since he always made sure to be on time for Bai Chen’s Friday live streams.

Bai Chen nodded. Standing by the door, he glanced back at Zhu Yu, who was undressing Liu Bo, then pressed his lips together slightly before quietly closing the door.

Zhu Yu quickly stripped Liu Bo of his clothes in one go, gave his chubby butt a light pat, and muttered under his breath, “I don’t even have the energy to scold you.”