When Pei Cangyu woke up, Bai Shi was already standing by his bed. He was wearing a crisply ironed white shirt, his hands tucked leisurely into his trouser pockets as he leaned over to look at him. Seeing him wake, he offered a small smile.
Last night, Pei Cangyu had slept in the bed while Bai Shi slept on the floor. In such a vast, empty house, Bai Shi insisted on squeezing into the same room, claiming he was afraid Pei Cangyu might run away.
Pei Cangyu was becoming increasingly accustomed to Bai Shi’s bizarre behavior. Opening his eyes to see Bai Shi’s face no longer sent his heart racing in terror; the human capacity for habit was truly a frightening thing.
He pushed Bai Shi aside, the sunlight spilling over him as he sat up. He glanced at the floor and saw that everything had already been tidied away. He gave Bai Shi a sardonic look. "You’re certainly making yourself at home."
Bai Shi shrugged and walked over to draw the curtains. "Let’s go. Time for breakfast."
Pei Cangyu grabbed his clothes to take a shower. He caught a glimpse of Bai Shi by the door; the early morning sun softened his edges, making him look bright and gentle, but Pei Cangyu could only remember the madness in his eyes by the light of the bonfire.
This was truly a livable little town. The streets were shaded by palm trees, and every house was fitted with police-standard security screens. Small white tables sat on the balconies, and sun umbrellas were pitched on the green lawns of the yards, sheltering wicker chairs and wooden tables set aside for tea.
As soon as they stepped out, they saw a woman jogging along the road. Wearing a headband and athletic gear, she panted as she ran past them. Her iPod fell when she tried to change the song, and Bai Shi helped her pick it up, returning it with a polite greeting. From the way they interacted, Pei Cangyu judged that while they might not be friends, they were at least familiar faces in the community. As the woman ran off, she gave Pei Cangyu a slight nod, and he returned it, feeling a bit flattered.
The greenery around the community was exceptionally well-maintained, with special lanes for vehicles. There weren't many people, and the air was incredibly fresh. Pei Cangyu noticed the pattern on the red flags now; they seemed to depict a double-headed eagle. He wasn't sure if it was because of a festival, but there were many such flags.
The scent of syrup wafted through the air. Perhaps for some celebration, houses were decorated with ribbons in addition to the flags. Through the open windows on both sides of the road, one could see the busy figures of the residents, and the aroma of baking pancakes drifted out slowly, filling the air with the scent of daily life.
A father and daughter walking their dog approached them. The girl looked to be about ten years old, leading a Doberman with fur that was black and shiny. The man knew Bai Shi; they shook hands familiarly and stood chatting for a while. Pei Cangyu merely reached out a hand, and the Doberman leaned toward him. The girl giggled as the dog licked Pei Cangyu’s hand. Bai Shi glanced down briefly before continuing his conversation with the man.
Pei Cangyu used the dog as an excuse to crouch down. His eyes darted toward Bai Shi like a secret agent at a rendezvous, and he whispered mysteriously to the girl, "Where are we?"
The girl blinked a few times, clearly not understanding. Pei Cangyu pursed his lips. What, was English not a mandatory subject for people in other countries? What happened to it being the global language?
Anxiety gnawed at him, and his petting became inadvertently rough. He accidentally poked the Doberman’s nose and immediately realized his mistake. The Doberman let out a low growl, opening its crimson maw toward his hand. The girl pulled the dog back, tugging hard on the leash and shouting, "Mach Sitz!" Before Pei Cangyu could react, he saw the dog’s teeth closing in on his four fingers, like the blade of a guillotine hanging suspended, ready to drop.
But the dog’s muzzle was suddenly clamped shut by Bai Shi’s hand. It let out a muffled whimper before being violently shoved aside. The force was significant, causing the girl to tumble over as well. Pei Cangyu instinctively moved to help her up. Bai Shi watched them expressionlessly for a moment before putting on a smile and turning to say something to the man, which appeared to be an apology.
After they parted ways, Pei Cangyu kept looking back at them.
"What is it?" Bai Shi asked, noticing him turning around.
"Nothing." Pei Cangyu scratched his head. "Where’s Madala?"
"I’ve left him with someone. Don't worry."
Pei Cangyu nodded and looked up at the large trees. "The environment here is really nice. It would be great to walk a dog here." He turned to Bai Shi. "Hey, what kind of tree is this?"
He received no answer. When he turned, he saw Bai Shi had stopped in his tracks, staring at him intently.
"Hello? Did you go offline?" Pei Cangyu waved a hand in front of his eyes.
Bai Shi caught his hand and lowered it. "It’s nothing."
"What?" Pei Cangyu frowned; he hated it when people left sentences half-finished.
"I just remembered that I used to think that way too," Bai Shi said, his tone returning to normal as he walked forward.
"Think what?" Pei Cangyu followed him.
"About this kind of life." Bai Shi paused and looked up at the trees. "You and me—or not even me, just you and someone you like. In short, without *them*."
Pei Cangyu was stunned for a moment. Then he heard Bai Shi say, "It’s a palm tree."
Pei Cangyu was still pondering the meaning of Bai Shi’s words by the time they reached the bank.
For the convenience of the residents, the bank wasn't far.
Bai Shi led Pei Cangyu inside, spoke briefly with the staff at the entrance, and was quickly ushered into an office. Pei Cangyu understood nothing and simply followed behind.
However, while in the lobby, he did see clocks displaying the times of different cities. He also took a few extra looks at the staff member standing nearby—a tall Aryan man with deep-set eyes and meticulously trimmed sideburns. He had grey-blue eyes and gave a polite bow when his gaze met Pei Cangyu’s.
Bai Shi and the manager seemed to be old acquaintances; they reached an agreement without much effort. Bai Shi signed many documents and stamped several seals. The manager’s main role seemed to be pouring them coffee; he even offered Bai Shi a cigar, which Bai Shi declined.
Pei Cangyu took the opportunity to look around the room. There were no cameras here.
While the manager went out to process the paperwork, they sat on the sofa and waited. Earlier, the manager had moved his own chair to sit opposite them. Because his chair was slightly higher, he had leaned forward while talking to Bai Shi, appearing very humble. Watching this, Pei Cangyu felt like he was pitting an arm against a thigh—here, in front of Bai Shi, he had no advantage whatsoever.
Bai Shi sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, lifting his hand to check his watch.
Pei Cangyu watched him. He noticed that when Bai Shi looked at his watch, he pulled his hand across his body, his five fingers only curling inward once they were formally positioned in front of him. His fingers were pale and his bone structure was prominent, giving the impression of fingers trailing through water. It was... a powerful sort of elegance.
As soon as the thought occurred, he couldn't stop himself from remembering them tangled together in the firelight of the hearth. He remembered with vivid clarity the feeling of the sweat from Bai Shi’s forehead dripping into his eyes, the heat making his entire body tremble.
That past tremor suddenly reflected into the present, in the middle of the bright day.
Pei Cangyu shifted his legs and moved slightly further away, feeling his throat go dry.
Bai Shi noticed, of course. He turned to Pei Cangyu and asked, "What is it?"
Pei Cangyu had heard those three words too many times. Bai Shi seemed never to tire of asking. So, Pei Cangyu suddenly spoke up: "That kind of life you mentioned... which kind is it exactly?"
Bai Shi was taken aback by the question. He didn't understand. "What?"
Pei Cangyu pointed to his own head. "I’m not that bright. You have to be clear."
Bai Shi looked at him, thought for a moment, uncrossed his legs, and spread his arms across the back of the sofa, leaning toward Pei Cangyu. "To be serious... let’s not add anyone else. Just cutting the unnecessary, disliked people out of our lives."
Pei Cangyu swallowed hard. "And then? Only leaving the people we like?"
Bai Shi stared at him. "To be honest, I don't have anyone else I like." Bai Shi paused, staring at Pei Cangyu as if he wanted to say something more, but in the end, he didn't speak.
The manager pushed the door open, interrupting them.
Pei Cangyu didn't listen to the rest of the conversation between the manager and Bai Shi because he suddenly realized that he seemed to understand Bai Shi.
It was just like back then, when he had many friends but couldn't stop himself from caring about Bai Shi—because they were both just a bit different from the people around them.
And though Bai Shi kept saying "I don't like you," what he had just said sounded exactly like a confession.
Laying it all out now—Pei Cangyu lowered his head, gripping his own hands—would it really be okay to just be with Bai Shi? If he wanted to return to a normal life, then obviously not. Bai Shi was a murderer with no morals or bottom line, entangled in all sorts of cases. But... just *if*... if they didn't go back, and just wandered the world like this... As the victim, it wouldn't be his fault if he couldn't go back... In this kind of life, there were early breakfasts, lush trees, a stable home environment, and polite, humble neighbors. It wasn't impossible to feign a life. After all, what was waiting for Pei Cangyu if he did go back?
Pei Cangyu wondered if what he truly wanted was to return, or simply a sense of stability.
He looked up at the back of Bai Shi’s head. He thought that men as fierce as this usually had one virtue: they could provide a sense of stability to those who were lost, regardless of whether that stability was an opiate.
Pei Cangyu’s head spun for a long time over that one sentence from Bai Shi. Once they stepped out the door, he began to feel that he probably had Stockholm syndrome.
They left with a few items—several briefcases so obvious that even Pei Cangyu knew they were filled with money.
After returning home, Pei Cangyu looked at the empty rooms and turned to Bai Shi, who was washing his hands in the kitchen. "Bai Shi, what happens next?"
Bai Shi didn't turn around. "What do you mean, what happens?"
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Bai Shi quickly turned off the faucet, wiped his hands on his clothes, and smoothly pulled a knife from the rack. Holding it behind his back, he walked over and tilted his head toward Pei Cangyu, signaling him to open the door.
The movement was so practiced that Pei Cangyu almost wanted to sigh. He could see outside the window. As he walked to the door, he said, "It’s the woman from diagonally across the street. I saw her walking over."
Hearing this, Bai Shi picked up an apple and began to peel it with expert skill using the knife.
Pei Cangyu opened the door. Standing there was a woman with black hair and brown eyes—a Latina. She was quite tall, wearing oven mitts and holding a plate of waffles. she was smiling brightly and greeting them warmly.
Pei Cangyu stared blankly as the woman spoke rapidly, his eyes blinking.
Bai Shi put the knife back on the rack, handed the peeled apple to Pei Cangyu, and pulled the door wider to greet the woman.
"She said she heard from the neighbors that my brother is back," Bai Shi suddenly turned to translate for Pei Cangyu. Pei Cangyu, an apple in his mouth, nodded dumbly.
"So she made these specifically to welcome you," Bai Shi explained as he took the plate. "I told them before that you were in a car accident and had been in a coma for ten years."
Pei Cangyu: "..." He nudged Bai Shi. "You’re a damn good liar."
Bai Shi clutched his ribs where he’d been nudged. "How else am I supposed to explain why I can speak the language and you can't?"
"Couldn't you just say I’m too stupid to learn?"
Bai Shi looked at him seriously. "You aren't stupid."
Pei Cangyu kicked him. "Talk to her, don't look at me."
So Bai Shi turned back and said something else, then turned to translate again: "She asked when I’m holding a welcome party for you. Do you want people to come?"
Pei Cangyu looked at the woman. She was in her forties, her eyes bright with a sense of capable diligence. There was a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, and her smile was gentle. She radiated the aura of a housewife and a mother. For a moment, she reminded Pei Cangyu of the feeling of his grandmother when she was young in photos—that maternal glow. He didn't know how else to explain it; he could only attribute it to that.
So, he agreed.
After seeing the guest off, Pei Cangyu looked at the empty house.
"Hey, don't you think we should redecorate a bit?" He turned to Bai Shi, gesturing with his hands. "We could put a big—sofa here, and hang a painting. Or maybe get a sculpture... let’s get a Pi Xiu..."
He turned to find Bai Shi staring at him, looking like he’d "gone offline" again.
Then, a faint smile blossomed on Bai Shi’s usually placid face. Though slight, it was incredibly sincere, bringing with it a sensation like something melting. Just as he had many years ago when he first saw him smile at the bus stop, Pei Cangyu felt a sense of heartfelt admiration; it was breathtaking.
Bai Shi walked over and put a hand on his shoulder, then moved it down to wrap around his waist, drawing close to the corner of his mouth. He spoke: "We can. It’s up to you."
Bai Shi was so close that his lips nearly brushed Pei Cangyu’s as he spoke. Pei Cangyu lowered his eyes to look at Bai Shi’s shoulder, at the taut line of his frame.
Then the line shifted, and Pei Cangyu realized he was being kissed.
When Bai Shi pulled away, Pei Cangyu didn't move. So, Bai Shi kissed him again.
Pei Cangyu closed his eyes and reached up to drape his arms around the back of Bai Shi’s neck. Bai Shi squeezed his chin.
As Bai Shi kissed Pei Cangyu’s cheek, Pei Cangyu suddenly burst out laughing. Bai Shi stopped and looked at him. "What is it?"
Pei Cangyu chuckled. "Nothing, it’s just... didn't you say I’m your brother? Do you kiss your brother on the mouth too?"
The corner of Bai Shi’s eye twitched.
Pei Cangyu cracked himself up, laughing so hard he doubled over and sat down on the floor, clutching his stomach.
Bai Shi ignored him, turning back to stare at the middle of the house, wondering where on earth he was going to find someone to carve a Pi Xiu.
***
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