Chapter 51.6
Next Friday, April 1st, Yang Qu’s birthday is coming up again.
I heard that he doesn’t want to have a big party this year. He’s tired of the social obligations that come with birthdays, which aren’t necessarily joyful. He said he just wants to spend a simple day at home with the people he likes.
I totally agree with this. Compared to those noisy and bustling occasions, I cherish the time I spend with He Yanlu, where we’re undisturbed and worry-free. Just the two of us sitting together is filled with sweetness…
Birthdays should be a chance for lovers to shine, like letting him cook a meal himself, or offering himself after a bath in the evening… These are things I’ve imagined and asked He Yanlu to do for me.
However, I have no confidence in Chu Wenxing’s reserved and awkward personality at all.
Over the weekend, I played basketball with Yang Qu at the off-campus gym. After showering, we sat in a beverage shop in the lounge, and I brought up this matter: “Does Chu Wenxing know it’s your birthday?”
Yang Qu said, “He should know. He was sneaking around looking at the calendar a few days ago.”
Ever since the two of them got together, Chu Wenxing “voluntarily” moved in with Yang Qu. I could tell that he was just like the idiot in my family, awkward with matters of the heart. How could he possibly take the initiative?
Later on, I gossiped about this with Yang Qu, and he told me that he had threatened Chu Wenxing. He said if he didn’t move in, he would do something to him every night in his dorm…
How could that little white rabbit, Chu Wenxing, compete with the real fox, Yang Qu? If he didn’t move in, he would be assaulted in public. If he did move in, he would be at Yang Qu’s mercy!
“Sneaking around?” I snickered, “That doesn’t sound like him.”
Yang Qu towel-dried his hair and said, “Heh, that’s his way. But I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Several freshmen in the department asked about your birthday. They’re all here because of your reputation. If you’re not having a party this year, aren’t you afraid they’ll hunt you down?”
Yang Qu glanced at me, “Reputation? Don’t get it wrong. If it weren’t for you and He Yanlu, would they come?”
“It’s your birthday, what does that have to do with us?” I feigned innocence.
“Who in F Literature College doesn’t know now? You have a good relationship with us. How could you not come to my birthday?”
This touched a sore spot for me. Inadvertently kissing He Yanlu in school, it was witnessed by several girls. The situation spiraled out of control. He and I were always the center of attention, and I was used to being noticed. However, this time, it completely got out of hand. The whole department, no, the whole school probably knows about He Yanlu and my relationship. The subsequent developments, I won’t go into detail. Being caught kissing, being surrounded after class, being followed everywhere, and whenever He Yanlu and I appeared together, there were even occasional screams…
After being with He Yanlu, he changed a lot. The facade of a cold-faced individual disappeared, and his “little white” image was completely exposed. He went around emitting a clueless and adorable aura, constantly flirting with others!… My classmates enjoyed teasing him more and more, chatting with him. He seemed to enjoy it too, like a curious baby. It made me wish I could keep him locked up at home, away from anyone!
“What are you thinking? Your expression is so terrifying.” Yang Qu drank his beverage, looking at me with a mysterious smile.
“Ah… having a doting wife is nothing to be feared of, but as a husband, I’m worried!”
“What twisted logic. Everyone knows he’s yours. Who dares to touch him? And if push comes to shove, you have me covering for you. Who dares to steal Ye Yixin’s limelight?”
“Brother, you don’t understand…”
“I do, I do,” Yang Qu took a sip of his drink and said, “Possessiveness, I have that too.”
“Personally, I think Chu Wenxing is much more reassuring than He Yanlu.”
“Reassuring?” Yang Qu raised an eyebrow.
“Sure, most of the people who tried to get involved with He Yanlu were girls. Among those girls, nine out of ten were yaoi fans.”
I understood the term “yaoi fans,” which I only learned about recently. Those girls were mostly just curious, intrigued by the novelty, overflowing with maternal instincts. They weren’t really threatening.
Yang Qu sighed, “Those who have designs on Chu Wenxing are mostly guys, and most of them are born homosexuals.”
“Really?” With Yang Qu’s mention, I suddenly remembered Chu Wenxing’s smile. The first time I saw him, his dimples, that sweet and captivating smile, his almond-shaped eyes that curved so invitingly.
“Xiao Xin has a peculiar attraction to homosexuals,” Yang Qu smiled wryly, “He hasn’t realized it, but my eyes are bright, wandering around him. At least three of the guys surrounding him are seriously interested.”
“Brother,” I raised my bottled water and clinked it with his, “Cheers to you!”
It turned out that even someone as confident and strong as Yang Qu could be unsure when it came to someone he liked. From my perspective, the chance of Chu Wenxing leaving him was less than 0.1%.
However, regardless of who it is, in the face of love, we’re all unarmed fools. The only weapon we can use in battle is sincerity.
“April 1st, Friday, huh? Are you planning to spend the day cuddling with Chu Wenxing at home?” I teased.
Yang Qu smiled mysteriously, “I’ll see what gift he gives me. If I’m not satisfied, I might just do that, until I think it’s enough.”
“Haha, Yang Ge, you’re truly mighty… Speaking seriously though, He Yanlu has a suggestion.”
“He Yanlu?” Yang Qu arched an eyebrow.
“Yeah, the two of us being together owes a lot to you. I’ve wanted to express my gratitude in some way… If it weren’t for coming to your birthday party last year, I wouldn’t have become a cat, and I wouldn’t have been taken home by He Yanlu…”
“Ye Yixin,” Yang Qu lowered his head, playing with a paper cup, “If it weren’t for me, do you believe you and He Yanlu could still have ended up together?”
“How so?”
“I noticed a long time ago that you were interested in him.”
“Huh? I didn’t even realize it myself, how did you know?”
“It’s you who’s slow to catch on, but sooner or later, you’ll face your own feelings. If you hadn’t become a cat, maybe you and he would have met a little later, but you still would have ended up together, because you two are a natural pair.”
Yang Qu’s words left me feeling dreamy. Then he asked, “What did He Yanlu suggest?”
“Oh…” I snapped back to reality and said, “On the evening of March 31st, I’m thinking of inviting you guys over to my place for dinner and a movie.”
“Oh? What movie?” Yang Qu replied ambiguously.
I scorned, “Don’t think of my wife that way. It’s just a small family gathering, chatting, eating, watching a regular comedy movie. We bought a projector for the living room, so we can watch small movies there.”
“Movies…” Yang Qu mused with a lowered head and then smiled mischievously…
I knew, this guy must have some twisted idea in mind.
“No problem, I’ll bring Chu Wenxing over. I’ll bring the movie too.”
I didn’t know what scheme he was planning, but judging by his expression, there was something good coming.
On Thursday evening, Yang Qu and Chu Wenxing arrived as promised. Chu Wenxing seemed a bit livelier, not as nervously twitchy as I remembered. When he saw the cake on the table, he exclaimed in surprise, “Xiao Lu, did you make this?”
“No, it’s store-bought,” He Yanlu chuckled and made a silly face, “I can’t bake.”
“I heard from Yang Qu that you can make cookies.” Chu Wenxing stole a bit of cream with his finger. He Yanlu brought the dishes to the table, saying, “What are you doing, poking a hole in the cake?”
Chu Wenxing blinked and ran off.
“He seems happy,” I whispered to He Yanlu.
He Yanlu said, “I’m happy when he’s happy. He used to be like an old man, overthinking everything, and it was exhausting.”
I said, “That’s because Yang Qu helped him share the load.”
“Ah, Xiao Lu! You guys actually have a cat!” Chu Wenxing noticed the two cats sleeping behind the sofa and shouted excitedly, “Yang Qu, come and see!”
Yang Qu put down his newspaper and walked over, asking, “Where?”
“Look! Look!” Chu Wenxing picked up the docile Gray and Gray was still sleeping, but it let out a few “meows” when a stranger picked it up.
Yang Qu took Gray from Chu Wenxing and said, “Ye Yixin is a cat, of course they have cats.”
“And another one.” Chu Wenxing picked up Little Flower as well. Yang Qu took it from him with a dark expression and placed them on the sofa.
“Ye Yixin, did you give birth to them?” I was looking for alcohol in the cabinet and nearly dropped everything when I heard Chu Wenxing’s words.
“Yeah, I did!” I managed to reply.
Hearing He Yanlu’s low laughter, Yang Qu and the others laughed too.
“Do you like cats?” Yang Qu asked Chu Wenxing.
Gray snuggled against Yang Qu, and Chu Wenxing playfully scratched its belly with a finger. “I quite like them.”
“Ye Yixin, have another one and give it to me, okay?” Yang Qu grinned at me.
I made a scoffing sound and said, “If you want one, go have one yourself.”
He Yanlu said, “Alright, alright. We’re laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. Let’s eat first.”
Although Yang Qu’s birthday is tomorrow, we still sang him a birthday song and cut the cake today. I took just one bite and didn’t touch it anymore; I really don’t know how He Yanlu managed to eat that overly sweet cake…
I accompanied Yang Qu to drink a little bit of alcohol, since it wasn’t a formal occasion, just something to lighten the mood.
After dinner, I cleaned up the dishes while He Yanlu prepared drinks and snacks for when we would watch the movie. He came in after a while and whispered to me, “What kind of movies did Yang Qu bring? The covers are all white, and there’s no text.”
I was taken aback; could it be that he brought some adult-themed movies? That’s so open-minded! I chuckled and said, “I don’t know either; we’ll find out soon enough.”
He Yanlu seemed quite nervous. I knew what he was thinking, so I reassured him, “It’s not that kind of movie.”
He gave me a glare and left, clearly thinking I was involved in whatever Yang Qu had planned.
I put the dishes in the dishwasher, washed my hands, and went out. The living room was dimly lit by a wall lamp. The tea set was arranged on the coffee table along with the tea pot, brewed tea, and snacks.
He Yanlu was sitting on the sofa with Little Flower in his lap, leaving a spot for me next to him. Yang Qu and Chu Wenxing were sitting on another sofa. Chu Wenxing was playing with Gray, full of enthusiasm.
“Shall we start?”
Yang Qu turned his head to look at me. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah.”
He picked up the remote and changed the channel. “Take a seat; it’s about to begin.”
I sat down next to He Yanlu, wrapping my arm around his waist naturally, and he leaned against my chest. We had gotten used to this position.
The movie started quite normally, and I felt relieved. It seemed to be some kind of drama. Probably due to our backgrounds in Chinese literature, both He Yanlu and I enjoyed this genre of movies. Chu Wenxing, on the other hand, appeared less interested. He had eaten, played with the cats, and now Yang Qu half-hugged him, making him look a bit drowsy.
About ten minutes into the movie, I was a bit surprised. Wasn’t this turning into a suspense or detective story? The atmosphere wasn’t as light as I’d expected. He Yanlu was already immersed in it, thoroughly enjoying it. My hand snaked over his waist and rested on his thigh where Little Flower was. Little Flower licked my fingers.
The movie showed a woman sleeping, and in the darkness, she reached out to pet her dog. But instead of her dog, half of a person’s face appeared on the screen, only showing the chin. The figure stuck out its tongue and licked the woman’s hand.
I was startled; I finally realized it was a horror movie.
This scene caused He Yanlu, who was in my embrace, to stiffen for a moment, and he pressed closer to me. I chuckled inwardly, gently gripping his hand. I turned to look at Yang Qu and the others. Chu Wenxing was wide-eyed in horror, holding onto Gray. Yang Qu patted his shoulder soothingly and smiled gently at him.
I withdrew my gaze; Yang Qu was truly… so wicked!
When the woman woke up, her dog had already died, and blood was everywhere.
Like solving a suspenseful case, each twist of the plot followed the other, gradually revealing the identity of the tongue-sticking ghost. To be honest, watching this movie, once you got into it, required some thinking to understand. After understanding it, the horror would set in.
After over an hour of watching, I was sweating, not to mention He Yanlu! Wait a second… why did he look so calm? I was surprised, and I patted his shoulder, asking, “Are you alright?”
He Yanlu responded, “Yeah.” He turned to me with a smile, “You were holding onto me so tightly just now…”
“I was scared!” I said, “It’s so scary!”
That’s how it was with horror movies; when you’re watching, it’s terrifying and oppressive, but after it’s over, you return to reality, and it’s a relief. No wonder people say horror movies can help relieve stress.
“Scary?” He Yanlu said, “I thought it was okay!”
I had a dark line on my face. Could it be that horror movies were his strong suit? He must have a strong tolerance for fear!
He Yanlu got up and turned on the lights. Chu Wenxing was clinging to Yang Qu like a koala, his face pale, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Did it… finish?” He stammered, his voice trembling.
He Yanlu looked at him strangely, “Yes, it’s over. What’s wrong with you?”
Yang Qu chuckled softly, “He got scared. He couldn’t make it through half of it and was closing his eyes, shaking.”
There was obvious affection and amusement in Yang Qu’s voice. Ah, Chu Wenxing was really pitiful.
He Yanlu poured a glass of water for Chu Wenxing and asked, “Are you two staying here tonight? Or are you going back?”
Yang Qu said, “Let’s go back. It’s just a little past ten; it’s not that late.”
“Past ten?” Chu Wenxing exclaimed, horrified. “It’s already dark!”
I teased, “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark! But it’s okay; even if you are, it’s not a problem. Our guest room is always ready for you two.”
Yang Qu said, “Once midnight passes, it will be my birthday, so we should spend it at our own place. Xiao Xin, let’s go back, okay?”
Chu Wenxing looked at Yang Qu with a pitiable expression, his eyes darting around nervously, and his lips a bit pale. It seemed that the horror movie had quite an impact on him…
Yang Qu kissed his lips and whispered, “I’m here; what are you afraid of? Let’s go back; be good…”
As they got up to leave, Chu Wenxing followed Yang Qu closely, step by step, never leaving his side. Even when he was putting on his shoes, he kept glancing at Yang Qu every few seconds, his fingers trembling.
After seeing them off, He Yanlu said to me, “They have such a good relationship.”
“Fool, can’t you see that Yang Qu is teasing him?”
“Huh? Where was he teasing?”
“Chu Wenxing doesn’t like horror movies. He seemed quite normal when he arrived, but look at how scared he was when he left…”
“Why does Yang Qu tease Wenxing like that?”
I laughed and flicked He Yanlu’s face with my finger. “Because this way, Chu Wenxing becomes more ‘passionate’.”
“Ah…” He Yanlu suddenly realized. “Yang Qu is really naughty!”
I brought out sleepwear for both of them while saying, “Yang Qu is so mischievous; aren’t you afraid he’ll corrupt both of us?”
He Yanlu asked, “Would you tease me?”
I looked at him with a mischievous smile. “I want you to be passionate too. Let’s take a bath together…”
Two weeks later, I played basketball with Yang Qu again and then chatted. I asked him how the aftermath of the horror movie went. Yang Qu laughed like a sated fox, “He’s still scared till now, he’s really foolish…”
“No way, it’s been so long?” I said incredulously.
“You don’t know how cute he is. The day before yesterday, I went downstairs to get the newspaper, and he was alone in the room, almost crying out of fear. He shouted my name and said he was scared I’d be eaten by the ghost… Also, every time he wakes up in the middle of the night, he can’t sleep anymore. He needs me to comfort him before he can sleep. Once, in the early morning, he woke me up, blushing, and asked me to accompany him to the bathroom. That’s when I realized he really couldn’t hold it in anymore but was too afraid to go alone…” Yang Qu recalled with a dreamy expression. “It’s the same in bed; he clings to me, wraps around me, as if that makes him less scared.”
“Ha…” It seemed Yang Qu’s kinks were truly legendary!
“Let me tell you something that will definitely make you laugh!” I said.
“Huh? Tell me.”
“After watching the movie that day, didn’t He Yanlu seem quite calm?”
Yang Qu said, “I didn’t pay attention, but he did seem fine.”
“At the time, he really fooled me. I thought he was really tough. Guess what happened?” Just thinking about it made my stomach ache; I was trying hard not to laugh.
“Could it be that he was pretending?” Yang Qu laughed and asked.
I shook my head. “For the next three days after that, he asked me in bed how those people died…”
“So he didn’t understand?” Yang Qu burst into laughter.
“Yeah, I explained the plot to him, and then he started getting scared…”
“Hahaha, he’s so slow, isn’t he? Is this the delayed joy he’s experiencing?”
“Yes, and his reactions were almost identical to Chu Wenxing’s afterward. I guess digesting such a complex plot would take some time for him. He gradually became more and more scared…”
“Hahaha…”
“This week, before going to sleep, he’d tuck his hands and feet under the blanket and wouldn’t dare to let them out. He’d lie in bed staring at the ceiling with horror, and he’d keep saying, ‘Ye Yixing, it’s so scary, so scary. I’ll never watch a horror movie again.’ It got to the point where even I got jumpy. He made me so nervous!”
Yang Qu was laughing so much he looked unrecognizable. “I think if they’re together, they’ll figure out how to live. After all, they could just watch a horror movie and scare each other to death.”
“So, they can only be with us, right?”
