Blushing

Qin Chaochen’s face turned red in an instant. His eyes were misty, as if there was a hint of emotion in them. 

He unbuckled his seatbelt, “Why are you still driving after getting out of the car?”

Fu Quezhi was momentarily stunned but got out of the car with a calm demeanor.

“We’re all adults, it’s nothing to talk about,” Fu Quezhi said casually, glancing at Qin Chaochen, who was walking so fast as if something was chasing him.

Qin Chaochen didn’t expect someone like Fu Quezhi, who looked so cold and abstinent, to say such things. Thinking back to his school days with Fu Quezhi, a fire burned in his heart.

His mind was filled with memories of Fu Quezhi acting high and mighty in the student council, blocking him from entering the teaching building when he was late, confiscating his heater and pot in the dormitory, and being strict with him while being lenient with others.

Qin Chaochen walked a few steps with a murderous aura, then slowed down to wait for Fu Quezhi to catch up.

“Were you targeting me in school?” Qin Chaochen raised his chin, “And targeting He Ze too.”

Fu Quezhi feigned innocence, “That was student council work, I couldn’t not do it.” He instinctively resisted upon hearing He Ze’s name, “He Ze? Why would I target him?”

“Can’t you be a little more flexible?” Qin Chaochen said, exasperated, making a tiny gesture with his fingers.

Fu Quezhi chuckled, “I didn’t know we’d end up like this.”

He mumbled, “I’ve been flexible for a while now.”

The last part was too quiet for Qin Chaochen to hear. He cleared his throat, “Anyway, you can’t do that anymore. We’re… good friends now, can’t sell out friends.”

“Got it,” Fu Quezhi whispered, “I wouldn’t sell you out.”

Qin Chaochen leaned in closer, “Speak up, it’s just the two of us here.”

Fu Quezhi couldn’t suppress the agitation in his heart. Qin Chaochen was too close, Fu Quezhi’s long eyelashes trembled, and he suddenly reached out to hug Qin Chaochen.

“I’m feeling a bit down today.”

With that, Qin Chaochen’s frantic struggle stopped. He felt awkward, having never been hugged like this before. Fu Quezhi leaned on his shoulder, warm breath spreading over his ear.

Qin Chaochen’s earlobe, as jade-like as it was, turned a shade of crimson, like a fresh, juicy fruit. The warmth and weight of Fu Quezhi were hard to ignore, especially with a face like his, someone who was always the center of attention.

Thinking about it, Qin Chaochen realized the Fu Family wasn’t very kind to Fu Quezhi. So far, Qin Chaochen hadn’t seen Fu Quezhi’s original family, and Fu Quezhi’s current state wasn’t suitable for asking.

Fu Changtian was very strict with Fu Quezhi.

So strict that he wouldn’t let Fu Quezhi eat.

Qin Chaochen patted Fu Quezhi’s back, full of loyalty, “Don’t worry, with me here, you won’t suffer.”

Since they were friends, he wouldn’t let Fu Quezhi be bullied. If anyone dared to bully Fu Quezhi, a familiar phrase flashed in Qin Chaochen’s mind.

He’d bully them all back.

Fu Quezhi held Qin Chaochen’s hand and whispered in his ear, “I wouldn’t sell you out.”

Qin Chaochen quickly covered his ear, looking at Fu Quezhi in disbelief, caught off guard by the sneak attack, tears welling up in his eyes.

Seeing this, Fu Quezhi only wanted to tease him more.

Back home, Qin Chaochen accompanied Qin Shu to sleep. Qin Shu showed him the little red flower given by the teacher, “Dad, the teacher gave me a little red flower. I washed the dishes myself today.”

Qin Chaochen hugged Qin Shu and patiently asked, “Why did you wash the dishes yourself?”

Qin Shu replied seriously, “Because the cafeteria aunt was too busy, so I secretly washed them myself. I finished all my veggies.”

“Good boy.” Qin Chaochen couldn’t resist kissing Qin Shu’s right cheek.

Qin Shu’s eyes sparkled, “Dad, can you tell me a story?”

Qin Chaochen thought for a moment, “Qin Shu, little friend, please make a request.”

“I want to hear the story of the Little Mermaid.” Qin Shu handed the fairy tale book to Qin Chaochen, looking at him expectantly.

Qin Chaochen had no choice but to read the story of the Little Mermaid to Qin Shu. Halfway through, Qin Shu started crying, even though Qin Chaochen’s deep and pleasant voice could withstand the sadness of the story. Qin Shu urged him between sobs.

“Dad, hurry up, hurry up.”

Oh boy, it felt like binge-watching a drama. Qin Chaochen got into it, holding the fairy tale book and pouring his emotions into it.

“In the end, the Little Mermaid turned into foam on the deck and disappeared. The prince and princess got married and lived happily ever after. The prince never remembered the Little Mermaid, and at the wedding, he promised the priest he would love the princess well, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, and would take her as his wife.”

Qin Shu: “Waaaah.”

Qin Shu: “Why, why, the prince and princess being together isn’t good at all.”

“Will the Little Mermaid meet the prince again?”

“Probably… not.”

“Waaaah, then is the Little Mermaid still alive?”

“…Maybe she turned into a star.”

Qin Shu knew that turning into a star meant never seeing them again. Qin Shu cried, “The Little Mermaid is so miserable, her parents must be very sad.”

Qin Chaochen was taken aback, not expecting Qin Shu to think of parents.

“Shushu.”

Fu Quezhi heard the commotion and came in from the next room, “What’s wrong?”

“The Little Mermaid turned into foam,” Qin Shu said tearfully, tugging at Qin Chaochen’s shirt with one hand and clutching the fairy tale book with the other, as if drawing strength from it.

Fu Quezhi said seriously, “The Little Mermaid turned into beautiful foam and sank to the sea floor. The witch saved her again. In the deep, dark sea, the witch wasn’t liked by others, but the Little Mermaid wasn’t afraid. Actually, the witch always liked the Little Mermaid, even more than the prince.”

Qin Shu: “Why isn’t the witch liked in the sea?”

Fu Quezhi: “Maybe because he’s not good-looking, or maybe because he’s antisocial.”

Qin Shu: “The witch likes the Little Mermaid, will they be together?”

Fu Quezhi said, “I don’t know, the story doesn’t have an ending.”

Fu Quezhi calmly made up a fairy tale without an ending, soothing Qin Shu.

“Then the witch is the Little Mermaid’s superhero.” Qin Shu snuggled into the covers, finally saying happily.

Qin Chaochen and Fu Quezhi quietly left the room.

“Fu Quezhi, does the witch really like the Little Mermaid?” Qin Chaochen looked at Fu Quezhi eagerly.

Fu Quezhi thought for a moment, “The witch trades anything. The Little Mermaid traded her voice for legs. The witch is the only one who can save her. The Little Mermaid’s unrequited love and the witch’s lack of affection from others, adding love to the witch is a form of salvation. Another way is for the Little Mermaid’s family to trade something precious to save her.”

Fu Quezhi’s features were cold and deep, his light-colored lips pressed together. After hearing Fu Quezhi’s words, something flowed into Qin Chaochen’s heart, and he awkwardly looked away.

“Fu Quezhi, have you ever thought about Ultraman or something in the third dimension?”

“I don’t like watching cartoons.”

Qin Chaochen persisted, “Have you ever thought about it?”

Fu Quezhi: “Yes.”

Qin Chaochen’s eyes curved with a smile, “I really like your Little Mermaid story, and I also like Ultraman. Fu Quezhi, we can go to the anime city together someday.”

Now that they’re both dads, Fu Quezhi looked at Qin Chaochen.

“Adults can dream too.” Qin Chaochen hummed, “We can definitely go to the anime city too.”

“At worst, we’ll bring Shushu along.”

Who knows if it’ll be him playing alone or the three of them playing together.

Qin Chaochen tugged at Fu Quezhi, “How about it?”

What else could Fu Quezhi do, “Okay.”

Qin Chaochen almost jumped up, “Fu Quezhi, goodnight then.”

Being used as a tool, Fu Quezhi thought about dragging Qin Chaochen to the bedroom. Ever since Qin Chaochen’s car accident, this area had been dry for a while.

Qin Chaochen was sleeping with Qin Shu tonight, obediently lying in bed, the two of them, one big and one small, were very well-behaved.

On the other side, Fu Quezhi thought of scenes he hadn’t considered before.

When he was young, Fu Changtian locked him in the garden again, and it seemed like the whole family had forgotten about him. His stomach was growling with hunger. He could only lean against the wall, hugging his knees.

Fu Quezhi had gotten used to Fu Changtian locking him in the garden, but his body still trembled with fear, and he would cry from the stomach pain.

Fu Changtian didn’t allow him to watch cartoons, but Fu Quezhi had a rebellious streak. He would secretly watch a little, like a startled bird, not daring to watch more.

He thought of Doraemon’s pocket, where anything he wanted could be found. Fu Quezhi rummaged through his own pockets, finding nothing. No magical Anywhere Door, nothing to fill his stomach.

He started reciting food names. He hadn’t eaten fried chicken, hadn’t drunk cola, hadn’t been to an amusement park, he could only stay at home.

“So hungry,” Fu Quezhi sobbed.

In the villa, no one dared to defy the head of the family’s orders.

Suddenly, a paper ball flew over from the other side of the wall, scaring Fu Quezhi into silence. He hugged himself, silently chanting Doraemon.

A boy’s voice came from the other side of the wall.

“Are you hungry? Inside the paper ball are clean, tasty snacks.” The boy’s voice was clean and innocent.

Fate is a strange thing. Two parallel lines intersect at a certain point, colliding with a bang, then intertwining to create countless nodes, undergoing a chemical reaction, and eventually converging into one line, becoming inseparable, willingly falling into it.

Qin Chaochen came to the garden out of boredom. On the other side of the wall, Fu Quezhi opened the paper package, stuffing the snacks into his mouth, crying as he ate, the louder he cried, the louder he ate.

“Is it not good? What’s wrong?! I ate it and it was fine.” The boy’s voice on the other side of the wall grew more and more anxious.

“Steward! I want to go over there!” Qin Chaochen quickly called for his steward uncle.

“Young master, it’s so late, where do you want to go?” The steward came out of the living room, still looking surprised.

“I want to go to the other side of the wall!”

▍Author’s Note

Qin Chaochen: I want to go to the other side of the wall.