Ch127.2 – Return to Beijing
Zhou Sheng wore a sullen expression as he entered KFC with Yu Hao. Only then did the two of them really relax. Yu Hao said, “Don’t leave my sight either.”
Zhou Sheng pushed Yu Hao down to get him to sit. He bought two family buckets and gave one to Jin Weicheng, lest he started nagging, then gave Yu Hao the other one. Yu Hao finally revived after he had fried chicken. Isn’t life all about courtship and eating anyway? And it was finally successfully fulfilled now.
“Eat ah.” Yu Hao said, “Eat this one, the chicken thighs are good.”
Zhou Sheng said, “Young Master, you’re really going to kill Laozi. I feel so fucking terrible now, how could I be so inhumane?”
Yu Hao, “What did I do again?”
Zhou Sheng said wearily, “It’s okay, it’s fine now, it’s all fine now. Eat ba.”
Yu Hao stopped talking. When he saw Zhou Sheng, he gradually started becoming less and less like himself, as if he had returned to the days when they were together. Yu Hao gently kicked Zhou Sheng under the table. Zhou Sheng looked like he wanted to say something but held himself back, taking into account Jin Weicheng’s presence, and didn’t say anything in the end.
“Why are you looking at me?” Zhou Sheng said, “Am I fried chicken?”
“You’re my side dish.” Yu Hao answered.
Zhou Sheng ate two pieces, and they finished the entire family bucket. When the time came, they got on the train again. Zhou Sheng handed the bunk ticket to Jin Weicheng and said, “Laoshi, rest well.” Then he took Yu Hao to the hard-seat carriage to sit down and breathed a sigh of relief.
“I realised something.” Yu Hao said, “Your attitude towards Jin Laoshi is exactly the same as that of the leaders in the newspaper.”
Even Zhou Sheng was like that — he respected Jin Weicheng a lot but subtly revealed a kind of dislike.
“Babe.” Zhou Sheng said solemnly, “We haven’t seen each other in three months. Are you sure you want to discuss such an irrelevant person now?”
Yu Hao laughed. The lights in the hard-seat carriage dimmed slightly. All the passengers were sleeping, so Yu Hao kissed him. He had so much to say, but there was a flurry of thoughts in his mind, and he didn’t know where to start.
“When are you going back?” Yu Hao asked.
Zhou Sheng’s gaze had never left Yu Hao for even a moment. He pondered for a bit, then asked instead, “When do you want me to go back? State a date, and I’ll go back then.”
Yu Hao, “What about work? Is it going well? It’s better if you don’t leave for too long, I’m afraid that……”
Zhou Sheng cursed once. He looked helpless and turned his head sideways to ignore Yu Hao. Yu Hao tugged on his tie and pulled him back. Zhou Sheng stared at Yu Hao as if they were enemies, his eyes filled with anger.
Yu Hao patted off the dust on his suit, “I’ll send it for dry cleaning when we get back, it’s too dirty.”
Zhou Sheng still stared at Yu Hao with a resentful gaze.
Yu Hao, “What, you wanna eat your wife? Be careful, I’ll shout.”
“I love you so much,” Zhou Sheng whispered into Yu Hao’s ears, “But you hate me this much. Okay, I’ll return tomorrow.”
Yu Hao at once felt incredibly horrible.
“Oh.” Yu Hao said.
Zhou Sheng, “Forget it, let’s stop talking.”
Yu Hao sighed. He thought about it for a bit, leaned over, and rested his head on Zhou Sheng’s shoulder. Zhou Sheng looked at him with a face filled with displeasure, raised an arm and draped it over his shoulder.
When the train arrived at a station, a mother carrying a baby boarded. She had bought a standing ticket. Zhou Sheng looked up, then got up. He helped with putting the luggage aside first, then gave up his seat for the other party. Yu Hao got up as well. Zhou Sheng sat down, then Yu Hao sat on Zhou Sheng’s legs and hugged his neck. He buried his head near his ear and gently stroked his thick, dark hair with his fingers.
This is the person I like. From the past until now, there has never been the slightest change.
“Go and ask the entire Yun Lai Chun,” Zhou Sheng whispered, “Who dares touch the head of lil’ Director Zhou?”
Yu Hao answered, “I dare.”
The lights were dim, the train shook. The uncle opposite was sleeping so soundly he snored. Yu Hao was dozing off, and when his head shifted, he woke up, so he gathered himself together and looked at Zhou Sheng’s ear.
“Take a nap.” Zhou Sheng turned sideways, his lips was very close to Yu Hao.
“I won’t.” Yu Hao gazed into Zhou Sheng’s eyes, “You’re leaving in the morning.”
Zhou Sheng looked into Yu Hao’s eyes and kissed his lips. Yu Hao returned his kiss. The two of them kissed several times, then Zhou Sheng said, “I won’t leave in the morning, sleep ba.” As he spoke, he pressed one hand against Yu Hao’s forehead, “Good night.”
‘Come into my dream then.” Yu Hao whispered.
Yu Hao really couldn’t stand it any longer, and fell deep asleep leaning on Zhou Sheng’s shoulder.
But he didn’t dream. The train arrived at Beijing’s West station. When it left the station at 10am, the dazzling sunshine was like a random, sudden arrow that almost shot Yu Hao down to the ground. Heavy snow fell in North China for two days and two nights. The ornate buildings of the world were covered in an expanse of snow white.
“I’ll send you to the airport.” Yu Hao said.
Zhou Sheng couldn’t open his eyes as he was blinded by the sun, “I’ve changed my flight, I’ll leave tomorrow ba.”
Yu Hao’s heart bloomed in an instant, “Really? You can?”
Zhou Sheng looked listless, “Yes, I can, Young Madam! Whatever you say goes! What do you want to eat! Another two family buckets?”
Yu Hao was no longer interested in a family bucket. Zhou Sheng looked at Jin Weicheng, who was beside him. That gaze just wanted to say ‘why are you still here?’ but he had to hold himself back, “Laoshi, we’ll go back first.”
“I’ll go hand in the recording pen.” Yu Hao said, “I live near the company.”
Lin Ze and Situ Ye were in the office, sitting by a 400-watt small stove together for its warmth. Yu Hao passed the memory card to Situ Ye. Situ Ye inserted it into a card reader and exported the last batch of photos.
Zhou Sheng said, “Isn’t your office a little too miserable?’
Lin Ze, “Can’t help it, power usage is too high so we’re afraid of the circuit burning up.”
Zhou Sheng, “What about summer?”
Lin Ze, “We have electric fans.”
Situ Ye, “We’re Chongqing people, so it’s fine.”
“Dage! My wife isn’t from Chongqing!” Zhou Sheng said.
Lin Ze said, “There will always be a way, it’s not even summer yet, right? Jin Laoshi, let me see your manuscript……Yu Hao, I’ll give you three days off, have a good rest.”
Yu Hao said, “Really?”
Situ Ye said, “You haven’t had a day off since you started working here, take a day off ba.”
Yu Hao took the memory card and placed it in his backpack. Zhou Sheng drank coffee outside as he watched the snowfall. Yu Hao said, “Then……are there any other instructions? I can leave just like this?”
Situ Ye said as he browsed through the photos, “There’s one last thing I’d like to request of you.”
Yu Hao, “Okay.”
Situ Ye sincerely said, “When you go out please don’t tell anyone you’re my disciple, I can’t afford the embarrassment……”
Yu Hao, “……”
“I’m kidding.” Situ Ye smiled at Yu Hao, “They’re pretty good shots, leave the rest to me!”
Yu Hao completed his handover for the assignment and had three days off. After he left, he was unexpectedly smashed in the face with a snowball, accompanied by Zhou Sheng’s exaggerated “HAHAHAHA”.
Yu Hao roared angrily, “Just wait!”
Beijing’s sky had never been as blue as it was now. Yu Hao has been here for three months, yet he never took a proper look at the sky. Zhou Sheng smiled at him from the road covered in snow, and his smile made the whole world brighten up as well.
Even the dark and gloomy rental apartment looked like sunlight spilled all over it in an instant.
Yu Hao said, “We have less than twenty hours left!”
They only returned to this rented apartment after Zhou Sheng took Yu Hao out for a meal. Yu Hao was extremely anxious. Zhou Sheng opened the door, took a look at the room and sighed again.
Yu Hao said, “It’s a little humid……”
Zhou Sheng rolled up the bed sheets, wrapped Yu Hao’s dirty clothes in it and took it to the balcony to wash. Yu Hao lay down in bed and suddenly remembered that there was no lube at home. Forget it, who cares, use hand cream instead ba, time was of the essence……
“Are you still that guy who would wash clothes for me? Why are you living like this now?” Zhou Sheng studied the washing machine on the balcony.
Yu Hao said from the room, “What?!”
Zhou Sheng looked everywhere for laundry detergent, and only saw a pack that was almost used up beside the sink. He poured in the remaining detergent, twisted the water button, nothing happened. Twisted the ‘wash’ button, nothing happened.
“Zhou Sheng!” Yu Hao shouted from the room.
Zhou Sheng responded and said impatiently, “What do you want again?”
Yu Hao said, “I want to mate with you!”
Zhou Sheng kicked the washing machine until the button flew out. While he undid his shirt buttons, he cursed as he walked in. Yu Hao had already stripped down to nothing. He was hugging the blanket and sat at the bedhead, looking at him anxiously. He was a bit embarrassed, just like their first time on the ship during their younger days.
Zhou Sheng pulled his shirt open wide, still wearing his tie as he bent over to open up Yu Hao’s suitcase. He took out a bottle of lube from one of the layers inside.
“When did you……” Yu Hao hadn’t finished his sentence when Zhou Sheng already got onto the bed. He lifted the blanket and pressed him down barbarically, grabbed his hand, then bowed his head to seal his lips.
—
Ch127.2 – Return to Beijing
Zhou Sheng wore a sullen expression as he entered KFC with Yu Hao. Only then did the two of them really relax. Yu Hao said, “Don’t leave my sight either.”
Zhou Sheng pushed Yu Hao down to get him to sit. He bought two family buckets and gave one to Jin Weicheng, lest he started nagging, then gave Yu Hao the other one. Yu Hao finally revived after he had fried chicken. Isn’t life all about courtship and eating anyway? And it was finally successfully fulfilled now.
“Eat ah.” Yu Hao said, “Eat this one, the chicken thighs are good.”
Zhou Sheng said, “Young Master, you’re really going to kill Laozi. I feel so fucking terrible now, how could I be so inhumane?”
Yu Hao, “What did I do again?”
Zhou Sheng said wearily, “It’s okay, it’s fine now, it’s all fine now. Eat ba.”
Yu Hao stopped talking. When he saw Zhou Sheng, he gradually started becoming less and less like himself, as if he had returned to the days when they were together. Yu Hao gently kicked Zhou Sheng under the table. Zhou Sheng looked like he wanted to say something but held himself back, taking into account Jin Weicheng’s presence, and didn’t say anything in the end.
“Why are you looking at me?” Zhou Sheng said, “Am I fried chicken?”
“You’re my side dish.” Yu Hao answered.
Zhou Sheng ate two pieces, and they finished the entire family bucket. When the time came, they got on the train again. Zhou Sheng handed the bunk ticket to Jin Weicheng and said, “Laoshi, rest well.” Then he took Yu Hao to the hard-seat carriage to sit down and breathed a sigh of relief.
“I realised something.” Yu Hao said, “Your attitude towards Jin Laoshi is exactly the same as that of the leaders in the newspaper.”
Even Zhou Sheng was like that — he respected Jin Weicheng a lot but subtly revealed a kind of dislike.
“Babe.” Zhou Sheng said solemnly, “We haven’t seen each other in three months. Are you sure you want to discuss such an irrelevant person now?”
Yu Hao laughed. The lights in the hard-seat carriage dimmed slightly. All the passengers were sleeping, so Yu Hao kissed him. He had so much to say, but there was a flurry of thoughts in his mind, and he didn’t know where to start.
“When are you going back?” Yu Hao asked.
Zhou Sheng’s gaze had never left Yu Hao for even a moment. He pondered for a bit, then asked instead, “When do you want me to go back? State a date, and I’ll go back then.”
Yu Hao, “What about work? Is it going well? It’s better if you don’t leave for too long, I’m afraid that……”
Zhou Sheng cursed once. He looked helpless and turned his head sideways to ignore Yu Hao. Yu Hao tugged on his tie and pulled him back. Zhou Sheng stared at Yu Hao as if they were enemies, his eyes filled with anger.
Yu Hao patted off the dust on his suit, “I’ll send it for dry cleaning when we get back, it’s too dirty.”
Zhou Sheng still stared at Yu Hao with a resentful gaze.
Yu Hao, “What, you wanna eat your wife? Be careful, I’ll shout.”
“I love you so much,” Zhou Sheng whispered into Yu Hao’s ears, “But you hate me this much. Okay, I’ll return tomorrow.”
Yu Hao at once felt incredibly horrible.
“Oh.” Yu Hao said.
Zhou Sheng, “Forget it, let’s stop talking.”
Yu Hao sighed. He thought about it for a bit, leaned over, and rested his head on Zhou Sheng’s shoulder. Zhou Sheng looked at him with a face filled with displeasure, raised an arm and draped it over his shoulder.
When the train arrived at a station, a mother carrying a baby boarded. She had bought a standing ticket. Zhou Sheng looked up, then got up. He helped with putting the luggage aside first, then gave up his seat for the other party. Yu Hao got up as well. Zhou Sheng sat down, then Yu Hao sat on Zhou Sheng’s legs and hugged his neck. He buried his head near his ear and gently stroked his thick, dark hair with his fingers.
This is the person I like. From the past until now, there has never been the slightest change.
“Go and ask the entire Yun Lai Chun,” Zhou Sheng whispered, “Who dares touch the head of lil’ Director Zhou?”
Yu Hao answered, “I dare.”
The lights were dim, the train shook. The uncle opposite was sleeping so soundly he snored. Yu Hao was dozing off, and when his head shifted, he woke up, so he gathered himself together and looked at Zhou Sheng’s ear.
“Take a nap.” Zhou Sheng turned sideways, his lips was very close to Yu Hao.
“I won’t.” Yu Hao gazed into Zhou Sheng’s eyes, “You’re leaving in the morning.”
Zhou Sheng looked into Yu Hao’s eyes and kissed his lips. Yu Hao returned his kiss. The two of them kissed several times, then Zhou Sheng said, “I won’t leave in the morning, sleep ba.” As he spoke, he pressed one hand against Yu Hao’s forehead, “Good night.”
‘Come into my dream then.” Yu Hao whispered.
Yu Hao really couldn’t stand it any longer, and fell deep asleep leaning on Zhou Sheng’s shoulder.
But he didn’t dream. The train arrived at Beijing’s West station. When it left the station at 10am, the dazzling sunshine was like a random, sudden arrow that almost shot Yu Hao down to the ground. Heavy snow fell in North China for two days and two nights. The ornate buildings of the world were covered in an expanse of snow white.
“I’ll send you to the airport.” Yu Hao said.
Zhou Sheng couldn’t open his eyes as he was blinded by the sun, “I’ve changed my flight, I’ll leave tomorrow ba.”
Yu Hao’s heart bloomed in an instant, “Really? You can?”
Zhou Sheng looked listless, “Yes, I can, Young Madam! Whatever you say goes! What do you want to eat! Another two family buckets?”
Yu Hao was no longer interested in a family bucket. Zhou Sheng looked at Jin Weicheng, who was beside him. That gaze just wanted to say ‘why are you still here?’ but he had to hold himself back, “Laoshi, we’ll go back first.”
“I’ll go hand in the recording pen.” Yu Hao said, “I live near the company.”
Lin Ze and Situ Ye were in the office, sitting by a 400-watt small stove together for its warmth. Yu Hao passed the memory card to Situ Ye. Situ Ye inserted it into a card reader and exported the last batch of photos.
Zhou Sheng said, “Isn’t your office a little too miserable?’
Lin Ze, “Can’t help it, power usage is too high so we’re afraid of the circuit burning up.”
Zhou Sheng, “What about summer?”
Lin Ze, “We have electric fans.”
Situ Ye, “We’re Chongqing people, so it’s fine.”
“Dage! My wife isn’t from Chongqing!” Zhou Sheng said.
Lin Ze said, “There will always be a way, it’s not even summer yet, right? Jin Laoshi, let me see your manuscript……Yu Hao, I’ll give you three days off, have a good rest.”
Yu Hao said, “Really?”
Situ Ye said, “You haven’t had a day off since you started working here, take a day off ba.”
Yu Hao took the memory card and placed it in his backpack. Zhou Sheng drank coffee outside as he watched the snowfall. Yu Hao said, “Then……are there any other instructions? I can leave just like this?”
Situ Ye said as he browsed through the photos, “There’s one last thing I’d like to request of you.”
Yu Hao, “Okay.”
Situ Ye sincerely said, “When you go out please don’t tell anyone you’re my disciple, I can’t afford the embarrassment……”
Yu Hao, “……”
“I’m kidding.” Situ Ye smiled at Yu Hao, “They’re pretty good shots, leave the rest to me!”
Yu Hao completed his handover for the assignment and had three days off. After he left, he was unexpectedly smashed in the face with a snowball, accompanied by Zhou Sheng’s exaggerated “HAHAHAHA”.
Yu Hao roared angrily, “Just wait!”
Beijing’s sky had never been as blue as it was now. Yu Hao has been here for three months, yet he never took a proper look at the sky. Zhou Sheng smiled at him from the road covered in snow, and his smile made the whole world brighten up as well.
Even the dark and gloomy rental apartment looked like sunlight spilled all over it in an instant.
Yu Hao said, “We have less than twenty hours left!”
They only returned to this rented apartment after Zhou Sheng took Yu Hao out for a meal. Yu Hao was extremely anxious. Zhou Sheng opened the door, took a look at the room and sighed again.
Yu Hao said, “It’s a little humid……”
Zhou Sheng rolled up the bed sheets, wrapped Yu Hao’s dirty clothes in it and took it to the balcony to wash. Yu Hao lay down in bed and suddenly remembered that there was no lube at home. Forget it, who cares, use hand cream instead ba, time was of the essence……
“Are you still that guy who would wash clothes for me? Why are you living like this now?” Zhou Sheng studied the washing machine on the balcony.
Yu Hao said from the room, “What?!”
Zhou Sheng looked everywhere for laundry detergent, and only saw a pack that was almost used up beside the sink. He poured in the remaining detergent, twisted the water button, nothing happened. Twisted the ‘wash’ button, nothing happened.
“Zhou Sheng!” Yu Hao shouted from the room.
Zhou Sheng responded and said impatiently, “What do you want again?”
Yu Hao said, “I want to mate with you!”
Zhou Sheng kicked the washing machine until the button flew out. While he undid his shirt buttons, he cursed as he walked in. Yu Hao had already stripped down to nothing. He was hugging the blanket and sat at the bedhead, looking at him anxiously. He was a bit embarrassed, just like their first time on the ship during their younger days.
Zhou Sheng pulled his shirt open wide, still wearing his tie as he bent over to open up Yu Hao’s suitcase. He took out a bottle of lube from one of the layers inside.
“When did you……” Yu Hao hadn’t finished his sentence when Zhou Sheng already got onto the bed. He lifted the blanket and pressed him down barbarically, grabbed his hand, then bowed his head to seal his lips.
—
