t.i.tle
How To Thank You For Saving Me
Author
Retrospect
Publisher
CP 长佩文学
Translator
ECirce
Chapter 5
Chilling wind of the night brushed up the tresses on Yan Zhuo"s forehead. He rubbed his eyes and went on with his appeal to pity. Shen Ji looked at his watch. It was almost 11pm. He pressed the b.u.t.ton and let him in. Yan Zhuo brought his suitcase upstairs, pinching his nose as it got sore under the teary impulse.
Shen Ji led him into the apartment, whose gaze was firmly fixed on him. He was wearing a set of cream-coloured pyjama. Suppressing the urge to feel that smooth texture, Yan Zhuo turned back to close the door. "Leave it at the door." Said Shen Ji as he glanced at his suitcase.
Yan Zhuo readily obeyed, put on the slippers brought to him by Shen Ji after leaving his suitcase in the corner. It was not a big apartment, with a living room taking up a third of the s.p.a.ce, a semi-open kitchen, a washroom beside it, and only one bedroom. The minimalist overall style adhered to the stoicism that was part of his personality. The only lighting came from a wall lamp near the couch. As far as Yan Zhuo knew it, Shen Ji moved in here right after graduation. There were many times when he pretended to be strolling by this apartment in a casual walk, but this was the first time he set foot on it.
"Water?" asked Shen Ji, as he watched Yan Zhuo doing his inspection as soon as he entered.
Yan Zhuo lowered his eyes as if in discomfort, and that was indeed a surprise to Shen Ji. Even someone who was ever so reckless and bold as Yan Zhuo had now got something on his nerves of steel. "You got any cholocate?" asked Yan Zhuo attentively, "I have not eaten since landing…" his words were interrupted by a sneeze.
Yan Zhuo was only so tall as to reach Shen Ji"s ear. With Shen Ji lowering his gaze at him, Yan Zhuo was slightly unnerved. He quickly stroked his nose while there was practically a storm deep down in his heart. Getting off the taxi to Jin Xiu District, he did not ring the bell of Flat 1 until he had walked round the neighbourhood twice.
"Haven"t got any." Said Shen Ji.
Yan Zhuo let out a disappointed groan. Shen Ji stepped into the kitchen, checked the refrigerator, and made a plain fried rice with egg for him. He turned off the hob as Yan Zhuo handed a plate to him.
Shen Ji said as he fished out a spoon for Yan Zhuo, "Finish it and go to bed."
Yan Zhuo nodded in obedience, as he sat tamely at the table and took his spoonfuls. Shen Ji went back to the living room to send Ning Yao a message saying that Yan Zhuo was alright. Ning Yao"s immediately replied with a whole speech, mostly asking him to take care of Yan Zhuo. Shen Ji locked his phone and made no reply.
Yan Zhuo tried as hard as possible but did not hear a thing from the living room. He finished the meal and put the washed plate and spoon back where they were, trying his best to grab Shen Ji"s attention without being obnoxious. He pinched his nose and sneezed again, so loud that it did have Shen Ji"s attention. Shen Ji was pushing him into the bath.
Pulling out from the suitcase a clean piece of underwear, Yan Zhuo was about to get into the bath. "Put those on for now." Shen Ji said as he handed him a cotton T-shirt and a pair of shorts.
Splashing his face with the hot water, Yan Zhuo suppressed the teary urge in his throat. A warm shower did make him feel better. He put on the T-shirt given to him by Shen Ji. It was sagging above the pair of long legs. Looking over Shen Ji"s stuff on the shelf, he took down the razor and wielded it around his chin.
He did not even hear the approaching footsteps. Shen Ji knocked on the door after a long interlude of silence, "Are you finished?"
Startled, Yan Zhuo put it back and replied in haste, "Ah, coming." He actually wanted to stroll out just like that, but Shen Ji, upon seeing him trouser-less, would probably grab his collar and throw him out to spend the night on the street. With reluctance, he put on the shorts.
Shen Ji was already in bed. Suppressing his breath, Yan Zhuo gingerly tiptoed to the bed, lifted a corner of the blanket, and climbed onto it. Everywhere around him smelled of Shen Ji and newly-washed blanket. He curled up slightly. "Don"t stir." Shen Ji gave him a quick glance, "Sleep."
He lied down motionless upon the demand, like a kicked puppy; even his breaths were hardly audible. Shen Ji frowned and wondered if he had said something too harsh, recalling when Yan Zhuo stood in the doorway, with a blushed nose and that pitiable look. So he asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"
"You tell me not to stir, and I am not," said Yan Zhuo as if he had been wronged, "Don"t throw me out."
Shen Ji didn"t utter a sound, and it was until Yan Zhuo thought that he would not get a reply, that he gave a grumble of consent. As the blush ran all the way to the skin below his ears, Yan Zhuo tugged at the T-shirt. It felt surreal. Yan Zhuo stared at the ceiling, wide awake. It felt like lying down in the air. Shen Ji lied beside him with eyes closed. He could not tell whether he was asleep or not, the speeding heartbeat had prevented him from discerning his breaths.
When it was almost midnight, Yan Zhuo got up discreetly, fumbled out a tie from the wardrobe, and returned carefully. Tying his wrist to Shen Ji"s, he finally lied down and fell asleep, now that he thought everything was secured.
The next morning, Shen Ji received a call in bed. It was from his uncle back in hometown, saying that his grandmother had not been feeling well these days, and that he was expected home. He casted a look at Yan Zhuo, sound asleep beside him, agreed and hanged up. He was sitting up to leave when something pulled at his wrist. Yan Zhuo was pulled towards him, too. A look towards the wrist was followed by a silent laugh in disbelief.
Still half-awake, Yan Zhuo rubbed his eyes but managed to ask sharply, "Are you going out?"
Shen Ji released the tie on his wrist and walked to the closet. "Yes. I won"t be at home today. You may go to Ning Yao"s by yourself."
All drowsiness dispersed, Yan Zhuo sat up, "Ning Yao"s was next door to mine. I"m not going back." He was not planning to leave any time soon the moment he stepped in, not to mention he only stayed here for one night.
Shen Ji took off his pyjamas and put on his shirt and trousers. Even a fleeing glance of his back could keep floating in front of his eyes. Yan Zhuo opened his mouth but had lost the courage to speak even just upon the sight of him. Without much attention to Yan Zhuo"s att.i.tude towards the matter, Shen Ji simply said, "Give Ning Yao a call. He"ll come to pick you up."
Flinging the blanket aside, Yan Zhuo got out of bed, his hair messy from the sleep, especially the few unruly tresses on his forehead. He spoke in some desperation, all precautions and concerns for manners tossed aside, "I will be bowing my head to him if I am to go to Ning Yao"s. He kicked me out, so why should I crawl back there? Where are you going anyway, couldn"t you please take me along?"
b.u.t.toning up his sleeves, Shen Ji walked into the kitchen with Yan Zhuo following closely behind. "I promise I won"t be causing any troubles." He said with sincerity, "I"ll do what you ask."
Shen Ji made two dishes and some porridge with the rice left over from yesterday, ignoring him throughout. Yan Zhuo had his meal, demurely, absent-minded. After they finished, Shen Ji called Ning Yao to pick him up.
"See you." Shen Ji picked up his key and looked at Yan Zhuo, who was in the doorway with his suitcase.
Yan Zhuo grumbled a reluctant sound and exited first after a stealthy glimpse back at Shen Ji"s bedroom. The two stood on the street. Shen Ji read Ning Yao"s message and said, "Ning Yao will be here in five minutes."
Yan Zhuo pressed his lips and said, "You can go. I"ll wait for him."
Shen Ji is not concerned with the security in the surroundings, nor did he have the leisure, so he drove away first after leaving a message to Ning Yao. Shen Ji arrived at work and convened a meeting, in which they sorted out the tasks for the upcoming week. His secretary glimpsed at him and saw that Shen Ji was looking at the phone on the desk, which kept buzzing with new messages. "If there"s anything urgent, I can be reached through email." He grabbed his phone, "Otherwise, that"ll be all for today."
Getting back to his office, Shen Ji checked his messages. Most of them are friend requests from Yan Zhuo, intermitted by Ning Yao"s panicking, saying that he had lost Yan Zhuo, and asking if he had seen him somewhere. He put the phone down, shuffling the files to one side of the table, and checked his watch.
His phone started buzzing again. All of them messages from Yan Zhuo.
The first few were two minutes ago, and the first one only one moment, with a crying face and a few words: I am downstairs. Shen Ji pressed a finger on his brow, put the phone into his pocket, gave his secretary a notice, and left work.
Yan Zhuo sat on his suitcase, phone in hand, outside the business block, his hair left carelessly messy. Shen Ji was not replying, and Ning Yao was spamming. He blinked as a car pulled over right in front of him. ‘Going into the mountain valleys.’ said Shen Ji as he lowered the window, ‘Fine with that?’
Yan Zhuo nodded, lips pursed. "Sit at the back then." Said Shen Ji.
He gave a meek look. "Take a nap." Said Shen Ji, "Long way ahead."