Gu Hai had been absent from school for five days.
Bai Luo Yin collected a pile of Gu Hai’s things, his homework, test papers, sports stuffs, and also a letter addressed to his guardian…..
After the second period in the afternoon, Dan Xiao Xuan passed a slip of paper to Bai Luo Yin.
I heard that Gu Hai is going to transfer schools, is it true?
Bai Luo Yin stared blankly at that slip of paper, it’s the first time for him to reply a paper, previously he would’ve just crush it right after he read them.
How do you know?
Dan Xiao Xuan passed the paper back.
Today, I went to the homeroom teacher’s office, it seemed like she was talking with other teacher about this matter.
Bai Luo Yin didn’t reply anymore, his mind was wandering throughout the entire class.
…..
“Dad, I’m going out for a bit.”
“It’s late already, where are you going?” Bai Han Qi went out and ran after him, “Are you not having dinner?”
Bai Luo Yin already rode the bike and turned at the alley.
The place where Gu Hai was staying was located at the busiest area of Beijing. Compared to the alley where Bai Luo Yin lived, this place had a completely different atmosphere. One had a pure, old local flavor of Beijing, while the other one was full of strong and modern business atmosphere. Passing through one after another spacious streets, everything he saw were expensive cars, high-level senior executives, beautiful women, successful public figures….
After pressing the doorbell, a middle-aged woman with a composed look opened the door.
“Excuse me, is Gu Hai living here?”
The middle-aged woman scrutinized Bai Luo Yin from head to toe, she had a bit suspicion and examined him.
“Who are you?”
“I’m his classmate.”
That middle-aged woman saw that Bai Luo Yin was not that old, there’s a hint of innocence on his face that he couldn’t hide, the possibility of him being a swindler was not big, so she brought him downstairs to a private room.
Gu Hai was lying on the bed, enjoying the massage therapist’s good service.
His current life right now is completely relaxing but also became dull. Every morning, he exercises at the gym, in the afternoon he stays at home, at night he always gets a massage in the clubhouse, and occasionally he would ask a therapist to come and enlighten his mind.
“Mr. Gu, there is someone looking for you, he said he’s your classmate, I just want to ask, is it okay to let him in?”
Gu Hai was laying on the massage bed, he didn’t open his eyes, his tone carried a hint of laziness and indifference.
“Let him in.”
Two minutes later, the middle-aged woman brought Bai Luo Yin inside.
They hadn’t seen each other for a whole seven days, and the moment when Bai Luo Yin saw Gu Hai, he suddenly felt that the distance between them has become really far.
After a long time, he didn’t hear any sound, Gu Hai opened his eyes slightly, and he saw a face that was familiar, yet unfamiliar to him at the same time. The hole in his heart that had barely healed was suddenly ripped open again in a flash, the therapist’s words were completely tossed to the back of his mind, the massage that was formerly comfortable suddenly turned painful.
“Why did you come?” Gu Hai asked coldly.
Bai Luo Yin took a deep breath, he tried really hard to make his tone as normal as possible.
“I want to give your things to you.”
Gu Hai gave an overbearing gaze towards Bai Luo Yin, “Do you think I still need those things?”
This kind of attitude undoubtedly stabbed Bai Luo Yin’s heart.
Gu Hai didn’t need to open his eyes, to realize what kind of expression Bai Luo Yin has right now, it was a painful, guilty pleasure.
“Whether you need it or not, it’s your business, the teacher only asked me to go and give your things to you, that’s all. If you really don’t need it, then just throw it away.”
Gu Hai didn’t say anything for a while.
“I’ll put your things here, I’m going back.”
When Gu Hai heard Bai Luo Yin’s steps gradually fading away from his ears, he felt as if his heart was being cut out, bit by bit.
When he heard the sound of the door being pushed open, Gu Hai suddenly stood up, and yelled: “Bai Luo Yin!”
Bai Luo Yin’s steps halted at once.
“You’d better come back here!”
Bai Luo Yin paid no heed to him, he stretched his hand out to twist the doorknob.
Gu Hai abruptly jumped down from the massage bed, he took a few large strides towards the door, pulled at Bai Luo Yin’s clothes until he fell back.
The masseur only bowed once, and left the room.
Gu Hai took a deep breath, staring intently at Bai Luo Yin with a cold and sharp gaze.
“So, now you can only adopt this attitude towards me?” Gu Hai asked.
Bai Luo Yin fixed his clothes, looking at Gu Hai icily.
“What kind of attitude do you want from me?”
I threw my pride to come here and see you. I, Bai Luo Yin, went against my own principles for the first time, I was worried, I wanted to see how you are doing these days. You? From the beginning until the end, you didn’t even look at me straight in the eyes! Are you qualified to question my attitude?
“Am I different?” Gu Hai softly asked.
Bai Luo Yin didn’t say anything and simply clenched his teeth.
Gu Hai yelled, “Bai Luo Yin! Look at me properly, am I different from before?”
Bai Luo Yin obstinately wore a rather strained expression.
“Just because of a status, you have the heart to sentence me to a death penalty? Just because of a status, I’m suddenly not that person who treats you well?”
Gu Hai’s face was grave and stern, wearing a painful expression as if it was being carved by a knife. He was unable to conceal his own feelings, he drew Bai Luo Yin into his embrace with one pull. He hugged him tightly, pouring out his entire week of longing, and his tears failed him, as he couldn’t hold it back anymore.
“Bai Luo Yin, apart from that day when my mother passed away, I, Gu Hai, have never cried for another person.”
When he heard Gu Hai saying those words while choking in tears, he felt as if knives were piercing his heart.
It’s not that Bai Luo Yin didn’t think Gu Hai treats him well. Since he was small until now, he and Bai Han Qi have been living their lives casually. The first person in his life who tied his shoestrings for him, is Gu Hai; the person who tucks him into the blanket every night countless times, is Gu Hai; the person who put two pieces of beef into his bowl when they are having ramen, is Gu Hai… Gu Hai doesn’t even hold back when spoiling and doting on him, gives in to him, and make sure that he won’t feel wronged. To the extent that this one week of separation made Bai Luo Yin felt like he had lost an entire world of love.
The air seemed to stop flowing at that moment, Gu Hai’s breaths gradually became smooth and steady.
“Just go.”
Bai Luo Yin merely stood still, he didn’t move.
Gu Hai pushed Bai Luo Yin until he was out of the door, “Go!”
The beauty salon on the corner of the street played Teresa Teng’s old song, “I only care about you”.
If I hadn’t met you, where would I be right now?
How would I pass my days, whether or not I will cherish my life?
Maybe I would’ve met a certain someone, passing ordinary days.
So, I beg you, please don’t let me leave you.
Except for you, I cannot even feel the slightest affection.
All of a sudden, Bai Luo Yin was on the verge of tears, he recalled the night when Gu Hai was singing this song, his own self that looked down and sneered at him. However, at this very moment, he suddenly really wants to hear Gu Hai sing for him again one more time….
When Bai Luo Yin went back to his home, the lights on his grandma and grandpa’s room were already turned on.
Bai Han Qi was sitting inside Bai Luo Yin’s room, he was lost in his thought while fixing his gaze upon Gu Hai’s things. When he heard the sound of door closing, he stood up and walked outside.
“Why did you come back this late? Where did you go?”
Bai Luo Yin replied lightly, “I went to deliver my classmate’s things.”
Bai Han Qi was about to leave Bai Luo Yin’s room, but he felt that he has something he wants to say. He stopped at the door, hesitant and uncertain.
“Yin Zi.”
“Hm?”
Bai Luo Yin placed the schoolbooks he needed for tomorrow’s classes inside his school bag, one by one.
“Da Hai hasn’t come over for quite a while, right?”
Bai Luo Yin stopped his movement, lowered his head and hummed.
Bai Han Qi sat beside Bai Luo Yin, staring at his face and asked, “Be honest with dad, you’re fighting
with Da Hai, right?”
“No.”
“If not, then why didn’t he come to our house?” Bai Han Qi felt a bit anxious.
Bai Luo Yin acted mechanically, “He also has his own house! The condition of their family is very good, why would he always stay at our lousy house?”
When Bai Han Qi heard those words, he was sure that there must be a problem between them.
“Yin Zi, I’ll tell you this, Da Hai is a really good kid, you won’t be able to find someone else like him. It’s not like I want to flatter him, but let’s say about Aunt Zhou’s matter, just how much effort he used from the beginning until the end? You really can’t find such a loyal, helpful, and warmhearted boy like him! A fight between friends is a common thing, you’ve grown up already, you need to have a broad-minded view. Don’t abandon such a good kid just because of trivial things like this, it’s definitely not worth it!”
Bai Luo Yin put his bag down, he looked at Bai Han Qi dejectedly.
“About this matter, I really can’t tolerate it.”
“He’s a little kid, what can he do that makes you angry like this?” Bai Han Qi simply laughed without any worries, “Did he steal your girlfriend?”
“No, it’s his father who stole your wife.”
Bai Luo Yin pressed his luck, in order to prevent Bai Han Qi from talking about Gu Hai any further, so he just told the truth bluntly.
“What do you mean?” Bai Han Qi’s thought was a bit slow.
Bai Luo Yin heaved a sigh, and with a great difficulty, he started to talk.
“The man who got married with my mother, is his dad.”
Bai Han Qi didn’t move for a while, then he relaxed.
“You…. Did you know this from the start? So, you mean, he has been hiding the truth from you…. He approached you with a purpose?…. That’s what you wanted to say? Why am I so confused?”
“At first, both of us have no idea. A couple of days ago, my mother came to find me, and she happened to run into him, then I just knew it.”
Bai Han Qi wore an extremely shocked and incredulous expression upon his face.
“So, from the very beginning, both of you didn’t know about this matter at all?”
Bai Luo Yin nodded his head.
“What a coincidence!” Bai Han Qi beat against himself, “What do you youngsters call it? It’s fate, fate [1] right? Isn’t it a very good thing? Your relationship has gotten closer! Later, when you visit your mom, you’d still be able to see him too.”
Bai Luo Yin was petrified in a flash.
Translator’s Note:
[1] 缘分 (yuan fen) means luck/fate that brings people together.
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