Chapter 34
Students rarely arrive on time at the studio, especially on weekends. It’s common for them to show up around half past ten when the studio opens at ten. At this moment, there was only one student on the first floor, and Meng Yun could handle it perfectly fine. Xiang Mo greeted her and then went back to the second floor kitchen to comfort Zhao Xiaoqiao along with Du Chi.
Zhao Xiaoqiao had calmed down quite a bit now. She had a wet towel on her face, and between intervals, one could see that the handprint had faded.
As Du Chi took off his apron, the aroma of mushroom and sausage stewed rice filled the kitchen. Initially, Xiang Mo wasn’t very hungry, but the scent was so enticing that he kept glancing at the countdown on the rice cooker, getting hungrier by the moment.
“What do you think, Teacher Xiang?”
Suddenly, Du Chi called out to Xiang Mo, with a slight smile on his lips, indicating that he caught Xiang Mo peeking at the rice cooker and deliberately called him out at that moment.
Xiang Mo casually withdrew his gaze and replied, “Mhm, you’re right.”
Though he was distracted, Xiang Mo still got the general idea of the situation.
Yesterday, on the way home from school, Zhao Xiaoqiao and her boyfriend held hands secretly, but unfortunately, their homeroom teacher happened to see them. The teacher informed both sets of parents, and this morning, they were all called to the school. Xiang Mo wasn’t sure about the details, but under the pressure of their elders, the young couple reluctantly broke up.
“In just over ten days, you’ll have the college entrance examination. Your parents probably don’t want you to be distracted,” Du Chi advised Zhao Xiaoqiao to focus on her studies, which was generally right. So even though Xiang Mo was absent-minded, he still agreed.
“But haven’t they considered that this would distract me even more?” Zhao Xiaoqiao frowned.
“As long as you get through the college entrance examination,” Xiang Mo added, “after that, your parents won’t bother you anymore.”
Zhao Xiaoqiao sighed, understanding this logic, and didn’t want to dwell on it any longer. She lowered her gaze and said, “I just think they’re being stupid.”
Realizing that Zhao Xiaoqiao was talking about her own parents, Xiang Mo subtly raised an eyebrow. It seemed the girl wasn’t as gentle as she appeared and had rebellious thoughts in her heart.
“Why do they think that being in a relationship is bad?” Zhao Xiaoqiao continued, “It’s obvious that it hasn’t affected my studies.”
The logic was sound.
Zhao Xiaoqiao was destined to excel in the college entrance examination, and if being in a relationship truly affected her studies, she wouldn’t have such excellent grades.
But some logic would never get through to parents.
“You’re an exception,” Xiang Mo looked again at the rice cooker, sipped his coffee, and said, “Most people are negatively affected by love.”
Even adults, who are more experienced, can become obsessed with love. What’s more, high school students who are not yet mature.
“But the influence doesn’t have to be negative,” Zhao Xiaoqiao’s response surprised Xiang Mo. Her eyes showed a maturity beyond her eighteen years. “My boyfriend has good grades too, and I don’t want to fall behind him. So I work hard, and you can say it’s a positive influence, right?”
Xiang Mo was initially trying to comfort Zhao Xiaoqiao as an older brother, but he didn’t expect to receive insightful input from her. He was momentarily stunned and instinctively looked at Du Chi beside him.
“That’s true,” Du Chi chimed in, “When your partner is outstanding, you also want to excel.”
Xiang Mo, being single for too long, almost forgot about this aspect. Couples can influence each other positively, and if both are motivated and positive, it forms a good cycle.
“So that’s why I said they’re being stupid,” Zhao Xiaoqiao shrugged, appearing helpless, “They only see the negative aspects of being in love.”
Xiang Mo had to admit that being in love was indeed beautiful, but he felt that Zhao Xiaoqiao was still a bit naive.
She was just lucky to have met a good person. If she encountered a bad boy, it could affect her future, and she might regret it.
“Love is not as wonderful as you think,” Xiang Mo said, feeling a bit heavy with his preachiness. To lighten the atmosphere, he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.
“Why?” Zhao Xiaoqiao looked at them with confusion, “Isn’t your relationship very good?”
The coffee almost spurted out of Xiang Mo’s mouth. He paused with the cup in mid-air. “What?”
“Earlier when I was freeloading here, I saw Du-ge holding you,” Zhao Xiaoqiao said. “I’ve seen this happen with some of my classmates, so I think it’s normal.”
Xiang Mo: “……”
Du Chi shrugged, his expression saying it’s not his fault.
“I don’t quite understand,” Zhao Xiaoqiao looked puzzled at Xiang Mo, “You are in a romantic relationship, but you still have a negative view of love?”
This question stumped Xiang Mo.
His attitude clearly indicated a pessimistic view of love, but he himself was immersed in a romantic relationship, and anyone would find him contradictory.
But that’s how people are; they don’t contradict themselves.
“That’s right,” Xiang Mo put down his coffee cup and spoke calmly, “We will break up soon.”
“Break up?” Zhao Xiaoqiao looked surprised, unsure how to interpret this future tense.
Xiang Mo wasn’t sure how to explain either, as he was still adjusting to the situation. However, Du Chi seemed to take it well, casually putting his arm around Xiang Mo, saying, “Xiaoqiao, you wouldn’t understand adult love.”
Despite saying they will break up, the two behaved affectionately, with eyes glued to each other, showing no signs of a breakup.
This left Zhao Xiaoqiao even more confused.
The timer on the rice cooker went off, and the aroma of the food filled the kitchen.
The topic was dropped as their attention shifted to the meal.
After finishing lunch, Zhao Xiaoqiao didn’t feel like going home yet, so she stayed for a while. By the time she left, her emotions had completely settled, and there were no more quarrels next door. It seemed that the rebellious girl had come back online, reining in her rebellious thoughts.
After the afternoon sketching class, Du Chi picked up a package from the delivery station. It seemed quite heavy, and he had even borrowed a trolley to transport it back.
Xiang Mo never asked about what Du Chi bought, but now that their relationship had changed, he couldn’t help but ask. Du Chi only said he would find out soon.
They carried the package to the third floor, and after Du Chi unpacked it, Xiang Mo realized it was a spacious double recliner.
“Isn’t a regular lounge chair good enough?” Xiang Mo squatted beside Du Chi, handing him a hexagonal wrench.
“A recliner is more comfortable,” Du Chi took the wrench and tightened the chair legs.
The sun was still scorching in the late afternoon, even Sanmao didn’t want to come to the balcony. Xiang Mo didn’t understand why Du Chi was in such a hurry to assemble it when there was no rush.
However, when they returned from walking the dog, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Xiang Mo finally realized the wisdom of assembling the recliner in advance.
They lay comfortably on the recliner, admiring the scenery in the distance. The refreshing evening breeze washed away the day’s heat, and Xiang Mo wished for time to stand still.
“Du Chi.” Nestled in Du Chi’s arms, Xiang Mo softly called.
“Hmm?” Du Chi lazily responded.
Xiang Mo moved his lips but ultimately gave up speaking.
He enjoyed lying on the recliner with Du Chi, savoring the scent of Du Chi all around him.
The feeling of being in a romantic relationship was too wonderful, so wonderful that Xiang Mo didn’t dare to say it out loud, fearing it might not be real.
He leaned a bit closer to Du Chi’s neck, feeling the warmth of his embrace becoming more real.
“Wifey,” Du Chi called Xiang Mo this time.
“Hmm?” Xiang Mo nestled against Du Chi’s shoulder without moving.
“Do you have anything you want to do?” Du Chi asked.
“Something I want to do?” Xiang Mo lifted his chin, meeting Du Chi’s gaze.
“We will break up soon,” Du Chi said, “Aren’t there things you want to do with me before that?”
Xiang Mo understood now; it was like a bucket list of things they wanted to do before breaking up, so they wouldn’t have any regrets.
There was something Xiang Mo had wanted to do for a long time. Crawling up from Du Chi’s chest, he looked at him intently and said, “Let me paint you.”
He added, “Naked.”
Du Chi chuckled softly, a hint of indulgence in his smile. “Sure, artist.”
The clean and tidy bed was deliberately messed up, creating a sense of breaking order. Du Chi had taken a shower for this occasion, lying half-naked on the bed, posing like the figure of Adam in the famous painting “The Creation of Adam,” with a touch of casual laziness.
Now, Xiang Mo finally had the chance to “gaze” at Du Chi’s body from an artist’s perspective. It was a different kind of beauty, distinct from eroticism, but equally captivating, with a deadly attraction to Xiang Mo.
As he sketched the basic shapes on the paper, his gaze was calm as he studied the body on the bed.
Xiang Mo’s expression was professional enough, devoid of any impurities, but only he knew how restless his heart was.
Perhaps his calm expression triggered something in Du Chi. The body that was still moments ago suddenly changed; a dormant lion began to wake up, and the once sacred “Adam” now appeared somewhat wicked, as if symbolizing something.
Xiang Mo suddenly thought that there was one thing he had never done with anyone. After he broke up with Du Chi, he probably wouldn’t enter another romantic relationship, which meant he would never have the chance to do this.
Maybe it was the atmosphere, but Xiang Mo put down the sketching pencil and walked up to Du Chi.
Du Chi couldn’t quite figure out Xiang Mo’s intentions, looking puzzled, he called out, “Teacher Xiang?”
“Shut up,” Xiang Mo said, “Don’t move.”
With that, he got down on his knees and put the wicked part into his mouth —
Du Chi: Damn!
