Are You Addicted?

In the evening, after school, rain was suddenly pouring down. Although it wasn’t a heavy rain, but during this season the raindrops felt really cold.

Bai Luo Yin walked out from the bicycle shed and told Gu Hai, “Use this bicycle to go back to your place.”

Gu Hai didn’t say anything, he simply took Bai Luo Yin’s schoolbag from his back, and then placed it upon his own back, his intention was very obvious.

When they went out from the school gate, Gu Hai wiped the raindrops on his face, and spoke to Bai Luo Yin, “Take me home.”

It’s a very rare sight, this is the first time for Gu Hai to request such a thing. Previously, no matter how sunny or how windy the weather was, he would always take Bai Luo Yin home without second thoughts, so as not to make Bai Luo Yin feel tired.

It made Bai Luo Yin very content, this is the first time his younger brother showed his weakness, so Bai Luo Yin also adopted an older brother att.i.tude.

Along the way, the light wind tangled up with the raindrops. .h.i.t them, causing the cold to seep into their bodies.

Gu Hai took off his jacket and wrapped it around Bai Luo Yin tightly.

Only then, Bai Luo Yin finally realized why Gu Hai had asked him to take him home.

“You don’t need to cover me, I’m not cold, wear it for yourself,” Bai Luo Yin’s entire face was dripping wet.

Gu Hai didn’t listen to him, he took the schoolbag from his back and placed it over Bai Luo Yin’s head.

Then, little by little, Gu Hai wiped the raindrops on Bai Luo Yin’s face with his warm hand, this soft, gentle and pampering action warmed both of their hearts. Bai Luo Yin’s cheeks gradually warmed up. Gu Hai’s big hands rubbed it over and over again. This is Bai Luo Yin’s first time that he didn’t prevent Gu Hai from making such an intimate action in public.

Both of them remained silent; nevertheless, their hearts connected with each other.

The wind was blowing from behind, wetting Gu Hai’s thin T-shirt. Gu Hai quietly recalled, during this season, if it’s windy when they go to school, they will definitely travel against the wind, and when they go home, they wil travel in the same direction as the wind.

Gu Hai was showering inside the newly built bathroom, all of his clothes beside him were completely drenched.

Bai Luo Yin walked out of his bedroom after searching for thick outer clothes, then he knocked on the bathroom door.

“Come in.” Gu Hai said from inside.

After Bai Luo Yin went inside and didn’t see Gu Hai, he immediately hung the clothes on the hook at the side, speaking lightly: “It’s really cold outside, after you’ve finished your shower, wear more clothes.”

Gu Hai felt warmth inside his heart, it quickly morphing into a puddle of water, flowing down the drainpipes.

“Help me to see what’s wrong with this switch, the cold water isn’t coming out.”

Bai Luo Yin’s back faced Gu Hai, “Cut it out!”

Then, he pushed the door and walked out.

The comfortable stream of warm water fell onto Gu Hai’s broad back. Gu Hai couldn’t help but to sigh heavily, it’s really hard to deal with a clever wife, I can’t even trick him!

After Gu Hai finished showering, it was Bai Luo Yin’s turn to shower. The warm bathroom was filled with seething steam. A month ago, he couldn’t even imagine to take a shower in his house at this season. Back then, when the weather got warmer, he used a basin of hot water to rub himself inside his room. Most of the time, he had to go to the public bath near his home. Inside, there were all different kinds of people. Since it’s cheap, there were many people, so many that even the shower needed to be timed.

It can be said that since Gu Hai became his friend, Bai Luo Yin and his family’s quality of life had improved greatly.

“I will crush you with a huge amount of love. I don’t believe that it won’t move you!”

“I will love you dearly, I will make up all the love that you’ve lost for the past ten years.”

When Bai Luo Yin picked up Gu Hai’s drenched clothes, these two sentences suddenly popped up in his brain. When he listened to them, he only replied with a nonchalant expression. But actually, he was deeply moved inside. He knew that Gu Hai had never gave him empty words, and it’s exactly because of this reason, that made him hard to reject it. He couldn’t bear to reject it.

Who will mind having one more person in this world who love himself?

Bai Luo Yin was only worried, that he would depend on Gu Hai even more.

The rain outside had stopped, Gu Hai was strolling in every room, until he saw Grandma Bai cracking walnuts inside her room. She used a small hammer clumsily, but she couldn’t really crack them well. Every time she tried to crack it, the walnut would jump away, and she had to go and get the walnuts back.

“Grandma, let me help you.”

Gu Hai spoke while picking up two walnuts with his hand. He used his strength to confront the tough walnut with toughness, and the walnut immediately broke open. When Grandma Bai saw it, her eyes widened, this boy really has a lot of strength, his hand works even better than the small hammer.

Gu Hai used his bare hands to crack more than ten walnuts. Grandma Bai was sitting beside him, carefully removing the sh.e.l.ls and placing them onto a tray.

Bai Luo Yin had just finished his shower and he walked inside Grandma Bai’s room, just in time to see Gu Hai cracking walnuts there.

“There’s a small hammer, right? Why are you showing off your strength?” Bai Luo Yin frowned his eyebrows, “What if your hands get hurt?”

Gu Hai smirked, and asked Bai Luo Yin furtively, “If my hands got hurt, will you feel hurt too?”

Bai Luo Yin gave Gu Hai a sideway glance, “Just keep using your hands then!”

“You’re really cruel to me,” Gu Hai wore a look akin to a resentful husband.

Bai Luo Yin ignored him, he walked back to his bedroom, took a book and gave it to Gu Hai.

“Hurry up and review your history subject, it’s been 3 months since you last touched arts subject, an exam is coming up in the next few days, don’t disgrace me if you can’t pa.s.s!”

Gu Hai blissfully moved closer to Bai Luo Yin’s side, and asked him shamelessly, “If I can’t pa.s.s the exam, how will that disgrace you?”

“Go study!” Bai Luo Yin angrily rebuked him.

“The Great Cultural Revolution that occurred in China from May 1966 to October 1976 was launched and led by Mao Ze Dong, aided by two revolutionaries leader, Lin Biao and Jiang Qing, who in turn, countered Mao in order to try and take control of the country. It is a political movement that brought huge calamity to Chinese Nation….”

Grandma Bai was eating the walnuts, but she suddenly stopped when she heard this sentence.

“It’s impossible!”

“Hm?” Gu Hai looked at Grandma Bai in confusion.

Grandma Bai stared at Gu Hai, spinning her eyes around and around, with a serious face, “Mao Du Du [1] can’t be wrong!”

“Why can’t he?” Gu Hai teased her deliberately.

Grandma Bai answered him seriously, “Mao Du Du is the red, the reddest sun.” [2]

Gu Hai burst into loud laughter after teasing Grandma Bai, Bai Luo Yin also laughed beside him.

It’s past ten o’clock at night, Gu Hai and Bai Luo Yin sat on the bed, with a computer desk between them. Gu Hai placed his elbow on top of the desk, lights gathered inside his pupils, he fixed his gaze on Bai Luo Yin who was sitting in front of him.

“What are the consequences of Opium War?”

Gu Hai thought about it, “Consequences? I think there are four consequences….. No, three consequences.”

Bai Luo Yin’s expression suddenly became fierce.

“Three consequences, it really is three, first is the changes upon the nature of society, second is the changes upon the society’s conflicts, the third consequence…. the third consequence…. what is it again?”

BAM!

Bai Luo Yin hit Gu Hai’s hand with a steel ruler.

Gu Hai suddenly withdrew his hand, exaggeratingly grimacing in pain, “You’re really hitting me?”

Bai Luo Yin replied coldly, “I’ve asked you this question many times already, how come you still can’t answer it?”

You’ve just finished your shower, sitting right in front of me with clear and bright skin, handsome face, how can you expect me to study properly?

Bai Luo Yin became anxious, this guy has a rough skin and thick muscles, even if I hit him for half a day, it would be useless! Exam is coming soon, with Gu Hai’s current level, supposed if he were to pa.s.s the exam, that means all of those old men who collected garbage outside would be able to enter Qing Hua university!

Then, he thought about it.

“Let’s do this, memorize all of this for one hour.”

“Memorize this for one hour?….” Gu Hai became worried, he dropped his head on the pillow, “You see what time is it now? Usually I’ve wrapped myself inside my blanket already at this time. Today, I was drenched in rain, my head also hurts a bit….”

“But you can’t remember! Now I will give you some questions. If you can’t answer one question, when we sleep, you have to move one centimeter away from me. If you can’t answer two questions, that means you have to move two centimeters away from me. If you get it all wrong, then just go to sleep at my father’s room.”

This idea, I approve!

Gu Hai stood up, his eyes showed excitement, “If I can answer them all, can you let me sleep on top of you?”

Bai Luo Yin hit Gu Hai’s face with the book on his hand.

After half an hour, Gu Hai gave the book back to Bai Luo Yin.

“Test me!”

Bai Luo Yin then asked the questions one by one, he especially chose the hard ones on purpose, but Gu Hai answered them all without hesitation. The more Bai Luo Yin asked, the angrier he got. This kid was really pretending not to know anything! He obviously understood everything, but he must be forced first before he’s willing to do it.

When their study had completely finished, Gu Hai eventually realized that it was already pitch dark outside.

Both of them curled up inside the blanket, the weather was getting colder, and the blanket was not warm enough for them. Their family could turn on the heater or light the stove, but in order to save the coal, if they aren’t freezing they won’t use it.

Gu Hai bended his body and placed his cheek on Bai Luo Yin’s back, his fingers were crawling on the bed sheet.

“Yin Zi, I’ve memorized everything today, shouldn’t you give me some reward?”

“How old are you?” Bai Luo Yin replied coldly, “I also memorized everything, who would give me a reward? This is what you’re supposed to do in the first place, and you’re still thinking that you’re incredible?”

“Then, I’ll give you a reward!” Gu Hai said as he stretched his hand to stroke Bai Luo Yin’s chest, “Do you want it?”

Bai Luo Yin suddenly pinched Gu Hai’s arms, “I don’t want it, take it away!”

Gu Hai looked at Bai Luo Yin in anger, but it wasn’t really anger. Love and regret, both feelings were intertwining inside his eyes.

Bai Luo Yin meticulously avoided Gu Hai’s stare, then he asked, “Honestly, what do you want to do in the future?”

“I want to do business.”

Bai Luo Yin thought that it was unexpected, “Business? Will your father approve? I think that your father would like you to walk the same path as him, no?”

“He can think whatever he likes, I won’t follow what he wants anyway.”

“The arm is no match for the thigh.” [3] Bai Luo Yin let out a deep sigh.

When Gu Hai thought about it, he felt annoyed, so he simply didn’t want to think about it anymore. Then, he asked Bai Luo Yin, “How about you? What do you want to do?”

“Actually, I want to do business too.”

“Don’t!” Gu Hai grabbed Bai Luo Yin’s hand firmly, “You’re so smart, if I were to become your compet.i.tor, I’ll definitely suffer losses!”

Bai Luo Yin merely laughed, and didn’t say anything else.

Translator’s Note:

[1] ‘Mao Du Du’: Mao Ze Dong.

[2] “Mao Du Du is the red, the reddest sun.”: This refers to “The East is red and the sun rises; in China there emerges Mao Tse-tung”. When the sun rises in the Eastern sky, because it is magnificent and powerful, just as how people saw Mao Ze Dong as, they used this to symbolize the power that he exude. The image of the red sun demonstrate how the propaganda of from the Cultural Revolution projected Maoxism across the border and promoted the idea that Mao was the global leader of the revolution.

[3] “The arm is no match for the thigh.”: This is an idiom that means the weak cannot win against the strong.

Are you Addicted?