Jian Songyi will be hot as a stove in the summer and cool as small ice cubes in the winter. If the air conditioner blows too much, Bai Huai is already aware that Jian Songyi will have his head aching. Jian Songyi is really a precious and delicate creature. People who don’t know him will have difficulty serving him.
Bai Huai took a warm water bag from his things and stuffed it in Jian Songyi’s hands. “Turn around.” He also ordered with a soft voice.
Jian Songyi turned around obediently like a squirrel holding a nut as his nut was this hot water bag.
Bai Huai took out 2 more of them and placed them under Jian Songyi’s uniform and sweater as he made sure to affix them to the bottom of his t-shirt.
Bai Huai was so used to doing this as he had done it for Jian Songyi for so many years now. He was so experienced with his needs.
It’s just that it has been three years since he did it for Jian Songyi, so it feels a bit nostalgic.
His black sweater felt empty as Bai Huai’s hand quickly slipped into it. Through Jian Songyi’s thin shirt, Bai Huai’s fingertips can clearly feel his spine. By sliding them little by little, it was easy for him to count every bone.
Thin, but it is without a doubt that this is the skeleton of a mature man.
The behavior that Jian Songyi used to think was perfectly normal suddenly became a little ambiguous.
Jian Songyi pursed his lips and dared not move.
Bai Huai’s fingers acquiesced, so they slid all the way and only stopped at the lower segment of his spine. “Is this it?” He asked.
Jian Songyi immediately tightened his body and pretended to be calm and collected as he uttered the word: “No.”
“Well, it looks like it still goes all the way down there.”
His tone was light and severe as if he were discussing some academic issue.
With the fear that Bai Huai would continue sliding his hand down, Jian Songyi turned around and knocked off his misbehaving hand: “Don’t fucking touch it.”
Bai Huai held out his hand in front of him and chuckled: “It’s a pity that such a beautiful hand couldn’t have the chance to explore the mysteries of a human body.”
“Do you want something bad to happen to your little face?!” Jian Songyi exclaimed as his face flushed in shame. “I’m not your boyfriend yet. Don’t mess with me all the time. Else I’ll call the police and have them arrest you!”
He sounded a little fierce just now.
Jian Songyi and Bai Huai obviously do not have a definite label for their relationship. But regardless of that, they kiss, hug, sleep together, and touch each other, which makes it seem like the Omega is so easy to bully.
And Jian Songyi is very dissatisfied with that.
Although he has almost made up his mind, he is too thin-skinned and face-saving to run to Bai Huai and say, “I’ll be your boyfriend.” For no apparent reason.
Jian Songyi has been waiting for Bai Huai to give him an opportunity, but after Bai Huai appeared and returned, he no longer seriously mentioned this matter.
Jian Songyi, who could not hide anything, expressed this little grievance in a different way.
Meanwhile, Bai Huai, who has always been considerate, did not seem to receive the signal this time. He simply withdrew his hand and asked, “Is your body getting warm now?”
As soon as Bai Huai said that, Jian Songyi reacted as if only realizing it now. His body is really warmer than before. His hands are warm, his back is warm, and the blood all over his body is warm- and it’s all because of his bashfulness and shyness to the situation at hand.
Bai Huai placed his fingers against the back of Jian Songyi’s hand to check his temperature: “Well, you can now start practicing.”
“Oh.” Jian Songyi answered carelessly and then glanced at the piano score. “Liang Zhu?”
“Mhmm. A four-hand joint should be practiced over and over again, but then there are only four days left, yet you haven’t touched the piano for a long time. I’m afraid it won’t work well. This one is not too difficult, but it’s enough to draw out emotions.”
In the campus art festival, audiences are usually amateurs, so showing off skills might not be appreciated that well. Opting for a familiar and touching repertoire can drive the mood and will eventually make the audience appreciate the performance more.
Bai Huai is indeed very thoughtful in that sense.
But after the first time he tried playing it, Jian Songyi didn’t feel that good.
He practiced all alone before as he used joint music for the first time. Unfortunately, Jian Songyi didn’t manage to adapt to it. He wasn’t smooth enough and didn’t handle the details carefully. His fingers kept pressing the wrong keys as his fingers weren’t that attentive enough as well.
If their practice keeps going this way, it won’t yield good results.
Bai Huai pushed the score to him: “For ten minutes, memorize it and move your fingers while passing through the score.”
Jian Songyi tries to be sensible still regardless of Bai Huai’s attitude. While looking at the piano score, he tries to do the finger exercises.
Bai Huai sat aside with nothing to do, so he started pressing on the keys.
The piano produced a natural and smooth sound that came pouring in.
If Bai Huai is not using a piano score, then it should be a piece of music that is already familiar to him and can be played unconsciously.
Jian Songyi listened to him for a short time before asking, “Popular?”
“Mhmm.”
Jian Songyi was suddenly interested. Neither he nor Bai Huai liked listening to pop music, so what kind of music could Bai Huai, who is used to playing Chopin and Mozart, be able to play over and over again so that they both formed muscle memories.
That song- the melody doesn’t sound complicated, and it seems like the lyrics have a touch of sadness towards it.
There must be a reason why Bai Huai likes it.
“Is that your favorite song?” Jian Songyi asked.
“I only heard it occasionally before, but I think it is okay.”
“I think I’ve heard it.”
“Mhmm.”
“Does Little Bai want to sing it for me?”
Bai Huai chuckled: “For those of us planning for the sea listing, singing is another price.”
“As long as you sing well, I promise to give you enough reward.”
“You lost to me before and promised to kiss me every day, but you haven’t been fulfilling that agreement yet. Thus, I don’t believe you.”
“… And you believe in love? Who wants it?!”
Jian Songyi could not tease Bai Huai instead; he just kept getting teased even if he tried. Exasperated, his curiosity turned to anger. And so, he just opted to continue reading the piano score.
There was an indulgent chuckle from within his ear: “Angry again? Do you want me to coax you again?”
“There is no coaxing that’s about to happen! I am telling you, I hate you very much right now.”
Jian Songyi’s voice gradually faded upon hearing a low and graceful man’s voice against his ear.
It is a song about two little kids without guessing.
Bai Huai’s voice is both cold and clear. But nonetheless, it was overflowing with emotion enough to make its listeners feel light.
Although it was light, it was deep in love. It seems that after so many years, it slowly settles in the memory and becomes an innate part of his life. It is a commonplace that indulges within every cell. It is pervasive and suffocating.
Word by word, it’s the same.
There are two little children holding hands. They seem to be inseparable all their life, but because they are too small, awkward, and immature, they have wasted their youth for nothing.
It is a simple and plain song played on the piano. It could be played by anyone without any skill.
Jian Songyi relaxes slowly as he eases into the song, but suddenly the corner of his eyes begins to sting, interrupting Bai Huai loosely: “How can you like this song?”
“Every time I hear the lyrics in Beicheng, I end up missing you.”
“Which part?”
“The part where you’re going to marry me in the future.”
Jian Songyi pursed his lips.
When he was a child, he was very clingy and always followed Bai Huai. He always pestered him, saying that he would marry him as his wife when they grew up. For that reason, he had gotten into a fight with the big guy in the kindergarten class who also wanted to marry Bai Huai.
But at the time, Jian Songyi was only 3 years old. He was beaten down and went to Bai Huai. Bai Huai knocked out the big man’s two front teeth, but he didn’t want to marry him either. He was so angry that Little Jian Songyi bit Little Bai Huai hard. And then, the two children with bruised faces got into another fight.
Later, Jian Songyi no longer thought of marrying Bai Huai. He felt that Bai Huai had forgotten all about it too and only thought of them as brothers.
But he did not expect that this person, who doesn’t want to be his wife, would want to become his husband.
At a young age, ambition is not really small.
Jian Songyi unconsciously tilted the corner of his lips.
While still playing music in his hand, Bai Huai said slowly, “At that time, I dreamed about you every night, but I hadn’t seen you for two years. I do not know what you look like. What I dreamed about is very vague and depressing. But strange enough, after listening to that song that night, I dreamt about you when I was a child. Your appearance was obvious, which made me very happy. So later on, I played this song when I thought of you.”
“What about when you haven’t heard this song?”
“For two years, I didn’t get a full sleep.”
It was actually an understatement if Bai Huai would tell him the real deal.
Bai Huai waited for him, just like in the story in the song.
Jian Songyi turned around and looked at him. “I still want to hear you sing.”
“Okay.”
The perfect hands, which were used to practice all year round, flowed gently on the black and white keys. Bai Huai hung his head slightly enough to make his neckline elongated. And then there’s also this light from outside, shining down directly at him. He looks like a literal angel while playing. Even the heavens are favoring him.
There seem to be some sentiments against his lips as it was slightly parted as he plays as if it’s not a wild thing to do.
And then, there’s also his Adam’s Apple, who rolls abruptly, accompanied by the mellow sound of the piano, talking about a love that was once unknown.
It was both gentle and unique.
Later, the video of four hands playing together at the art festival was widely circulated and was praised as the most beautiful two-man god on the same stage in the history of Nanwai.
But in Jian Songyi’s mind, it was nothing compared to that winter evening in a small and humble piano room wherein this young teenager played and sang this simple song for him.
It was sung only to him. And only Jian Songyi understands; only he understands the story.
He’s the only one.
While holding onto the piano, he leaned over and tilted his head to bit his Adam’s apple. It left a circle of shallow tooth marks.
“It’s marked mine, so don’t sing it to anyone anymore. No one else can hear it.”
……….
Author’s Note:
According to my years of experience, Omega’s gland is connected all the way down to the reproductive cavity. The tailbone there is probably the origin, so …… hehehehehe
The song is Ms. Joey Yung’s “Little”. I like this song. The lyrics poked my heart rea well, but because of the fear of involving copyright, there is no direct quote towards it. Regardless, you can go search for it.
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